The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: wellies on March 17, 2014, 05:20:36 pm

Title: Lack of milk
Post by: wellies on March 17, 2014, 05:20:36 pm

My ewe who prolapsed a few days before lambing seems to be lacking in milk. She had milk at lambing (I checked her udder & both teats to ensure colostrum was abundant). She lambed twins on Thursday night & today I noticed the lambs pestering & pestering, the one looked a little tucked up. Checked her udder & could hardly get any milk out? She's continued on the same diet as prelambing; ewe nuts, ad lib hay & high energy lick, she also has fresh clean water at all times. Her condition score is a 3 & she had Betamox & fluxing after birth as we needed to intervene. Any thoughts or helpful suggestions gratefully received  :wave:

Title: Re: Lack of milk
Post by: shep53 on March 17, 2014, 08:46:37 pm

 oxytocin injection will help in the short term ,  is she eating ok?  no temperature ?? she may need more antibiotics .     Do you know her history

Title: Re: Lack of milk
Post by: Marches Farmer on March 17, 2014, 09:21:55 pm

Does the udder feel hot or hard?  Could be the beginning of mastitis, in which case a/bs may be in order - fast!

Title: Re: Lack of milk
Post by: wellies on March 17, 2014, 10:12:17 pm

No signs of mastitis, I've had a good feel. She's a shearling so her 1st lambing. She's eating & drinking well but I would say seems to be lying down more than normal but other than that fine in herself

Title: Re: Lack of milk
Post by: devonlad on March 17, 2014, 10:25:08 pm

we had a shearling ewe last year sounding almost identical. spoke to vet who immediately suggested abs for mastitis. if lambs are hungry and frequently trying but clearly not getting enough, mastitis is often the cause. doesn't have to appear as the obvious symptoms usually associated with it. 5 days of abs with us supplementing with bottles and she was right as rain. my advice is ring the vet

Title: Re: Lack of milk
Post by: farmvet on March 17, 2014, 10:35:26 pm

As she prolapsed before lambing she may well have some degree of pelvic inflammation or a low grade peritonitis, plus/minus mastitis.  phone vet!

Title: Re: Lack of milk
Post by: Me on March 18, 2014, 12:45:53 pm

Add pain killers to above! Me

Title: Re: Lack of milk
Post by: wellies on March 18, 2014, 04:17:30 pm

Thanks for the posts everyone, today things are much better. Lambs seem happy as does the ewe. Goodness knows what happened yesterday? Anyway I'm happy that all seems ok
at the moment. I have fluxin & various antibiotics on hand so will inject if things are not right again. The antibiotics she had in the early hours of Friday were long acting so should have covered her until yesterday. We used Betamox which also can be used for mastitis. I have inter mammary cow tubes too should there be any evidence of mastitis occurring. I've spoken to the vet whose happy with this plan of action. I think sheep like to test us sometimes  ::)