[andywalt]

I was very pi**ed off yesturday when I found our biggest romney ram lamb 3 weeks old, dead under a hedge, perfect looking, no signs of anything abnormal, clean bum, no swelling or cuts ect, maybe it was a change to the wet weather? this was a big lamb ! secondly ive brought the ewe onto poor pasture and will keep an eye on her, will she dry up herself? she is full of milk atm any advice please , many thanks

[Nell]

Hi Andy, sorry to hear about the lamb. 

She should do. We've lost a couple of texel lambs this year and the ewes have dried up over time - the ewe will be a bit lost for a few days but she will adapt. If you are concerned you can get the vet to administer an injection of Micotil to help dry her out.

[pikilily]

I wonder - would it be too late to try to foster a lamb on to her?? was she a really stong mother...ie one that would be desperate to have any lamb?
emma T

[andywalt]

she was a very strong mother with her own lamb, would let any other lamb near her, I dont fancy skinning her lamb, couldnt manage that !

I think the dead lamb was due to this sudden change to wet weather

[feldar]

Hi Andywalt
We put any ewes who loose a lamb and we can't foster to onto rough or poor pasture and cut any hard feed. she should dry back on her own but keep an eye on her for any signs of mastitis.
Sorry about the lamb, are you up to date with all your vaccinations/ Heptavac etc

[andywalt]

yup all heptavac p and have moved her to rough fields and not feeding any hard feed,  I am hopeing we dont get any other lambs dieing with this bad wet weather !!

[SallyintNorth]

If you are concerned you can get the vet to administer an injection of Micotil to help dry her out.

Forgive me Nell, but Micotil is a restricted (vet use only) antibiotic.  It might be used if the ewe contracted mastitis which was not responding to other antibiotics but should not be used prophylactically.  Even if prophylactic use of antibiotics were a good idea, I don't see how an antibiotic would help dry her out?

As others have said, andywalt, put the ewe on poor ground for a few days, don't give any additional feed (including licks) and she'll dry off naturally. 

[Nell]

No that's fair enough - I was basing my response on if there was an underlying issue with the ewe and what my neighbours have used before in case the lamb wasn't feeding properly -may clear it up whilst she dries out - but by putting her onto rough pasture, like he has done, I can't see a problem

[SteveHants]

I've never had a problem with mastitis, I've always left my ewes in with the others, sometimes the act as 'auntie' and feed other lambs and other times they dry off.