Sheep pre-natal

Question 1

What is parturition?

Answer 1

act or process of giving birth

Question 2

What do we call parturition in sheep?

Answer 2

Lambing

Question 3

Stages of parturition

Answer 3

1. preparatory stage
2. Birthing process
3. Placenta expulsion

Question 4

How long before sheep can be induced for parturition

Answer 4

137 days of gestation

Question 5

Stressors that can influence lambing

Answer 5

-lack of space
-gas exchange
-nutrients

Question 6

What does the fetus control

Answer 6

as the fetus matures it releases enough cortisol from its adrenal gland to signal the ewe to initiate lambing

Question 7

Signs of approaching parturition

Answer 7

-distended abdomen
-mammary development and milk secretion
-swollen vulva and relaxed pelvic ligaments
-mucous discharge
-restlessness and separation from the group
-labor and contractions

Question 8

Ten days before lambing

Answer 8

the ewes teats become firm and full of milk, her vulva slackens and becomes slightly swollen

Question 9

Closer to lambing

Answer 9

the ewe’s cervical seal passes from the vulva as a thick, creamy, white mucus

Question 10

Final stages prior to lambing

Answer 10

the ewe will become anxious and uneasy and continually switches from a reclining to a standing position

Question 11

Common lambing problems

Answer 11

-dystocia
-MULTIPLES
-Prolapse

Question 12

What is the 30-30-30 rule?

Answer 12

These are intervals for lambing. after 30 check should see progress, if not then you start to help, if not after another 30 you can presume the lamb dead and move forward

Question 13

If a lamb has experienced prolapse how likely are they to experience it again

Answer 13

60%

Question 14

Prolapse

Answer 14

condition where the organ desceds from its original location

Question 15

Acceptance of lambs

Answer 15

-licking and suckling
-mutual recognition between ewe and lamb

Question 16

What are the three senses that the acceptance of a lamb is dependent on?

Answer 16

-olfactory (smell)
-auditory
-vision

Question 17

Identification

Answer 17

ear tag

Question 18

Why do we tail dock?

Answer 18

cleanliness of the tail and to avoid fly strike

Question 19

Why are noses dipped into iodine after birth?

Answer 19

it prevent bacteria from entering the lamb through the nose

Question 20

Why do we separate ewe and lamb?

Answer 20

for bonding

Question 21

Starvation causes

Answer 21

-inadequate intake of colostrum
-rejection of the ewe
-mastitis
-inadequate milk production
-injury/illness/ dystocia

Question 22

Hypothermia

Answer 22

“chilling”

Question 23

How to handle a lamb that is hypothermic?

Answer 23

try and warm it up before giving it food. first dry it and then place it in a warming box with a heat lamp maintaining 95- 98F. Once body temp. hits 98F, remove from box

Question 24

Why is hypothermia a large cause of early lamb mortality?

Answer 24

lambs that don’t feed within a few hours after birth will not have any more energy reserves to keep them warm

Question 25

Why do you need to be cautious about if another lamb was in the pen of the current lamb?

Answer 25

there could be a transfer of bacteria and diseases between lambs with no immunity

Question 26

What occurs in the first 48 hours of life

Answer 26

50% of total lamb losses

Question 27

what percent of lamb deaths occurs 2-14 days post lambing?

Answer 27

11%

Question 28

Why are newborn lambs so vulnerable?

Answer 28

-there is no transfer of antibodies between ewe and palcenta -lambs have very permeable guts so its easy for bacteria to enter the bloodstream -limited energy reserves -susceptible to heat loss