The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: perkhar on February 24, 2017, 07:17:32 pm

Title: Pregnant ewe coughing
Post by: perkhar on February 24, 2017, 07:17:32 pm

One of my ewes I noticed has been coughing when I go to them over the last 4 days.. She does it after they run up to me for feed for a wee while and then seems to stop after 20 to 30 seconds... Then doesn't do it again. I don't know what she's like during the day because I'm in work but when I go to feed them I find it to be the same ewe every day..


Other than that she seems pretty healthy she's eating and strong.

Title: Re: Pregnant ewe coughing
Post by: Gunnermark on February 25, 2017, 07:38:41 am

When was the last time she was wormed?

Title: Re: Pregnant ewe coughing
Post by: perkhar on February 25, 2017, 10:12:25 am

4/9/16 wormed last 4/2/17 fluke last drench

She's not skinny and certainly not messy around back end

Title: Re: Pregnant ewe coughing
Post by: landroverroy on February 25, 2017, 10:28:50 am

Could she have just been ruminating, then in her rush to be the first to mug you for the food had some rumen contents go down the wrong way?

Title: Re: Pregnant ewe coughing
Post by: Gunnermark on February 25, 2017, 01:21:53 pm

In lamb?

Title: Re: Pregnant ewe coughing
Post by: perkhar on February 25, 2017, 02:40:58 pm

Yes in lamb maybe just feed stuck I have been giving them bruised barley

Title: Re: Pregnant ewe coughing
Post by: SallyintNorth on February 26, 2017, 12:30:29 pm

Quote from: perkhar on February 25, 2017, 02:40:58 pm

Yes in lamb maybe just feed stuck I have been giving them bruised barley

We're trying grass nuts for all our stock this year.  Hoping it's a more natural feed for them and easier on their digestions. 

Some of the in lamb ewes were coughing when being fed.  I deduced they weren't chewing the nuts, just wolfing them down.  So we've started to mix the nuts with some soaked sugar beet.  They love it, and no more coughing. :)