[Jacob-list] Need help!!! New Mom rejecting lamb

[Linda]

I saw that behavior twice here this year - first time ever.  I posted to the list re the first one.  As I herded her into a pen, she had to choose to run or protect her lamb.  She chose to protect the lamb and they were instantly bonded.  The second ewe kept licking her lamb and then actually tossing the lamb in the air when the lamb approached to nurse. Both ewes lambed outside during the day.  The second one I had to drag up the hill (we will be lambing in a flatter area next year!) while carrying the lamb.  Once I held the ewe so the lamb could nurse, she turned into the world's greatest mother with no further attention from me.  I don't know why these two ewes were initially confused.  Both were first time mothers at two years, both are daughters of fantastic mothers, they are paternal 1/2 sisters, they both have leg markings,  they both have long fleeces, one is four horned and one is two horned, they both were born here ---- looking for a common thread to understand the behavior, but haven't found it.

Hope your girl decides to take her lamb!

Linda


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On Sun, 3 Apr 2005 07:52:20 -0400, Marguerite Van Beek wrote:
> My huntsberger ewe just had a ram lamb last night.  Everything seem
> to be fine, she talked to him, licked him but when he tries to
> nurse she rams him.  I stayed up all night, put him in a box next
> to her, and every two hours took him out and let him nurse while I
> held the ewe.  But if I leave him in there with the box protection
> and he nurses on his own she rams him good.  If I remove him she
> screams for him and him for her.  I looked at the udder and it
> isn't sore or large (since he is nursing).  Any suggestions PLEASE.
> I was going to try to get TaWee her friend to take him since she
> also had her's last night but he screams for his own mom and she
> for him.  Dear god!!!  I did give her a 1/2cc of Banamine just now,
> maybe she was just too sore from lambing.  I want to try
> tranquilizers
> but have no idea what kind. 
>
> Peggy
> NJ

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