[Solentfish]

Hi all,
Our first lambing is going ok so far. Last night a Suffolk X ewe which has been very large during her pregnancy gave birth.
One was a large and lively ram lamb. The other two had been dead for a while. One was small and completely in its bag. The other must have made it close to term but looks like it was probably dead a couple of weeks.
I had been concerned as her first discharge was very dark brown in colour as we're the two dead lambs.
Should I be worried about this? Is this just a natural occurrence with one lamb becoming stronger and larger and there not being enough room or food to keep all three? She has been well fed with extra feed as I suspected multiples due to her size.
I have treated mum with anti biotics and she seems very well, so doesn't appear to have any adverse effects from having two dead lambs inside her.
At least she has one good lamb, so a successful outcome for that one - he is very cute as x with GFD ram!
Thanks
Julie

[ZaktheLad]

It's certainly not unheard of for a multiple birth to result in 1 live lamb and other lambs dead and you can even have a very mummified couple of dead lambs delivered, followed by a healthy live lamb!   Just one of those peculiarities of lambing I suppose.  Really pleased to hear Mum has one big lad left to look after and love - I am sure both ewe and remaining lamb will do just fine.    

[Marches Farmer]

If you don't have a long-acting antibiotic I'd suggest keeping them going for a week, just to be sure.

[Solentfish]

Thanks for the replies. Good to hear it isn't such an unusual thing to happen.
So far both mum and lamb are doing really well. I will keep up the anti biotics just to make sure there is no infection.