Gauteng Smallholder Gauteng Smallholder September 2017 | Page 39

expel the worms and
reduce the exposure of
new-born lambs to
infective worm larvae.
What is also helpful is to
increase the protein
content of the ration
during late gestation.
Higher protein rations
have been shown to
reduce egg counts in
Assisting twin lambs to suckle. Note head-
periparturient ewes,
light for easy night work
resulting in better ewe
From page 36
and lamb performance.
cold and chilly weather.
Deworming can be done at
Pregnant and lactating ewes
the same time as CD-T
suffer a temporary loss in
vaccinations.
immunity to intestinal worms
Pregnant ewes should be
as a result of the hormonal
vaccinated for clostridial
changes that are occurring
diseases (usually Clostridium
around the time of lambing.
perfringins type C & D and
Foetal demand for glucose
tetanus) 4 to 6 weeks prior to
and protein also lessens the
parturition. Vaccinated
ewe's ability to resist parasites.
females will pass antibodies in
It is the primary source of
their colostrum to their new-
parasite infection for the new
born lambs. Ewes should not
lamb s w hose immune systems
be vaccinated within two
are still naive.
weeks of lambing. This is not
Deworming with an effective
enough time to get antibodies
anthelmintic will help the ewe
in the colostrum.
LIVESTOCK
A ewe about to lamb
successful. Sometimes ewes
might prefer to leave the
reject a lamb when they can
flock. She is often restless, the sense that there is something
udder is often distended and
wrong with it, which we
external genitals are in a
might not be able to see.
flushed and flaccid condition. If it is possible, leave the
Generally in a healthy ewe
lambs with their mothers for
giving birth is normal.
three months and do not
Ensure that the lamb is
allow the ram access to the
suckling properly. Examine the lactating ewes. They can fall
ewe's udders for blindness of
pregnant while they are still
teats or mastitis. Sometimes
feeding a lamb, but it is better
the mother appears to be
to allow their bodies a chance
indifferent to its lamb. Then
to fully recover and build up
you need to intervene, by
their strength, before they fall
catching the ewe and holding pregnant again.
her while the baby suckles.
In most cases she will soon
settle down and allow
feeding. What might also
happen when a ewe has
twins is that she will favour
one and not feed the other,
or even push it away or hurt
it. Trying to overcome this
behaviour takes persever-
ance on your part and you
might have to feed the
rejected lamb yourself.
Pregnant ewe.
Sadly this is not always
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