[Slimjim]

On arrival at my sheep field at about 7.30 am last week, twin Jacob ram lambs had been born and mum had managed on her own ok. The lambs were up, had been licked dry etc., and although the smaller of the two was slightly weaker than the other, he was alright. The puzzle was that both of them appeared to have had the end of their tail chewed down to raw flesh with the skin hanging off in threads. I dipped the exposed ends in iodine and the lambs seemed none the worse. Anybody else experienced this? Was it rats, crows, magpies or some other predator? I can't see it being caused during birth or by the ewe's attention. Mystery.

[smithycraft]

One of my lambs, born inside had a similar problem with the tail end being bloody and shredded.  I put it down to the ewe who was a first timer, treading on it.

[VSS]

If a ewe is a particularly keen licker, the ends of the tails get chewed off sometimes. Just put a bit of antiseptic in it.

[shep53]

Some ewes will do it only once and some will do it every year, just put rubber rings on above the wound to cut off blood supply .

[SheepCrazy!]

Have to agree with the ewe chewing the tail I have experience of Blackies chewing off there lambs tails as  was previously said they can do it once or every year, better the tail than the naval which generally ends up with a dead lamb  for the rest of your lambing