[Jacob-list] stillborn lambs

[Linda]

Vibrio, chlamydia, and toxoplamosis, I think are the most common causes of abortion storms. I know that toxoplamosis (from cat feces) can cause stillborn lambs, weak lambs and abortions. It's something I worry about since we buy hay sometimes from people that have feral cats living in their barns. We have a cat, but she's much too prissy to use the hay as a litter box.

Linda 
 
www.patchworkfibers.com
Registered Jacob Sheep, Angora Rabbits, Handspun Yarn


> I don't know the answer, but hope someone else does.

> ----- Original Message -----

> From: "Lasell J. Bartlett"

> To:

> 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

>>

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