[agri293]

i am gutted this is our first lambing went out to the field as normal to find one of our x ewes with two aborted lambs they are not due for another 3 weeks the only godsend is the mother is fine what could have caused this it is so upsetting

[FiB]

So sorry to hear that - I have been having a similarly perplexing time (but without lambing thrown into the mix).  I'm sure you will get lots of help and possible answers.    Fi

[SallyintNorth]

Sorry to hear about your loss, agri293.

Some abortions do just happen - maybe there was something wrong with the lambs, maybe the ewe had been at some crucial point...  On a farm with hundreds of ewes lambing every year, I am afraid we just have to expect a certain number of unexplained abortions.  When you have very small numbers, it is thankfully a much rarer event - but all the more distressing therefore, when it does happen.

There are a number of specific diseases which can cause abortion; some only earlier on in the pregnancy and some can cause very late term abortions, such as this one of yours.

Were the lambs ok, apart from being premature and dead?  Not deformed or anything? 

If you get any more abortions, it might be worth taking some materials in for analysis.  Generally the vet labs want very fresh placenta - within hours of the abortion - in order to be able to really identify any cause, or lack of cause.  If you did get another, collect some placenta asap and keep it in the fridge - well wrapped ! - while you talk to your vet to see if they would like you to take that material somewhere for an analysis.

But hopefully this is just a one off and the rest of your girls will lamb normally in 3 weeks' time.  Best of luck 

[VSS]

Sally is correct in that the only way to get a definative answer is to have the aborted lambs and associated membranes tested. It could be any number of things, from a simple mechanical trauma such as a heavy bump form another ewe at the feed trough, through to one of the specific pathogens that cause abortion.

[SteveHants]

Its useful to put an aborted ewe in with your replacement ewe lambs so that they get and become immune to whatever caused it to abort - especially if you are on an organic system (as I understand it - medicine use is restricted).

[Southfields]

possible Schmallenberg virus?

[OhLaLa]

possible Schmallenberg virus?

I think the Schmallenberg virus will get blamed for a lot of problems with sheep, but to my knowledge abortion isn't one of the results of Schmallenberg; lambs are born either dead or deformed, or die in the ewe so she needs assistance to remove the dead lamb. I have not heard of any lambs aborted because of Schmallenberg.

Of course, it's early days yet and more has to be found out about this virus. From what I've heard the ewes are bitten by a midge/mosquito and at whatever stage the ewe is at during her pregnancy is the point of growth from when the deformities appear. Very bad news, and I hope they develop a vaccine soon.

One of my girls aborted during the winter. Very early stages and although we searched the field several times over we couldn't find anything. The ewe showed no sign of any maladie and is thankfully fine.

The loss of any lamb is upsetting and my thoughts are with you.

[SallyintNorth]

The virus has been associated with brief mild/moderate disease (milk drop, pyrexia, diarrhoea) in adult cattle and late abortion or birth defects in newborn cattle, sheep and goats.

Sorry to correct you, OhLaLa, but the information on the Defra Animal Health & Diseases website states that late abortion is one of the symptoms of the virus.

The whole page is here:
http://www.defra.gov.uk/animal-diseases/a-z/schmallenberg-virus/

[OhLaLa]

Thanks for the info and the link Sallyntnorth, let's hope they get on top of it soon.

 

[Fizaye]

Same happened to me 2 weeks ago, but my ewe prolapsed and died!! She was about 4 weeks early) Watching the others closely now and I did have one off colour so I kept her in for the night. She is fine now and as they have 10 days left before their due date, I am keeping everything crossed. Good luck 

[Southfields]

Thanks SallyintNorth i thought i had read it right!

[Rich/Jan]

Hi we had our first case of Smallenberg early this morning.  Ewe struggling to give birth and when my OH examined her the lamb was twisted round in a 'U' shape with its back presented.  No way would she have delivered it and OH had to break the lambs leg to get it out - it was dead (not nice).  We have about 50 lambs OK so far - with 20 more ewes to go.  Vet arriving today to do the paperwork and then we have to take it to a laboratory for definitive diagnosis.  It does seem that the ewes who conceived later in the year are more at risk but time will tell once investigations are complete.  Lets hope they get a vaccine soon.  Quite a few hundred cases now reported in France and thats the ones farmers have told their vet about.  Jan

[SallyintNorth]

So sorry to hear your news, Jan.     Do you have many more left to lamb?

[feldar]

Sorry to hear your news it's not nice to see  we found it's very random, some ok and a couple of cases not, all from the same field. seems to be creeping higher up country too on east coast. Our friends who have cattle are very worried due to start calving soon.
Good luck with the others

[Tilly]

Hi Jan,
Sorry to hear your news.
-  Well done sorting the problem out - it certainly isn`t pleasent  getting the deformed lambs out, but when under the knowledge that the ewe would never manage it herself and die, you somehow find the strength to get on with the job and deal with it.
I hope this is an isolated case for you, but can imagine how nervous you will be feeling now about the next ewes  to lamb  .
As I have said in a previous post we have had some deformed lambs on the farm (but only a small batch) and everything since have been good and healthy.
Wishing you good luck Tilly