Head removed from lamb

brownswiss

First time I have found this. Any ideas ? Late this evening I found a good 5 week old lamb dead with head removed . Very clean job with no other body damage and no blood on grass. Hopefully the lamb had died of natural causes. I think it happened in late afternoon

Car99

DOD you get a vet to look at the carcass?

brownswiss

Car99 wrote: »

DOD you get a vet to look at the carcass?

Hopefully in the morning . My preference would be the Lab if they will take her. Difficult to get them to look at anything that is not considered a possible disease outbreak atm. I can make a guess at cause of death but no idea on head removal

krissovo

Badger? I had some issues with a few kids (goats) last year that turned out to be a tough badger. That was limbs that were removed though, never witnessed a head removal.

razor8

This happened a few lambs of mine years ago. It was as if someone had done it with a sharp axe it was such a clean break

A pine marten was blamed at the time. Others said a dog fox. In all cases head was no where to be found but the rest of lamb was left in field

brownswiss

Thanks for the replies. What ever removed the head was neat.

LilacNails

If it were wild life that took the head.... Why the head? Poor little thing that's awful.

Car99

https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/dead-lamb-what-done-this.111692/page-3

Ard_MC

Happened a few lambs here a few years ago. Dog fox was blamed first. Neighbour's dog was caught in the act.

If it's like here, it won't only be the one.

muddle84

I've seen it a few times in west Mayo and its usually a Mink that gets the blame for the head gone, or attacks around the head area of young lambs. Would a fox not take the whole thing?