lambs

LambMetrics – 8th August 2020

August 8, 2020 by Wendy Beer

#LAMBMETRICS for the day

Drysdale & English Leicester Flocks

Born today: 8
Total Lambs Born: 31
Drysdale lambs (live total): 16
English Leicester lambs (live total): 9
English Leicester X lambs (live total): 3
Total Sets of Twins born: 7
Total Sets of Triplets born: 1
Total ewe lambs: 16
Total ram lambs: 15
Ewes lambed /76: 22 (28.9 %)
Lamb % : 127 % [live]
Assisted/Dystocias: 4
Losses: 3 [lamb]; 0 [ewe]

Notable Midwifery tales:

Headed out early this morning. It’s peak lambing season now and with a full moon the other night I was hoping things would be settling down.

After a couple of troublesome ones I checked the ewes with a certain amount of trepidation, to be honest. It had been raining softly most of the night and I arrived to find – lambs everywhere. Oh.

Walk up the hill towards the shed (and can hear Bibbi yelling for breakfast) and I see two ewes and three lambs hanging about in a way that makes me go hmmmm. A Drysdale and English Leicester? Oh, a Drysdale and Hermione. Hermione is an English Leicester x Drysdale ewe who has a known (familial) history for “lamb-napping”. Last year was a classic…
As I get closer to them I groan and am making plans in my head to sort out the mess and then I realise — the three lambs all look the same…. and they don’t look like Drysdales. The Drysdale ewe wandered off and so that meant: triplets!

Yep, that’s three lambs. The pregnancy scan only came up with two…. Seems that Hermione worked out if you want more lambs you have to actually birth them yourself. LOL
So, two girls and one boy for her. She’s doing a good job so far. The lambs are 75/25 English Leicester/Drysdale.

During the other rounds of the morning I decided to pull a lamb out of the Twins paddock. I think it was the same lamb I saw getting poor love yesterday – it’s mother loves the other twin more – and it was looking thin and miserable. This means Bibbi now has a pal.

Meet Bobbi, a merino boy. (Pink jacket, pink nose)

I guess I had better talk about the ewe that prolapsed yesterday. Discovered this morning that the prolapse had resolved fully (yay!) and that there was afterbirth hanging out as she sat there (boo….)
So, knew that the lamb/s were definitely dead and was hoping I could extract them safely. It was a bit of work but nothing like the other day, thankfully. She must have felt much better to have them out but the fact that they were dead made her a bit depressed and dull. She received a fair bit of TLC over the day – and little Bobbi curled up next to her as she sat there (not wanting to stand).
She’s let herself out of the shed though now and she’s around the other ewes. Still quite dull but hopeful that being around the others will help her recover faster.

Meanwhile, I asked for help to name Boadicea’s adopted bub over on the facebook page. Some great names suggested (will keep some for later….) but the one with the most Likes was…. Poppy.

Thanks, everyone, for your help!

LambMetrics – 4th August 2020

August 4, 2020 by Wendy Beer

#LAMBMETRICS for the day

Drysdale & English Leicester Flocks

Born today: 3
Total Lambs Born: 10
Drysdale lambs (live total): 5
English Leicester lambs (live total): 4
English Leicester X lambs (live total): 0
Total Sets of Twins born: 3
Total Sets of Triplets born: 0
Total ewe lambs: 5
Total ram lambs: 5
Ewes lambed /76: 7 (9.2 %)
Lamb % : 128 % [live]
Assisted/Dystocias: 2
Losses: 1 [lamb]; 0 [ewe]

Notable Midwifery tales:

Today had a few challenges.

First need for assistance was an English Leicester ewe. First time having twins for this one and the boofhead boy lamb jammed things up. He had his feet and head in the right places though so just needed a bit extra pull and wriggle to successfully get him on the outside of his mother. His twin sister was also feeling the stress at being stuck behind him but came out with minimal effort. Both lambs were heavily meconium-stained (they do a poo in the sac because they are stressed and the colour stains the fluid and them) But their mum is a good one and she cleaned them up. I’d say they were “polished clean” but she let them roll around in the dirt!

Unfortunately, that was the easy part.

A Drysdale ewe had a lamb toe showing but when she was laid down and investigated the lamb’s head wasn’t to be found easily. Not good. All I had were a pair of feet and…. a chest.

The head was eventually located – the neck twisted around and back. This is really not good. And I suspected the lamb was already dead – live lambs are more active in “presenting” themselves for birth properly. It didn’t feel too big and the ewe wasn’t too fat (all factors in a live lamb being unable to sort itself out) so odds were it was dead and the poor presentation was a result not a cause.

The exercise took several hours, including a trip to the vet for supplies and a lot of lube was used, but I eventually managed to extricate the lamb. We were all exhausted. I think I went through 5 pairs of shoulder-length gloves, the Deputy Midwife had sore legs (and ribs) from restraining and comforting the ewe and my hands felt like they were alien. But at least the ewe could stand up afterwards. The lamb had been dead before labour started and the placenta was detached. (Part of the reason the lamb in the pic below seems so red is because the placenta is wrapped around half of it.)

The poor ewe is now tucked up in the shed for the night, alongside the English Leicester and her twins. She’s donated some colostrum for the freezer and she’s had anti-inflammatories and antibiotics. Seems okay and hopefully will still be so in the morning.

Tomorrow is another day….!

LambMetrics – 3rd August 2020

August 3, 2020 by Wendy Beer

#LAMBMETRICS for the day

Drysdale & English Leicester Flocks

Born today: 2
Total Lambs Born: 7
Drysdale lambs (live total): 5
English Leicester lambs (live total): 2
English Leicester X lambs (live total): 0
Total Sets of Twins born: 2
Total Sets of Triplets born: 0
Total ewe lambs: 3
Total ram lambs: 4
Ewes lambed /76: 5 (6.5 %)
Lamb % : 140 % [live]
Assisted/Dystocias: 0
Losses: 0

Notable Midwifery tales:

Two Drysdale lambs born today. Both male.

Note the peanut gallery in the background…. Getting some hints?! The twins mob still haven’t started lambing!

Not much to say really today. Both lambs born unassisted and doing well.

The world is an amazing place when you are only 1-2hrs old.

Drysdale ram lamb. Sired by Henry, dam is sired by Gilbert

That’s MY lamb you’re looking at *stomp*

LambMetrics – 1st August 2020

August 1, 2020 by Wendy Beer

#LAMBMETRICS for the day

Drysdale & English Leicester Flocks

Born today: 2
Total Lambs Born: 4
Drysdale lambs (live total): 2
English Leicester lambs (live total): 2
English Leicester X lambs (live total): 0
Total Sets of Twins born: 2
Total Sets of Triplets born: 0
Total ewe lambs: 3
Total ram lambs: 1
Ewes lambed /76: 1 (2.6 %)
Lamb % : 200 % [live]
Assisted/Dystocias: 0
Losses: 0

Notable Midwifery tales:

The English Leicesters decided they didn’t want to be left off the scoreboard so there was a set of twins born today. Hehehe Just how we like it too – they didn’t need any help. Both are a good size and seem very sturdy.

They did remind me that I really shouldn’t rely on “other people’s figures” and I should have worked out the due dates as I usually do…. which means they’re due tomorrow. LOL

It’s easier to monitor these ewes in regard to their milk supply because they are very quiet and we often pen them up for the first night, just to make sure we haven’t missed anything. The English Leicesters and Drysdales tend to be very strong mothers who aren’t easily dissuaded from their job and will follow us when we carry their lamb/s into the shed.

The Merino and Castledale ewes on the other hand are not quite as quiet so they can be trickier to watch. Interfering with them can be fraught because if you go and try save one situation you can inadvertently stir them up and cause more problems. As a result, we can only intervene in certain circumstances and “as Nature intended” tends to be the default.
Research has shown that once a ewe is around 5m away from her lamb she often “doesn’t see it” or recognise it. New mothers – especially Merino ewes – are notoriously bad and flighty. If they get a fright they run and forget they have a lamb. And they don’t come back to it. 🙁 Super frustrating – and one reason why intervention is only ever done with great caution!

Hopefully, the Merino and Castledale ewes will start lambing in the next few days too. Probably won’t have the close-up photos though! (Except maybe the ex-pet sheep. As long as they don’t take after their mothers!)

LambMetrics – 31st July 2020

July 31, 2020 by Wendy Beer

The last few years I’ve kept track of the lambing statistics in the Drysdale & English Leicester flocks). I call these “LambMetrics”.
Hopefully, they provide a little insight into the real-life “goings-on” here.

#LAMBMETRICS for the day

Drysdale & English Leicester Flocks

Born today: 2
Total Lambs Born: 2
Drysdale lambs (live total): 2
English Leicester lambs (live total): 0
Total Sets of Twins born: 1
Total Sets of Triplets born: 0
Total ewe lambs: 2
Total ram lambs: 0
Ewes lambed /76: 1 (1.3 %)
Lamb % : 200 % [live]
Assisted/Dystocias: 0
Losses: 0

Notable Midwifery tales:

After the success of a shorter joining (mating) period last year the same tactic was employed. There were a couple of hiccups on the way but the ewes were scanned in June and the number pregnant was very pleasing.

The ewes are due to “officially” start lambing around the 7th August. As usual, someone didn’t read the memo.

Being mindful of the tendency of some of the ewes to be Not Memo Readers I brought the Drysdale and English Leicester ewe mob into their lambing paddocks yesterday. Just in time……

Can you pick who the mother is and who is trying to take a lamb (or 2) for herself??

We’ve had some glorious weather lately which, naturally, makes me wonder when that weather will become nasty and whether it will encourage the ewes to lamb! They do seem to want to lamb during a “low pressure” event and not necessarily when the sun is shining. Frustrating but Nature has a mind of her own. Ha!

So, the ewes spent last night in their “Night Paddock” and today I let them run up a laneway as a Day paddock because they aren’t due for another week and therefore I wouldn’t need to hike to the top of the laneway and carry down the lambs.

These ewes are very calm to handle for me (mostly) and are lambing, more and more, during daylight hours. Which is very “alpaca-like” of them and something I highly approve of! Sure enough, when I went over this evening to get them back into the Night Paddock I discovered that there were two ewes and two lambs ….. Of course, one ewe didn’t have hollow sides – or any other obvious signs of parturition – so she was just being a nosey parker and was definitely attempting to “get one” for herself. Hmmmm I’ll have to watch her! And try get a look at her tag to see who she is. I’m suspecting she may be from a known “Lamb Robber” line of ewes.

Miss Lamb Robber is now back in the Night Paddock and the new mum is in the hay shed. She doesn’t really need my help at all but until there are a couple more ewes with lambs I don’t want her out by herself. The foxes are going to be hungry this year and the alpacas can only do so much.

Drysdale lambs are born with a tremendous amount of (carpet) fleece on. This really does mean they are pretty impervious to the weather – more so than some breeds – and I would only ever put a coat on one if it was very ill.

And there we have it – the start of Lambing 2020! It’s going to be a busy August this year since the Merino and Castledale ewes didn’t lamb in July but will also be in August. There’s a very good chance that the Head Midwife and Deputy Midwife will get a lot of walking done but hopefully not too much “work”!!

LambMetrics – September 5th, 2019

September 5, 2019 by Wendy Beer

#LAMBMETRICS for the day

Drysdale & English Leicester Flocks

Born today: 6
Total Lambs Born: 51
Drysdale lambs (live total): [no purebreds in 2019]
DrysdaleX lambs (total): 27
English Leicester lambs (live total): 23
Total Sets of Twins born: 11
Total Sets of Triplets born: 0
Total ewe lambs: 23
Total ram lambs: 28
Ewes lambed /68: 40 (58.8 %)
Lamb % : 125 % [live]
Assisted/Dystocias: 6
Losses: 1

Notable Midwifery tales:

May as well get the bad news out of the way – the sick English Leicester lamb passed away overnight. 🙁 When we went over for the late feed there was improvement and we went to bed more hopeful but, as so often happens, it was the final “rally” before the end. His mum is upset but she’s moved on from standing over him so she’s doing okay (Have had Drysdale ewes want to stand over the lamb for days.)

But! It wasn’t all bad. The good news was that the other lambs that were worrying us last night are all okay! Lambs are being fed and the lamb with the odd shoulder and “ad hoc bandage” is able to get itself up and about and feeding well.

After the bottle-feeding and the initial checks of a newborn lamb it was on to check the rest of the lambs. Bedlam!

Then it was a quick walk across the paddock to the flock of Merino and Castledale ewes to shift them into a new paddock. Only had to call once and they came running.

There was a fair bit of skipping and jumping when they went through the gate. They are relishing not having “grown-up responsibilities” this year!

By lunchtime there were three more ewes that had lambed – two sets of twins and a single. All English Leicester.

This evening though was when the fun started. The first thing noticed upon arrival for evening feed and chores was that the young, black, English Leicester ewe (pictured above) had “lost” her lamb….. It had been lambnapped!

When her “Imperial Highness” Kimmy passed away at the start of the year (at the Grand age of 14) we thought the serious lambnapping days were over.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Hermione* has now decided to take up the mantle that was laid down by her mother, Kimmy. (Family tradition – Kimmy’s mother was a thief too!)

Separating the desperate mother-to-be, Hermione, from the timid, bewildered first-time mother was tricky. The young ewe wouldn’t follow her lamb well enough but Hermione would. So, it ended up that the first course of action was to use the lamb to get Hermione up and out of the paddock.

Once the lambnapper was removed from the scene the lamb was returned to its mother who was a bit unsure about the whole drama. Unfortunately, Hermione had been licking the lamb (and letting it drink!) which puts her scent on the lamb and which puts the actual mother off believing it’s hers!

The young ewe was left to re-bond with her lamb and the next procedure was to stop Hermione stealing the other newborn from the morning! And she was determined! Again, we had to use that newborn to tempt Hermione into the pens in the shed as well as get the actual mother in as well. That ewe, a maiden Drysdale, was also a bit confused but she was more strongly bonded than the black ewe so it was easier. They were tucked into a pen at one end of the shed and Hermione was firmly placed into a pen at the other end. If she’s anything like her mother she will have a lamb tonight or tomorrow.

Hermione looking wistfully at lambs that Could Be Hers.

Getting the young, black ewe up to the shed for penning overnight was a test of patience. She isn’t as quiet as the rest of the girls and they normally follow you quite well if you’re carrying the lamb. Not this one. Took strategic person-placement and judicious use of shed-friendly ewes (ie. one of the ones whose lambs are being bottle-fed) to get her into the shed for some quiet bonding time.

The night-time check is about happen so stay tuned for tomorrow’s episode! 😉

* Hermione is English Leicester X Drysdale, along with her twin brother – Harry. She has had 2 previous pregnancies.

lambs

#LAMBMETRICS for the day

Notable Midwifery tales:

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