1. Getting lambs off to a fast start Dr. Dan Morrical Iowa State University 515-294-2904 morrical@iastate.edu

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

3. Lamb Mortality Study, Rook 1986/3600

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

5. Goals of Late Gestation Ration 1. Healthy, vigorous ewes 2. In condition for heavy milking 3.Healthy, vigorous lambs of moderate size. 4. High vitamin E status 5.Iodine

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

7. ISU Results - Serum E ewes, DGM ConE-GE-LE-GL u Pretreatment1.271.26 u Pre-lambing1.51 a 1.91 b u Post-lambing a.93 a 1.13 b u Mid-lactation.97 a.95 a 1.28 b 1.37 b u Milk e at 3 days10.815.1 u a,b Row means with different superscripts differ (p<.05).

8. Results - Serum E lambs ConE-GE-LE-GL 3 days1.081.08 28 days.41.381.331.33

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

10. Birth Weight on Livability Best 11.4 pounds VPI 1 pound increase in birth weight = 4%  in death loss Texas A & M

11. Birth Weight SmallMediumLarge 8.58.6-13.313.4 Wt. gain/.69.75.82 day of age Feed eff.4.84.33.8 U. of Kentucky Birth Weight & Feedlot Performance

12. Depends on: ewe size type of birth Singles 7% of dam wt. Twins 6.5% of dam wt. Triplets 5.5% of dam wt. 175 ewesingle 12-13 twin 11-11.5 triplet 9-10 So what is the right birth weight?

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

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

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

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

17. Trouble Shooting-Use the Thermometer u Normal temp. - 101° - 102°F u Elevated temp.-above 103°F (think infection) u 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 120-200 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. under the skin given daily for 4-5 days - Assure nutrition and hydration

20. Severe Hypothermia- below 99°F u *Under 6 hours old remove and dry supplement heat warm dry moving air 100-103°F tube feed 120-200 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 100- 103°F max tube feed 120-200 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 u Paint brand u Cubicles & lambing jugs u Shear pre-lambing u Stomach tube u Proper feeding at lambing & weaning u 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 u Condition score u Observation u Intercom, video camera u Feed antibiotics u Vaccinate against vibrio, EAE u Exercise? u Assist after 30 minutes in labor u Closed flock

27. Abortion Diseases u Toxoplasmosis u Campylobacter u Chlamydia

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

29. Pneumonia u Causes Poorly ventilated buildings Inadequate space Wet bedding

30. Solution u 20 ft. 2 area for ewes with lambs u Sulfa water treatment u Open up barn u Use more bedding u Pre-lambing shearing u Heated buildings u 30CFM minimum ventilation u 100 CFM above 35 0

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

32. Intestinal Disorders - Causes u Wet bedding u Stress u 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 u Colostrum u Lamb Reviver i.e. stomach tube u Thermometer u Head Snare u Ropes or dog choke collars

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

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

36. Lambing Problems u How Do You Know? u 1 - Length of labor u 2 - Position of feet u Toes up okay u Toes down backwards u Tail first backwards u One foot first u 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 castrate early 3 - Lambing Jugs 4 x 6, 5 x 6 4 x 6, 5 x 6 4 - Observe often 5 - Check for inverted eyelids

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