The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: Hillview Farm on March 06, 2015, 09:47:23 am

Title: lamb missing it's tail!
Post by: Hillview Farm on March 06, 2015, 09:47:23 am

One of my lambs who is a week old, tail rung at a couple days. I noticed this morning that it's tail is partly missing!

About 1cm lower than the ring the tail is gone with a clean break.

They are housed and it's fox proof apart from one end that has a mesh sort of side so I suppose she could have laid with her tail hanging out.

Could it be a ewe? Maybe when sat in the hay or its been trodden on?

Title: Re: lamb missing it's tail!
Post by: ZaktheLad on March 06, 2015, 09:50:57 am

I've had this happen before with a young lamb.  I think it happened as a result of the ewe standing on its tail.  Because the tail is dead anyway below the band, it did't bleed or anything and then remaining section dropped off eventually too!

Title: Re: lamb missing it's tail!
Post by: Hillview Farm on March 06, 2015, 09:59:58 am

That is exactly what I wanted to hear!

Title: Re: lamb missing it's tail!
Post by: Ladygrey on March 06, 2015, 12:29:35 pm

I had something similair two years ago but the tails were shredded in ribbons really short, above the band

we didnt know what it was until we caught the culprits... giant rats eating the lambs tails, for some reason the band was preventing them from feeling that rats chomping away

Title: Re: lamb missing it's tail!
Post by: Old Shep on March 06, 2015, 02:34:06 pm

I suspect giant rats is not what you want to hear!!

Title: Re: lamb missing it's tail!
Post by: Hillview Farm on March 06, 2015, 03:56:12 pm

Quote from: Old Shep on March 06, 2015, 02:34:06 pm

I suspect giant rats is not what you want to hear!!

Urmm no!  :roflanim:

Title: Re: lamb missing it's tail!
Post by: Crbecky10 on March 07, 2015, 08:22:50 pm

Sometimes the ewe can bite the lamb's tail off too!