Practical Lambing and Lamb Care (eBook)

Andrew Eales is the author of Practical Lambing and Lamb Care: A Veterinary Guide, 3rd Edition, published by Wiley. John Small is the author of Practical Lambing and Lamb Care: A Veterinary Guide, 3rd Edition, published by Wiley. Colin Macaldowie is the author of Practical Lambing and Lamb Care: A Veterinary Guide, 3rd Edition, published by Wiley.

Practical Lambing and Lamb Care 1
Contents 7
Preface to the first edition 13
Preface to the second edition 15
Preface to the third edition 17
Acknowledgements 21
1. The newborn lamb 22
Problems facing the ‘perfect’ lamb 22
Constraints on lamb viability 29
Summary 36
2. Lambing the ewe 38
The normal lambing 38
Approach to assistance 40
Specific problems 45
Resuscitation of the newborn 49
After an assisted lambing 50
3. Problems in lambs 54
Abscess 55
Acidosis 55
Arthritis 55
Atresia ani 55
Atypical pneumonia 55
Bladder stones 56
Bloat 56
Blowfly strike (Myiasis) 58
Bone abnormalities 59
Border disease 59
Broken leg 61
Castration (incorrect) 61
Cerebrocortical necrosis (Polioencephalomalacia, CCN) 62
Chilling 63
Cleft palate 63
Cobalt deficiency 64
Coccidiosis 64
Constipation 65
Copper deficiency 66
Copper poisoning 66
Cripples 68
Daft lamb disease 68
Diarrhoea 69
Enteritis 69
Entropion 71
Erysipelothrix infection 73
Exposure 74
Eye infections 74
Eyelid (turned in) 75
Faecal spoiling 75
Foot and mouth disease 75
Fractures 76
Hairy shaker 78
Hernia 78
Husk 78
Hyperthermia 79
Hypothermia 79
Inhalation pneumonia 83
Iodine deficiency 83
Jaw defects 84
Joint defects 85
Joint ill 86
Lamb dysentery 87
Legs (broken) 88
Listeriosis 88
Liver abscess (Liver necrosis) 88
Lockjaw 89
Louping-ill 89
Lungworm 91
Muscular dystrophy 92
Navel hernia 92
Navel ill 92
Neonatal ataxia 93
Nephrosis 93
Open mouth 93
Orf 93
Overshot jaw 95
Paralysis 95
Parasitic gastroenteritis 95
Pasteurellosis (Enzootic pneumonia) 104
Photosensitization (Yellowses) 104
Pine (Cobalt deficiency) 105
Poisoning 106
Premature birth 107
Pulpy kidney 109
Rattle belly 110
Redfoot 110
Redgut 111
Ribs (fractured) 112
Rickets 112
Roundworm infection 113
Ruminal acidosis 113
Scad (Scald) 114
Scour 114
Selenium deficiency 114
Sheep scab 114
Slavers (Slavery mouth) 116
Spinal abscess 116
Starvation 117
Stiff lamb disease (Muscular dystrophy, White muscle disease) 117
Stones 118
Strike 118
Swayback 118
Tetanus (Lockjaw) 120
Tick-borne fever 121
Tick infestation 121
Tick pyaemia 122
Trembling 122
Umbilical hernia 122
Undershot jaw 124
Urinary calculi (Stones) 124
Vitamin E deficiency 125
Watery mouth (Rattle belly, Slavers, Slavery mouth) 125
White muscle disease 138
Wounds 138
Yellowses 138
4 Problems in ewes 140
Abdominal hernia (ruptures) 140
Hypocalcaemia (Lambing sickness, Milk fever, Parturient paresis) 141
Hypomagnesaemia (Grass staggers, Lactation tetany) 143
Mastitis (Udderclap) 144
Metritis 145
Pneumonia 145
Pregnancy toxaemia (Twin lamb disease) 146
Prolapsed vagina 148
Prolapsed uterus 152
5 Abortion in ewes 154
Non-infectious abortion 156
Infectious abortion 156
6 Prevention of problems 172
Prevention of problems in ewes 172
Prevention of problems in lambs 173
Assessment of losses 175
Ewe body-condition scoring 180
Vaccination 183
Vitamin supplementation 188
Mineral supplementation 189
Prevention of problems in organic management systems 193
7 Techniques for treating newborn lambs 198
Diagnosis of problems 198
Feeding the newborn lamb 203
Administration of drugs 207
Warming hypothermic lambs 218
Care of the weak lamb 222
Artificial rearing 223
Fostering 228
Castration 232
Navel dressing 236
Ear tagging and electronic identification 237
Giving an enema 239
8 Welfare at lambing 242
Welfare codes 243
Relevant United Kingdom legislation 249
Problems in lambs 251
Problems in ewes 251
Humane destruction 252
Shepherd welfare 257
Lambing equipment checklist 260
Further reading 262
Useful internet addresses 264
Glossary 266
Index 270

"This book is a revised edition that provides practical guidanceand information on aspects of lambing and lamb care. It covers themajor diseases and problems seen in lambs and includes chapters onewe health, including abortion issues, preventitive methods,lambing techniques and animal welfare issues. There is newinformation on zoonotic infections, the handling and storage ofdrugs, flock health plans and consideration for organicproducsers.
This book would be of interest to animal producers, veterinariansand veterinary and agricultural students.
CAB Abstracts, 2005

"The inclusion of simple diagrams and clear instruction makethis a useful reference for those caring for sheep as well asstudents."

"The book is easy to read, well laid out and would be auseful reference book for those caring for sheep."
Irish Veterinary Journal, 2005

"All sheep practices should have a copy and advise their sheepclients like-wise. If the information within this book wereimplemented on all sheep enterprises, the welfare of lambs would besignificantly improved."
Veterinary Record, 2005