Lambing Problems

Lambing is progressing well on most farms helped in part initially by the mild weather. It is a bit easier at lambing time if you do not have to worry about frozen pipes and frozen lambs. You will have a bit more time to get newborn lambs going when it is not quite so cold. Most lambings are straight forwards, if there is plenty of moisture there the ewe just needs a bit of help to push her offspring out, sometimes they have the first lamb and devote all of their attention to mothering that and the second lamb gets forgotten about. It is always a good idea to make sure, if they have been scanned that the expected number of lambs arrive.

Making it Easier

If you have to put your hand further inside to retrieve a leg or a head it is essential to use some lubricant. Lubrication helps to protect the lining of the uterus from bruising and infection. If the cervix is still tight and the lambs are dry it is important to give monzaldon as well. This is a smooth muscle relaxant that works on the muscles of the uterus to stop them working. After monzaldon the uterus will expand assisting with dry lambs that have not been presented properly and helping to stop any damage to the lining of the uterus. After monzaldon you will need to be careful to retrieve all of the lambs as there will not be any natural contractions.

Prudent use of Antibiotics

Infections in the uterus are difficult to treat in ewes, often there is little or no discharge and it is difficult to spot even if you have docile ewes that are easy to handle. Discharges tend to work their way down the back end of the ewe and onto the udder where they will end up on the face and in the mouth of the lambs. It is always a wise precaution, if you have to put your hand past the vagina for any reason to give an injection of antibiotics as a precaution against infection.

The German Virus

It has now been confirmed that a small number of deformed lambs have been seen on eleven farms in Suffolk, Norfolk, Kent and East Sussex. It is though that these are the effects of the Schmallengberg virus that we talked about last month. At the moment there is no blood test to detect this infection so it is possible that we will see some deformed calves later on in the year. The initial effects of the infection seem to be mild and it would seem that the virus could go unnoticed if it were not for the consequences it has for animals in the early stages of pregnancy. In many ways it would be beneficial if we could stop the import of cattle sheep and goats from Germany and the Netherlands until we can find out more about this virus and restrict the movement of animals from the farms that it has affected here. It is doubtful if either of these measures will occur. I will keep you updated about the Schnallengberg virus as we learn more about it.

Taking Extra Care

I notice that there has been a change in the advice to pregnant women from the Department of Health. They point out that although the number of human pregnancies affected by contact with infected animals is extremely small they are avoidable risks and it is better to take appropriate action to avoid them. This advice applies not just in the spring but throughout the year. If you are pregnant the advice is that you should not help to lamb ewes, assist with a cow that is calving or a goat that is kidding.

Avoid contact with aborted or new born lambs, calves and goat kids and their after births, fluids and contaminated bedding. Also avoid handling clothing, boots or any other materials that have come into contact with animals that have recently given birth. It is important that any body that has contact with animals on the farm take appropriate hygiene precautions and has access to protective clothing.

Twin Lamb Disease

Pregnancy toxaemia is encountered on lowland flocks more often in older ewes that are carrying triplets or twins. In the last month of pregnancy the developing lambs have a high demand for protein and energy, at the very time when the rumen is compressed by the gravid uterus. At first affected animals will be disorientated, isolated from most of the flock. Over the next twenty four hours some animals will press their head into a corner and you may notice muscle tremors affecting the mouth and ears. Ewes with twin lamb disease are easy to catch as they cannot see very well. It is important to treat ewes that you suspect of having this condition as soon as possible. In the early stages there will be a reasonable response to propylene glycol given by mouth. This compound is converted to glucose in the gut of the ewe and is a good source of energy. House any animals separately and keep feed in front of them all of the time as they will be slow to feed.

Further Prudent use of Antibiotics

Some animals with twin lamb disease will abort their pregnancy so keep a close eye out for the early signs of lambing. It is often better to give them a long acting oxytetracyline injection if they are slow to respond as they might not be strong enough the expel the dead lambs and will readily develop peritonitis.

New Thermometers

With the exception of chickens and reptiles there are few animals that we examine and do not at some stage take a temperature. So I was surprised to find that when I tried to order some thermometers this afternoon the humble thermometer is not made anymore for health and safety reasons. We have been forced to go digital. We are always encouraging you to take animal’s temperatures as it is the best guide to whether they need treatments and I am quite lost without a thermometer in my pocket. Look after the thermometer that you have as the new ones will be more expensive.

The Parasite Vaccine

This is the time of the year when I extol the virtues of the lungworm vaccine Bovilis Huskvac. Those little bottles really do contain over a thousand irradiated larvae that will migrate to the lungs and go no further. When you give two doses one month apart your cattle will be effectively protected for the rest of their lives. Organic farmers are enthusiastic about Bovilis Huskvac, but it should be of interest to anyone who had problems with husk last year.

Do you need to treat for Fluke?

We are still seeing clinical cases of fluke or cases where fluke is the most likely cause of clinical signs. On one farm it was quite evident that some of the cows that we were Tuberculin Testing had lost condition and had a swelling under their chin. At this time of the year it will be mainly adult fluke that are active in the bile ducts and they will respond readily to treatments as long as you give the drugs before any irreversible damage has been done. Fluke is a whole herd problem so it is important that all of the animals that have been in the same fields are treated. It is the handful of adult fluke left in the bile ducts of cattle and sheep that regenerate the infection on the fields each year.    

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