Store lamb lame and dead days later

k mac

Bought store ewe lambs for the first time 2 weeks ago so have no experience with sheep. Anyway alot of them were fairly lame one in particular was very lame on saturday, had a look at her feet and could not see a problem, by yesterday evening she could not get up at all and she was dead this morning. The rest of them don't seem that lame now, my question is what do ye think could be the cause of death should i be worried about the rest of them? Also they were supposed to have been dosed and done for blackleg before i bought them.

ganmo

are they lame on front/back feet?
its unlikely the unless its something like an abscess

Diagnosing and treating lameness is a skill, the experts are now preaching that you shouldn't pair feet but we have a regular problem where a hole forms between the shell and hoof that collects sh1t and will result in a bad infection so I give most lame sheep a trim to try and see if there are any holes.

try and sort out some sort of foot bath if you're going to stay in sheep saves alot of bother

MayoAreMagic

Was there any fluid/froth coming from the lambs mouth? Did it's stomach swell? There have been a few cold nights recently, could be braxy.

Also, did the guy tell you they were treated for blackleg specifically, or clostridial diseases in general?

As regards the feet, the best practice is to pare the hoof, but not until it bleeds like some used to preach. Think about it, is it a good idea to open a wound and then stick it in muck on the ground? Would you do it to your own foot?

Ard_MC

ganmo wrote: »

are they lame on front/back feet?
its unlikely the unless its something like an abscess

Diagnosing and treating lameness is a skill, the experts are now preaching that you shouldn't pair feet but we have a regular problem where a hole forms between the shell and hoof that collects sh1t and will result in a bad infection so I give most lame sheep a trim to try and see if there are any holes.

try and sort out some sort of foot bath if you're going to stay in sheep saves alot of bother

I have the same problem...biggest headache I have! Have you any succesful treatements to stop the hole and infection?!

sea12

Ard_MC wrote: »

I have the same problem...biggest headache I have! Have you any succesful treatements to stop the hole and infection?!

Lots of runs through the foot bath. If u don't have one get some copper sulphate. Add water. Put in a clean spray bottle and spray on foot. You'll be amazed the difference in a few days.

Ard_MC

sea12 wrote: »

Lots of runs through the foot bath. If u don't have one get some copper sulphate. Add water. Put in a clean spray bottle and spray on foot. You'll be amazed the difference in a few days.

Yah, have a 20ft foot bath, and rotate between copper and Zinc sulphate. Stopped using formnalin a few years ago as thought it was making feet soft! Was hoping somebody tried these new products like "purple socks" and it was the cure that lasted a bit longer than the 2 above!!

Green farmer

I use hoofsure endurance, by provita. Most non toxic thing I could find. Seems to work well for me on most sheep.

ganmo

Ard_MC wrote: »

I have the same problem...biggest headache I have! Have you any succesful treatements to stop the hole and infection?!

I kept a mineral bucket with one lot of lambs that seemed to help this year. Gonna have to try and keep them with the ewes now
Zinc in the diet helps the hoof too.

Foot bathing will clean out the holes but I'm hoping the mineral buckets will close those holes entirely

funny man

unlikely connection. all store lambs should be vaccinated after purchase