In-lamb ewe always on her back

Vendeen

I have a ewe that is always going over on her back in the field. This has been going on for the last two to three months. She is due to lamb this week or next. Any thoughts on this ? I think I may have to cull her later !

Username John

Vendeen wrote: »

I have a ewe that is always going over on her back in the field. This has been going on for the last two to three months. She is due to lamb this week or next. Any thoughts on this ? I think I may have to cull her later !

Definitely cull her, she will only keep doing it until one day you're too late an the crows have damage done, and then you'll be sickened with yourself.
I wouldn't breed from her either - I have no scientific basis for this, just think there's enough things to go wrong without adding another potential issue into the mix

If she is lambing in 2 weeks, could you bring her in until she's lambed?

Farrell

Vendeen wrote: »

I have a ewe that is always going over on her back in the field. This has been going on for the last two to three months. She is due to lamb this week or next. Any thoughts on this ? I think I may have to cull her later !

We'd 1 did that last year, when she was lambing the lambs were slightly tangled, but she stopped going over after that.
But as John says had 1 got on her back years ago & the crows did a job, she'd twins who'd lead her to the drinking spot, pity great ewe!

Vendeen

Username John wrote: »

Definitely cull her, she will only keep doing it until one day you're too late an the crows have damage done, and then you'll be sickened with yourself.
I wouldn't breed from her either - I have no scientific basis for this, just think there's enough things to go wrong without adding another potential issue into the mix

If she is lambing in 2 weeks, could you bring her in until she's lambed?

Thanks John yea I could bring her in alright

Vendeen

Farrell wrote: »

We'd 1 did that last year, when she was lambing the lambs were slightly tangled, but she stopped going over after that.
But as John says had 1 got on her back years ago & the crows did a job, she'd twins who'd lead her to the drinking spot, pity great ewe!

Thanks farrell

sonnybill

Looking for advice . I’ve a triplet ewe that keeps going on her back , nearly due to lamb , twice I had her fully over and well groggy by the time I got her, now For safety I put her in and she thinks she is Bobby Sands won’t eat haylage or the nuts she was devouring on grass, she’ll nibble ivy and that about it , I gave her 180ml of life aid and prob more minerals but not sure what to do ? If I let her out she’ll be found on her back but need to get her eating

sonnybill

sonnybill wrote: »

Looking for advice . I’ve a triplet ewe that keeps going on her back , nearly due to lamb , twice I had her fully over and well groggy by the time I got her, now For safety I put her in and she thinks she is Bobby Sands won’t eat haylage or the nuts she was devouring on grass, she’ll nibble ivy and that about it , I gave her 180ml of life aid and prob more minerals but not sure what to do ? If I let her out she’ll be found on her back but need to get her eating

Cut a bag of grass with the lawnmower or strim some??


I believe such practice,would be more widely known as zero-grazing!!

(Also sudden change in diet,may not be best)

charolais0153

sonnybill wrote: »

Looking for advice . I’ve a triplet ewe that keeps going on her back , nearly due to lamb , twice I had her fully over and well groggy by the time I got her, now For safety I put her in and she thinks she is Bobby Sands won’t eat haylage or the nuts she was devouring on grass, she’ll nibble ivy and that about it , I gave her 180ml of life aid and prob more minerals but not sure what to do ? If I let her out she’ll be found on her back but need to get her eating

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.farmersjournal.ie/amp/new-device-stops-ewes-going-on-their-backs-174455

eorna

sonnybill wrote: »

Looking for advice . I’ve a triplet ewe that keeps going on her back , nearly due to lamb , twice I had her fully over and well groggy by the time I got her, now For safety I put her in and she thinks she is Bobby Sands won’t eat haylage or the nuts she was devouring on grass, she’ll nibble ivy and that about it , I gave her 180ml of life aid and prob more minerals but not sure what to do ? If I let her out she’ll be found on her back but need to get her eating

Be careful she doesnt get twin lamb disease now. If you have a small paddock near the house with a bit of grass i would go for that instead if she doesnt eat inside.
They are strange creatures....

sonnybill

She lambed there this evening, three fine lambs to be fair to her, think she threw them though as has a bag but no milk... small strigs of yellow... gave them 250 ml colostrum each on a bottle and hoping they bring the milk to her as fine milky sheep she was as a hogget anyway. Gave her grovite and cobalt and hoping to let her out as drawing grass to her is only short term

sonnybill

sonnybill wrote: »

She lambed there this evening, three fine lambs to be fair to her, think she threw them though as has a bag but no milk... small strigs of yellow... gave them 250 ml colostrum each on a bottle and hoping they bring the milk to her as fine milky sheep she was as a hogget anyway. Gave her grovite and cobalt and hoping to let her out as drawing grass to her is only short term

Its good to get them.out alive anyway!

Oldira

Had a ewe die this morning who was scanned for twins. Her underbelly was really swollen this past day or two as in low to the ground but she was eating etc until yesterday. Gave her glocuse last night thinking it may be twin lamb but she was dead this morning. what could it be? was eating fine etc up to Monday

sonnybill

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Its good to get them.out alive anyway!

She is out and milk came to her, I put the strongest ewe lamb on my only other single!

Hogget ration, ivy bushes, bags of grass... everything thrown at her

sonnybill

She is out and milk came to her, I put the strongest ewe lamb on my only other single!

Hogget ration, ivy bushes, bags of grass... everything thrown at her

The man in red and black

Oldira wrote: »

Had a ewe die this morning who was scanned for twins. Her underbelly was really swollen this past day or two as in low to the ground but she was eating etc until yesterday. Gave her glocuse last night thinking it may be twin lamb but she was dead this morning. what could it be? was eating fine etc up to Monday

Hard to know as could be anything but you would have to be suspicious of low calcium or severe twin lamb in any ewe within 4 weeks of lambing going downhill suddenly.