For farms considering lambing indoors for the first time, and those that are well accustomed to the process, there are some best practice tips that can help improve ewe and lamb health through improved nutrition and hygiene. Gwyn James from Nettex offers some personal and professional advice for any farm looking to make improvements to lambing indoors this season.
“I grew up on a sheep and beef farm in Wales and still help family and friends to lamb inside,” says Mr James. He suggests starting by identifying ewes that show signs of a calcium deficiency.
“When brought in prior to lambing, ewes can often suffer from a calcium deficiency. The nutritional imbalance is caused by the unavailability of metabolisable calcium seen in the final weeks of pregnancy as ewes are put under significant nutritional stress due to accelerated foetal growth. CalciEwe+ is a calcium drench with added energy, magnesium and niacin to support recovery after pre-lambing exhaustion. It should be used when the first signs of calcium deficiency are observed. These can include coma, paralysis, rapid breathing, tremors or uncoordinated movements,” says Mr James.
Further health concerns for ewes carrying twins can be identified and dealt with quickly and easily thanks to high energy liquids that replace and rebalance the nutritional needs of ewes before lambing.
“Twin lamb disease, also known as pregnancy toxemia, affects sheep in the late stages of pregnancy. If untreated, the ewe is unlikely to recover. It’s caused by low blood glucose levels and symptoms include weight loss, blindness and ewes will be unable to stand or eat. It can be brought on by stress from handling or transporting ewes. Ewes with too high or too low a body condition score are at greater risk. A twin lamb solution containing a high energy liquid should be administered as early as possible. If caught late and the ewe has gone down, twin lamb solutions become less effective, an important tool at this stage is make sure the ewe is hydrated via a drenching gun.” explains Mr James.
He suggests that despite the pressure of managing other aspects of the farm, spending the time indoors to make sure lambing pens and overall shed hygiene is at its best is crucial to preventing common diseases.
“Preparation of a hygienic and comfortable lambing area is a discipline all farms tend to observe. However, once lambing starts it is often tricky to maintain these high standards. Equipment should be cleaned between uses to minimise the spread of any bacteria and disease. Joint Ill and Watery Mouth are commonly caused by poor shed hygiene and can be avoided with a disciplined cleanliness regime,” he says.
Following a successful birth, lambs will benefit from a quality colostrum product to help recover from the birth.
For lambs that struggle to stand and suckle, an energy boost in the form of colostrum is a must. Lambs that don’t feed quickly are at risk from hypothermia, and a colostrum that can elevate blood glucose levels will help lambs to recover and suckle faster.
Lastly, he says that being able to identify lambs and ewes as housing fills up is important to ensure lost lambs are reunited with their mothers to avoid them becoming weak.
It is easy to lapse on marking as lambing gets busy, but it is important to use a quality spray. I tail and number lambs and dock the ewe’s tail too. Having a long-lasting spray helps when the flock is turned out, especially in heavy rain.
To find out more about Nettex Lambing products visit: Latest Product News – Nettex
