Problems
encountered and
how to address them
Susan Schoenian
Sheep & Goat Specialist
Western Maryland Research & Education Center
University of Maryland Cooperative Extension
sschoen@umd.edu – www.sheepandgoat.com
Lambing and kidding
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Most ewes and does will
lamb and kid on their own
and take care of their
offspring.
It is best to leave them
alone.
Don’t make things more
complicated than they need
to be.
Cull ewes and does with
problems.
Do not keep offspring from
females that have problems.
Problems encountered before
lambing and kidding
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Pregnancy toxemia
Milk fever
Vaginal prolapse
Abortion storm
Pregnancy toxemia
also called ketosis, twin lamb disease, and lambing paralysis
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Low blood glucose
caused by inadequate
intake of energy intake
during last month of
pregnancy.
Breakdown of fat
produces toxic ketone
bodies.
Pregnancy toxemia
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What are the
symptoms?
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Lag behind flock
Droopy
Lack of appetite
Lethargy
Recumbency
Death
Pregnancy toxemia
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Who’s most
susceptible?
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Females carrying
multiple fetuses
Thin females
Fat females
Timid females
Pregnancy toxemia
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Early intervention is
necessary.
Treatment is to
administer glucose to
affected females.
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Orally
Under the skin (Sub-Q)
Intravenous (IV)
In advanced cases, a
caesarian section may
be necessary.
Milk fever
hypocalcemia
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Low blood calcium
Caused by intake
of too little or too
much calcium
(failure to mobilize
calcium).
Milk fever
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What are the
symptoms?
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Lack behind flock
Lack of appetite
Lethargy
Unsteadiness
Recumbency
Similar to pregnancy
toxemia
Milk fever
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Early recognition is
necessary,
Treatment is calcium
therapy.
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Oral
Under skin (sub-Q)
Intravenous (IV)
Vaginal prolapse
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Protrusion of vagina
Causes . . . . ?
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Genetic
predisposition
Lack of exercise
Obesity
Hormonal imbalances
Vaginal prolapse
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Need to clean and put back
in.
Can keep in with a bearing
retainer (spoon), prolapse
harness, or bailing twine.
A stitch will also keep
prolapse in.
A ewe can lamb through the
spoon and harness, but the
stitch must be removed.
Usually cures itself after
lambing.
Spoon/bearing retainer
harness
Vaginal prolapse
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Rectal prolapse
Ewes that prolapse
are likely to
prolapse again.
There is a genetic
component, so you
should not keep or
sell (for breeding)
lambs born to these
ewes.
Abortion
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Non-infectious
Infectious
[Affects entire litter]
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Campylobacter fetus
(vibrio)
Chlamydia sp. (enzootic)
Toxoplasmosis
Leptospirosis
Cache Valley
During an abortion storm
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Isolation and sanitation.
Do not feed on ground.
Destroy infected placenta
and fetuses.
Submit samples to
diagnostic lab.
Immediate vaccination.
Feed oxytetracycline or
tetracycline.
Give remaining females
antibiotic injections.
During lambing and kidding
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Dystocia
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Ringwomb
Malpresentations
Oversized fetus
Aborted fetus(es)
Ringwomb
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Failure of the cervix to
dilate.
Affects females of any
age or breed,
especially those
bearing multiple
offspring.
Inadequate hormone
preparation.
Study showed
ringworm was result
of autosomal
recessive trait.
https://eidr.wvu.edu/files/964/Kerr_N_ETD.pdf
Ringwomb
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Administration of calcium
and/or estrogen.
Manipulate the cervix to
open it up.
A caesarian section is
often the only way to
save the female and
offspring.
Does not occur in
successive seasons.
https://eidr.wvu.edu/files/964/Kerr_N_ETD.pdf
Assisting with difficult births
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Normal presentation
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2 front legs and nose
Backwards presentation
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It is best to leave the ewe or doe
alone.
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Check female if she has not made
progress after ~ 1 hour of hard
labor (after water bag has broke).
Use plenty of lubricant.
Elevate hindquarters or have ewe
or doe stand.
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 Seek assistance after 30 minutes
of work with no progress.
Malpresentations
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Elbow lock
One or more legs back
Head back
Breech
Upside down
Multiple fetuses trying to be
born at the same time.
Swollen head.
Disproportionate size.
Dead or deformed fetuses.
Problems encountered after
lambing and kidding
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Uterine prolapse
No milk
Inadequate milk
Retained placenta
Uterine infection
Lack of appetite
Uterine prolapse
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Occurs sporadically
Protrusion of the uterus
Is a life-threatening
condition.
Cause . . . . ?
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Obesity
Genetic predisposition
Low calcium
Exposure to estrogens
Excessive traction
Retained fetal membranes
Lack of exercise
Uterine prolapse
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Prompt and correct
replacement of uterus
Thorough cleaning.
Elevate hindquarters.
Sugar can reduce
swelling of uterus.
Antibiotics + oxytocin
Usually requires
veterinary assistance.
Does not occur in
subsequent parturitions.
No milk
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Some females do not let
them milk down
immediately.
Some females never let
their milk down.
An injection of oxytocin may
help.
Sometimes, it takes a few
days for yearlings to come
into sufficient milk.
Will need to feed colostrum
to lambs/kids.
Inadequate milk
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Caused by . . .
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Inadequate nutrition during
late gestation.
Excess fat in the udder
caused by overfeeding
prepubertal ewe lambs and
doelings.
Udder disease.
Genetic predisposition.
Will need to supplement,
graft, or artificially rear
lambs or kids.
Disowning offspring
Why?
 Most common in first-time mothers.
 Offspring are delivered in different
places
 One offspring wonders away
 Offspring have sharp teeth.
 Sore udder or teats
 Long labor
 Sickness
 Fear
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Use a head stanchion to allow
lambs/kids to nurse or graft, or
artificially rear disowned babies.
Get rid of females that disown
offspring twice.
Colostrum substitutes
CAE and OPP are transmitted via virus-contaminated colostrum and milk.
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Colostrum from another
female in the flock.
Colostrum from another
sheep or goat farm.
Cow colostrum
Colostrum substitutes
Colostrum supplements
Homemade colostrum
Milk replacer
http://www.sheepandgoat.com/articles/colostrum.html
Feeding colostrum
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Tube feeding is better than
bottle feeding.
Feed colostrum at body
temperature.
Thaw frozen colostrum
slowly.
Feed 2-4 ounces at 3 to 4
hour intervals.
Newborn should consume
10% of its body weight in
colostrum.
http://www.sheepandgoat.com/articles/colostrum.html
Raising orphan lambs/kids
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Bottle with nipples for small
number of lambs or kids.
Milk bar for larger number of
lambs or kids.
Lamb milk replacer for lambs
Kid milk replacer for kids.
Follow directions on bag.
Wean abruptly at
approximately six weeks of
age, so long as babies are
drinking water and eating dry
food.
Retained placenta
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Usually passed 30 to 60
minutes after delivery of
last offspring.
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If not . . .
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Monitor closely.
Slight tug of placenta – do
not pull hard.
Administer antibiotics 2x day,
Administer oxytocin or
prostaglandins.
[veterinary involvement]
Lack of appetite
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Uterine infection
Mastitis
Pneumonia
Ketosis
Acidosis
Feed changes
Enjoy lambing and kidding