Author Topic: ewe due in 5 days (Read 2431 times)

Jamie12 · « **on:** March 16, 2015, 12:41:39 pm »

I have a Hogg due on Saturday who appears lame, she seemed OK at six am, although was lying down away from the others, ate her pellets and went back to lie down. Noticed her lame at 11am. She does seem to be lying down a lot. Wondering if the best thing to do is inspect footor not? She will go into a mothering pen no problem and can't see lifting her foot being an issue. I'm not wanting to stress her out so close to lambing. I have antibiotis etc on hand. Could the lame be causing pressure/be pressing on a nerve?.

SallyintNorth · « **Reply #1 on:** March 16, 2015, 01:34:47 pm »

If she's eating okay - grass as well as cake - then personally I would not be tipping her up as I am always worried about the harm that stress can do so close to lambing. As you can handle her, check her temperature (ears) and feel for heat or lumps in the leg. Chances are she's just finding it all uncomfortable and will be fine once she's lambed.

In the interests of balance, I will tell you that BH would do the foot if she's that lame, 5 days off lambing or not. And I can't say I've ever seen his interventions appear to cause any problems

But on the moorland farm, we did treat some feet about halfway through the first time, and said we would never do that again. Perhaps it was so very much more stressful because the sheep didn't know us - we bought the farm, complete with sheep, in the October, and tupped in November.

Jamie12 · « **Reply #2 on:** March 16, 2015, 02:24:57 pm »

She's indoors but eating fine, happily eating cake and hay and drinking lots. Her ears didn't feel overly cold but will recheck her soon.

SallyintNorth · « **Reply #3 on:** March 16, 2015, 02:28:08 pm »

It was more that if she has an infection her ears may be hot, so it sounds like they aren't.

Are you sure she is lame and not just needing to rest as she's so close to lambing?

Jamie12 · « **Reply #4 on:** March 16, 2015, 02:32:10 pm »

Its more likely she is uncomfortable rather than lame, will keep an eye on her. Going back soon

Marches Farmer · « **Reply #5 on:** March 16, 2015, 02:34:30 pm »

Catching and checking depends a bit on the sheep - ours are very docile and used to being handled so at this stage I'd put feed in the trough, grab the ewe and have someone stand astride her shoulders to keep her still while I turned up the foot. As soon as she was treated I'd hold a bucket with a small amount of feed in it in front of her nose ..... seems to take their minds off being caught.