[Jacob-list] dead lambs-deformed lambs

[SovreignFarms at aol.com]

Hello Everyone,
I have been quietly following these notes to the list  regarding weak 
,deformed ,as well as aborted lambs.  Seems to be an  odd year where this is 
turning up more & more.  The only thing that  comes to mind here is the 
Pipestone Veterinary Sheep Newsletter (February/2011  issue) where it is being 
discussed that Cache Valley Virus (CCV). It  is becoming more widespread across 
the U.S; in fact now reported in 22  states. Another thing they mention in 
this newsletter is that if you have  deformed lambs, mummified lambs, aborted 
lambs and weak lambs, you should send  them to your state diagnostic lab 
along with the placenta if possible and a  complete history for potential 
diagnosis. Those flocks that are infected  report up to 18.5% affected lambs.  
Given the numbers of sheep changing  homes every year, I would think this 
would be easily moved about.  Anyway,  just food for thought.  I have included 
the link to the newsletter.  I  have subscribed to this newsletter for years. 
 They are a veterinary clinic  who specializes in sheep.  Its free and has 
lots of information every  month.  Maybe this will help. Its being reported 
as a virus, and as is  typical of a virus once everyone is immune, it will 
perhaps have run its course.  I know that does not help much, we all hate to 
lose lambs for any  reason.
 
_http://www.pipevet.com/userfiles/file/sheep%20newsletter%20February%202011.
pdf_ 
(http://www.pipevet.com/userfiles/file/sheep%20newsletter%20February%202011.pdf) 
 
Sharon Lehrke
Sovreign Farms 
FL
 
 
 
 
In a message dated 3/27/2011 3:11:40 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
lambfarm at tds.net writes:

Okay,folks, this has never happened  before...First ewe to lamb out was 
bred elsewhere:both lambs were weak and  lethargic,brought them inside,milked 
out mom and gave them both  colostrum...Little boy recovered, went out, 
nursed on mom, is doing well.  Little girl got progressively weaker, and I 
noticed her anus was a little  strange.  She was pooping but it just didn't look 
right. Second morning,  she was very weak, there was blood near her backside, 
she was bleeding  rectally.  I figured at that point there was something 
internally wrong  with her, and the kindest thing I could do was not feed her. 
She died shortly  thereafter.  
 
Next ewe lambs out; one of mine, had twins last  year, no problems. This 
year, a single ewe lamb, feisty, got up right away  looking for food.  But she 
got progressively weaker.  That was  yesterday. This morning I weighed her 
and she had lost a pound from  birthweight.  I brought her inside and tubed 
her with mom's colostrum,  noticing that mom was only working on one side.  
Had she only tried that  side and with no milk, was slowly starving?  Well, 
anyway,tubed her this  morning.  Tubed her a few hours later.Just went out 
and she's very much  dying.  No point in tubing her again. No fever.  This 
one looks on  the outsideanyway anatomically correct.  She peed. Not sure she 
ever  pooped.  I had to tube a lamb a few years ago, and she bounced right  
back. This one clearly isn't going to. At this point, to even find a vet who 
 knows sheep on a Sunday afternoon...I don't think they could get here in 
time.  I don't think she hasmuch time left. She's lying on her side, legs 
stretched  out, stargazing a bit.  
 
With the first one, I figured there was some  internal problem, but now to 
have another one die...and she was fine when  born.  Any thoughts out there? 
 
 
Unfortunately, my vet decided there was more  money in being pet vets and 
gave up farm animals.  The nearest vet is a  horse vet, who has meds, but is 
admittedly clueless about sheep.  The  next nearest is 45 minutes away.  I 
only know about him; haven't called  him.
 Betty, in Vermont,who now has a blog,  thanks to help from Walter and 
Linda.  See Betty's blog at _http://sheepwoman.wordpress.com_ 
(http://sheepwoman.wordpress.com/) .


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