The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: ZaktheLad on April 17, 2014, 11:33:23 am

Title: Unusual?
Post by: ZaktheLad on April 17, 2014, 11:33:23 am

Had a smashing set of twins born at 2am this morning to a shearling ewe (she lambed as a ewe lamb last year).  The first lamb was a real chunky chap but she lambed him fine without any assistance.  What was really odd though was that after the first lamb, the afterbirth came completely away.  As I don't have them scanned I wasn't sure there was a second lamb (although she was certainly large enough!) and so I thought that must be it and moved her and lamb in to a pen.  However, after about 30 mins I could see a nose and feet - there was no bag or anything and she pushed out the 2nd lamb very quickly.  A second afterbirth came away about 1.5 hours later. 

I have never encountered an afterbirth coming away before a second lamb and wondered if this is unusual and also if perhaps this might have been associated with the lack of any bag or water discharge (as if bag had burst inside)  at all prior to the second lamb?

Title: Re: Unusual?
Post by: Bionic on April 17, 2014, 12:00:53 pm

I am a novice so no real help but when our first lambed this year her second twin was born dead. I spoke to the vet and he asked if I had seen both afterbirths. I had picked afterbirth up but didn't realise that each lamb had their own afterbirth (biology was never a good subject for me)
With the subsequent lambings I have taken much more note of what was expelled and have certainly 'picked up' between lambs being born.

Title: Re: Unusual?
Post by: Rosemary on April 17, 2014, 03:51:25 pm

No idea but glad both lambs are well  :thumbsup:

Title: Re: Unusual?
Post by: waterbuffalofarmer on April 18, 2014, 08:16:21 am

I don't think any of our ewes has had that, so it is certainly unusual. However if both lambs are fine then that is good.
Thanks

Title: Re: Unusual?
Post by: mowhaugh on April 18, 2014, 08:53:39 am

I THINK (but am now wondering if I have just imagined this???) that if they are what we would call identical twins in humans they would share a placenta, but if they are non identical they would have a placenta each.

I haven't experienced one coming away before the second one is born, but I guess it might depend on where abouts on the surface of the womb it was attached?  There's always something new to learn!