Without these antibodies rather minor diseases can weaken a lamb, make it sick or let it die, even later on and not just immediately after birth. This colostrum must be consumed by the lamb ideally within the first 12 to 18 hours but no later than 24 hours after it was born. There are two reasons for this time limit.
Any lambs that do not feed within the first few hours after birth will soon run out of energy reserves to keep warm, and will die very rapidly if there is no intervention, no matter what environment they are born into.
All lambs need colostrum. While it is possible for lambs to survive without colostrum in a relatively disease-free environment, the likelihood of disease and death is much higher in lambs that do not receive colostrum. The ideal colostrum source for supplemental feeding of lambs is from healthy ewes in one's own flock.
Milk supplies nutrients that the lamb's body uses to keep the body temperature stable. An older lamb (one to two weeks) may survive up to twenty-four hours without milk but will be in poor condition after this time without food.
Watery mouth is an infectious bacterial disease that can kill newborn lambs usually within the first 3 days of life. Lambs pick up infection from the environment and the bacteria multiply very rapidly in the gut. Affected lambs die within hours.
Treatment. Despite bloating, lambs with watery mouth disease need oral electrolyte therapy at a rate of 50 mls per kg four times daily to prevent dehydration. During the early stages soapy water enemas such as diluted washing-up liquid, or other laxatives may be used to promote gut activity and expulsion of meconium.
Common signs include lethargy, tightening of the skin, weight loss and drying of mucous membranes and eyes.
Playful lambs
Healthy lambs nurse frequently, one to two times per hour during the first few weeks. A lamb that bleats all the time is probably hungry and not getting enough to eat. A healthy lamb usually stretches when it rises. Conversely, an unhealthy or hungry lambs often stands scrunched up.
Lambs less than 30 days of age will need a liquid diet until about 60 days of age. They will start to nibble lamb ration pellets at about 30 days of age. Provide fresh drinking water at all times for the lamb in a clean bucket that the lamb can easily reach.
4.2 Non-pregnant and non-lactating ewes
A ewe that is neither pregnant nor lactating should spend no less than 20 hours and no more than 32 hours off feed prior to shearing. This ewe should spend no less than 12 hours and no more than 24 hours without water prior to shearing.
To maintain its body temperature, the newborn lamb must produce as much heat as it is losing to the environment. If the lamb cannot do this, its body temperature will start to fall, and, if not remedied, lead to death.
A reading of 37-39°C indicates mild to moderate hypothermia and if the thermometer shows below 37°C, the lamb is severely hypothermic.”
Cold, wet weather is especially problematic for small, newborn lambs that lose heat quickly. This can be fatal if they don't have enough energy reserves to burn to keep warm. Minimising stress and time off feed is crucial, especially in cold, wet weather.
Lambs less than five hours old will usually respond to warming alone. This is best done with a heat lamp or a hot box, however, care must be taken not to overheat lambs. Stomach tubing with colostrum will hasten the response. This is a relatively simple procedure and definitely saves lives.
Do not help to lamb (or help cattle or goats to give birth either) No contact with new-born lambs, kids, or calves. Don't have any contact with the placenta or any other birthing materials. Don't touch any equipment, bedding or clothing that has been in contact with newly born lambs, kids, calves or pregnant animals.
If the lamb/kid is too weak to stand and nurse, milk out colostrum from the mother (best) or use a colostrum replacer and bottle-feed the lamb/kid 2 ounces every couple of hours until it is strong enough to nurse on its own.
Newborn lambs need to be fed every 2-3 hours for the first two weeks of life (the night feeds can be stretched to 4 or 5 hours) and then every 4 hours for the next few weeks, depending on how well they are doing.
Lambs will begin to nibble on solid food soon after birth and will be fully eating grass by 4- 6 weeks old. Hard feed such as Sheep Nuts TM or Multifeed TM nuts can also be fed. Weaning can begin as early as 6 weeks of age but most lambs benefit from milk feeding up to 12-14 weeks of age.
First and foremost is to make sure that the lambs are getting enough to eat. Typical lamb behavior is to stretch when they get up, ears should be alert and they should readily seek the udder. Lambs that cry, stand around hunched up, or simply don't get up most likely need more to eat.
If feeding using multi lamb feeders or bottles be prepared to feed lambs 3-4 times a day (depending on your system and age of lambs). Ensure you watch out for slow and fast feeders and rearrange lambs into their respective groups to ensure there is less competition at feeding time.
Do not be tempted to overfeed! It is best to keep the lambs a little hungry especially in the first few days. Overfeeding can lead to scours or bloating.
It was concluded that tail wagging might have communication purposes between the lambs and their mothers while suckling.
Clinical signs of Co deficiency are most commonly observed in weaned lambs at pasture during late summer/autumn. Affected animals show lethargy, reduced appetite, growth retardation, poor wool quality, small size, and poor body condition despite adequate nutrition.
Red gut or intestinal torsion is a severe intestinal accident seen in sheep grazing lush green pasture. The disease is characterised by acute abdominal pain, collapse, and sudden death. Lambs are typically found dead and the carcass bloated.
A typical sign of a worm problem is unthrifty sheep. An unthrifty sheep is one that is not eating properly, is losing condition, tends to lag behind the mob when moved and, in severe cases, is clearly weak. A worm problem often (but not always) results in sheep scouring and becoming daggy.