For our area, many are already into the lambing process. Many have already purchased clostridial vaccines, lamb boost, colostrum, Iodine. Other things to remember, red rubber feeding tubes and syringes, ob gloves, lubrication.
Few tips for moms and babies...
Ewe's/nanny's with multiple lambs/kids are more prone to pregnancy toxemia. Make sure to watch for these signs and contact your veterinarian if symptoms occur.
Lambing/kidding somewhat follows the 30 minute rule... Lamb should be visible 30 mins after seeing 'water bag'... should be delivered 30 mins after presenting, standing and nursing 30 mins after delivery. If not progressing, investigate... or call your veterinarian!
Moms and babies need 24-48hrs of bonding before moving back into group housing.
Here is a handy chart for converting a package of JUST LIKE MOM (colostrum) into lamb dosing. The sooner the better with getting colostrum into babies.
(50 gram= 8 tablespoons)
Weight in pounds (of lamb/kid) | Powder per feeding grams | Powder per feeding lbs | Water per feeding | Total Volume per feeding | Total volume in 18 hours |
Pounds | Grams | Pounds | ML | ML | ML |
6.6 | 50 | 0.11 | 100 | 150 | 450 |
8.8 | 67 | 0.15 | 130 | 200 | 600 |
11 | 83 | 0.18 | 170 | 250 | 750 |
13.2 | 100 | 0.22 | 200 | 300 | 900 |
Recently attended some continuing education, they were discussing problems in pet goats, more so, than in a production setting. So a few things to consider with all small ruminants... urolithiasis is very common! This is urinary calculi preventing lambs/goats from urinating (bladder stones). Most occur due to diet. Sheep/goats need hay!!!! High grain rations and poor access to water exacerbate the problem. Studies have been performed in goats, showing urethral size (tube running from bladder, thru penis, to the outside) is related to maturity. NEW RECOMMENDATIONS for pet goats.... CASTRATE at 5-6 months of age!!! This allows them to mature.... it also brings male behaviors and potential for breeding. So if you delay castrating to allow for more mature urethral size... you must keep them separate from females!!!
Another tidbit... if you are new to raising sheep and goats... try to find reliable information... Contact your veterinarian... or use extension websites for information! (each state has extension/ university information, free to public) DO NOT trust blogs and chat rooms!!! For example extension.sdstate.edu ... extension.umn.edu