1. Getting lambs off to a fast start
Dr. Dan Morrical
Iowa State University

2. Lamb losses and Profit Baby lamb losses 10-25 % per year
most of the losses are before 72 hrs
without records you do not know

3. Lamb Mortality Study, Rook
1986/3600

4. McNay Death Loss by Seasons 1995
Winter Lambs
251/lambs/124 ewes
Fall
148 Lambs/ 81 ewes
Spring Lambs
151 lambs/74 ewes

5. Goals of Late Gestation Ration
1. Healthy, vigorous ewes
2. In condition for heavy milking
Healthy, vigorous lambs of moderate size.
High vitamin E status
Iodine

6. Vitamin E levels 100 IU per head per day 20,000IU/lb costs $1.00
How to get it in
Add to grain mixture if processed
Add to mineral
1 pound of E concentrate to 5 pounds of mineral

7. ISU Results - Serum E ewes, DGM
Con E-G E-L E-GL
Pretreatment
Pre-lambing 1.51a 1.91b
Post-lambinga a 1.13b
Mid-lactation .97a .95a 1.28b 1.37b
Milk e at 3 days
a,b Row means with different superscripts differ (p<.05).

8. Results - Serum E lambs Con E-G E-L E-GL 3 days 1.08 1.08

9. Iodine New NRC Solution Symptoms of iodine deficiency
Increased iodine 3 fold for late gestation
BMR
Solution
Iodized salt blocks
Symptoms of iodine deficiency
Goiter, fewer born, poor wool coat, still born, hypothermia

10. Birth Weight on Livability
Best pounds VPI
1 pound increase in birth weight
= 4%  in death loss Texas A & M

11. Birth Weight & Feedlot Performance
Small Medium Large
Wt. gain/
day of age
Feed eff
U. of Kentucky

12. So what is the right birth weight?
Depends on:
ewe size
type of birth
Singles 7% of dam wt.
Twins % of dam wt.
Triplets 5.5% of dam wt.
175 ewe single
twin
triplet

13. Goal of Lambing Season Management
“Maximize Lamb Livability”
Starts before lambing
What you do can not
raise number born

14. Causes of Death Starvation Poor ewe condition Weak ewe or lamb
Plugged teats
Mastitis
Mis-mothering
Poor suckling

15. Prevention: Weak or Starved
Adequate ewe nutrition (i.e. good condition)
Energy level of diet
Crossbreeding
Exercise
Weaning management
Iodine

16. Prevention: Weak or Starved
Pre-lambing shearing
Observation
Condition score
Dryer environment
Lamb indoors
Easier nursing
Intake
Increases brown fat reserves

17. Trouble Shooting-Use the Thermometer
Normal temp ° - 102°F
Elevated temp.-above 103°F
(think infection)
Cold Lambs
- mild hypothermia 99°-102°F
- severe hypothermia below 99°F

18. Mild Hypothermia 99°-102°F 1) Remove and dry
2) Supplement warm dry heat (100°-103°F max. temp.)
3) Tube feed ml colostrum (20 mls/lb.)
4) Return when rectal temperature is normal (1-3 hours)
5) Assure future nutrition

19. Elevated Temperature-above 103°F
- or animals showing clinical signs
- assume infectious process
- probably pneumonia, joint ill or liver abscess
- LA200 1/2cc/10 lb.
under the skin given daily for 4-5 days
- Long acting penicillin 1cc/10-20 lb.
- Assure nutrition and hydration

20. Severe Hypothermia-below 99°F
*Under 6 hours old
remove and dry
supplement heat warm dry moving air °F
tube feed ml colostrum
return when temperature normal
1-3 hours
assure future nutrition

21. Severe Hypothermia-below 99°F
*Over 6 hours old
remove and dry
supplement heat with warm dry moving air °F max
tube feed ml colostrum CAUTION
inject 40 ml of 20% dextrose into body cavity
1 inch beside and 1 inch behind navel,
20 ga 1 inch needle
return when rectal temp. normal 1-3 hours
assure future nutrition

22. Solution - Observation
Paint brand
Cubicles & lambing jugs
Shear pre-lambing
Stomach tube
Proper feeding at lambing & weaning
Selenium status

25. Stillborns/dystocia Symptoms of dystocia yellow fleece
causes - Fat ewes, Poor hybrid vigor
Was it truly born dead?
check lungs and feet
Stillborns Two types
-infectious
-hypoxia (observation)

26. Solutions Condition score Observation Feed antibiotics
Intercom, video camera
Feed antibiotics
Vaccinate against vibrio, EAE
Exercise?
Assist after 30 minutes in labor
Closed flock

27. Abortion Diseases
Toxoplasmosis
Campylobacter
Chlamydia

28. Solutions Vaccinate campylobacter Vaccinate chlamydia Closed flock
(Hygeia Labs, CA)
Vaccinate chlamydia
Closed flock
Late gestation feed antibiotics
250 mg/hd/d, many strains are resistant
Sanitation
Isolation
Pray

29. Pneumonia Causes Poorly ventilated buildings Inadequate space
Wet bedding

30. Solution 20 ft.2 area for ewes with lambs Sulfa water treatment
Open up barn
Use more bedding
Pre-lambing shearing
Heated buildings
30CFM minimum ventilation
100 CFM above 350

31. Antibiotics 60-65 mg/day 6 weeks prior to lambing Results
65-73%  in lamb losses
Univ. of Wyoming
S.D.S.U.

32. Intestinal Disorders - Causes
Wet bedding
Stress
Solutions-
Lime jugs
Adequate colostrum (esp. E. coli)
Vaccinate ewes, lg
CI. perfringens CD&T toxoid
Increase space and bedding
Relieve stress

33. Equipment & Supplies Colostrum Lamb Reviver i.e. stomach tube
Thermometer
Head Snare
Ropes or dog choke collars

34. Equipment...cont. Lubricant Cubicles Gloves Intercom Bonding Pens
zoonotics
Intercom
Bonding Pens

35. Equipment...cont. Grafting Stanchion Hot box / incubator Towels
Biologicals

36. Lambing Problems How Do You Know? 1 - Length of labor
2 - Position of feet
Toes up okay
Toes down backwards
Tail first backwards
One foot first
Nose first

37. Newborn Management 1 - Colostrum intake - minimum 2 ounces/8 pounds
- ideal 10% of BW first 24 hrs.
2 - Clip - Dip - Strip
castrate early
3 - Lambing Jugs
4 x 6, 5 x 6
4 - Observe often
5 - Check for inverted eyelids

38. Weaning Wean early 60 days or less Dry up ewes prior to weaning
Remove protein
Remove energy
Remove water ?