Lambing is the highest-risk welfare period for both ewes and lambs. Dystocia (difficult birth), neonatal hypothermia, starvation, mismothering, and disease are concentrated around parturition. Good lambing management significantly reduces both mortality and suffering during this critical period.
Pre-Lambing Preparation
Good outcomes at lambing begin weeks before. Key preparation:
Ewe nutrition in late pregnancy: achieving target BCS (2.5-3.0 at lambing) through appropriate feeding
Scanning for litter size: allows differentiation of single/twin/triplet bearing ewes for targeted feeding
Vaccination: clostridial + pasteurella boosters 4-6 weeks pre-lambing for passive transfer to lambs
Housing: where ewes are housed for lambing, adequate space per ewe (minimum 1.2-1.5m²), clean bedding, good ventilation
Intervention timing is critical: too early disrupts natural birth; too late causes fetal death and uterine damage. Guidelines:
Ewe in active labour (strong straining) for more than 30-45 minutes without progress: examine
Ewe with waters broken for more than 1 hour without progress: examine
Malpresentation: correct position before attempting delivery; never pull without confirmed correct presentation
Obstetric lubricant reduces trauma to both ewe and lamb
Know when to call the vet: head-only, three lambs, uterine torsion, ring womb
Post-dystocia: analgesia (NSAIDs) improves ewe welfare and supports recovery
Newborn Lamb Care
Neonatal lamb welfare in the first hours is critical:
Ensure airway is clear; remove membranes from face and nostrils
Dry the lamb — cold wet lambs lose heat rapidly; in cold weather, towel dry and provide supplementary heat
Ensure the lamb suckles or receives colostrum within the first hour (passive immunity and energy)
Lambs unable to suckle: feed by stomach tube; minimum 50ml/kg of colostrum in first 6 hours
Monitor for hypothermia: core temperature below 37°C requires warming; below 35°C requires glucose administration and warming before feeding
Mismothering & Fostering
Ewe-lamb bonding occurs in the first hours after birth. Disruption (moving ewes too soon, interference) increases mismothering. Fostering orphan lambs onto ewes that have lost lambs requires careful management: skin-graft technique, foster crate methods. Artificial rearing of orphans should use milk replacer at appropriate volumes and frequency.