[Jacob-list] stillborn lambs

[fourhornfarm]

I don't know the answer, but hope someone else does.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Lasell J. Bartlett" <lasell at lasell.org>
To: <Jacob-list at jacobsheep.com>
Sent: Friday, March 14, 2008 10:21 AM
Subject: [Jacob-list] stillborn lambs



>A friend suggested I seek some ideas from this list.

> 

> It is lambing time and a disturbing time. Four ewes have lambed so  

> far, with 3 live lambs and 4 stillborn. One single live, one single  

> stillborn, two twins with one living (smaller) and one dead (larger)  

> and one of unknown origin, either a triplet or a single from a 5th  

> ewe. Altogether we have 9 ewes and from the looks of it, more lambs  

> coming.

> 

> I have read online about a variety of bacteria that kill the fetus  

> and depending on 'when' during the pregnancy the ewe is infected,  

> that determines whether it results in reabsorption of the fetus,  

> abortion, or still birth.

> 

> Aside from all coming out intact and healthy looking (albeit lifeless  

> and even non-responsive to CPR attempts on my part), they are large  

> lambs. The largest weighed 8 lbs which I think is big for Jacobs (the  

> other two I weighed were 7 and 7.5 lbs, didn't weigh the first  

> stillborn and haven't weighed any of the live ones). Our ewes aren't  

> particularly big from my estimate. And the surviving lambs from the  

> twins born were considerably smaller.

> 

> Our flock has pretty much had the same feed and water over the years.  

> Some of the hay this year was from some different fields but still  

> all local. I suppose the main change is that we sold our small herd  

> of Dexters cow who had shared grazing, hay, water, and shelter with  

> the Jacobs. And we sold our ram a few weeks ago.

> 

> I would appreciate hearing the thoughts of some of you folks with  

> more experience than I. I am grateful for the nicely marked cute  

> little lively ewe lambs we have, and with more ewes due to pop, I am  

> hoping for more live births. We have not had a problem like this  

> before and my husband has had Jacobs for more than twenty years.

> 

> Lasell Bartlett

> Vermont

> 

> _______________________________________________

> Jacob-list mailing list, sponsored by Swallow Lane Farm & Fiberworks

> Jacob-list at jacobsheep.com

> http://www.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/jacob-list

>