Calving and Lambing Techniques Practical
What is a normal birth?
Signs of lambing may be present for some time before the actual birthing
process takes place, this includes restlessness, pawing at the ground and ewes
separating themselves from the group. The average birthing time is 30 minutes.
Firstly the water bag appears and either hangs from the vulva or bursts. Most
ewes will lamb within an hour of their waters breaking, therefore ewes must be
checked at least once per hour. Anything that the waters have broken and has
not made progress within 30 minutes should be laid down and checked and dealt
with. The lamb appears after the waterbag, forefeet first and then the rest of
the body. Any ewe with parts of the lamb visible should also be checked unless
rapid progress is made.
When to interfere:
If only the head appears
The waterbag has been passed and no progress is made in 30 minutes
When the lambing time takes more than 90 minutes
When only one leg or the tail can be seen
Equipment needed:
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Clean, waterproof clothing, gloves – be as clean as you can
Plenty of lubricant
lambing ropes and snare
Two buckets of warm water, with mild iodine-based disinfectant added
Halter or helper for restraint of ewe
Resuscitation equipment, including doxapram hydrochloride (dopram drops)
Medicines – penicillin, oxytocin, painkiller, blue spray: discuss with your vet
Vaginal examination:
External: What is visible? Head, leg (s), membrane, discharge, blood. If the bag is
intact do not break it until you have established what is going on
Internal:
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Vagina – establish presence of lamb, degree of lubrication, presence of trauma or
abnormalities
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Cervix – stage of dilatation, parts of lamb present, abnormalities
Fetus
a. Presentation, position, posture. Normal is forwards, right way up, front legs and
head facing forwards, back legs facing backwards
b. Frontleg vs. hindleg: In the frontleg, the joints flex in the same direction (i.e.
forming U), and hand can be passed upwards along elbow and shoulder onto neck
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and ribcage. In the hindleg, the joints flex in opposite directions (forming Z).
Hand passes along stifle onto hindquarter and tail.
c. One vs. multiple fetuses: Follow one leg up onto the body, then across shoulders
/ underneath neck (or across hindquarter if coming backwards) onto other
forelimb. Stay in close contact with foetal skin all the time. Follow forelimb
forwards along neck onto head.
d. Alive vs. dead: Signs of foetal life include movements visible in dam’s flank,
suck reflex, deep pain reflex if you squash its toes with your fingers, blink
reflex. Signs of foetal death include opacity of the eyeball, separation of
placenta, mucky discharge
Examples of correction
The lamb is normally delivered in an arc
shape, up and out of the ewes pelvis then
down towards the ewes hind feet.
1. Backwards (posterior) presentation
Cannot be corrected but most lambs can be delivered with adequate lubrication. If
the lamb is also upside down then deliver the lamb straight out rather than in an
arch to the ewes hind feet
2. Head back
Forelimbs are present, but no head obvious. Trace limbs to neck, and follow neck to
detect head. The head can then be straightened and a snare or rope applied.
3. Leg back
Older ewes or small lambs may be born with one leg back but the majority need
correcting. The leg that has appeared should be traced back to the head and then
followed to locate the other leg that can then be straightened.
4. Breech
The lamb is backwards but the feet are pointing towards the lambs head rather
than coming first. The legs must be carefully straightened whilst cupping the
hindfoot with your hand for the birth. Simultaneous presentation
With careful palpation, identify limbs and head of one fetus. Correct any
maldisposition and apply traction. Usually easiest to deliver fetus closest to vagina
first. Repulsion may be more difficult due to second fetus taking up space.
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Post-partum care
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Always check for second / additional fetus!
Always check for injury to the ewe eg bleeding, tears
Check ewe for clostrum
Monitor lamb suckling or supplement
Navel dress lamb
Medicines to ewe if required
Normal lamb behaviour
Most lambs shake their heads within 2 minutes of birth and by 5 minutes are
either kneeling, attempting to stand or actually standing. Lambs that cannot lift
their heads up within 5 minutes of birth need help. Most lambs take 40 minutes
to start suckling, they must be assisted if this time goes above 2 hours.
Treatment of weak or chilled lambs
Take temperature
BELOW 37οC
ABOVE 37οC
Under 5 hours old
Over 5 hours old
Able to hold head up and swallow
Unable to hold head up
Feed with stomach tube
Dry lamb
Glucose injection
Warm in heater
Dry lamb
Feed with stomach tube
Then monitor lamb carefully and keep with ewe only if sucking vigorously
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Guideline amounts of colostrum
Lamb size
Single (or large lamb)
Twin (medium sized lamb)
Triplet (small lamb)
Per feed
250ml
200ml
150ml
Per day
1L
800ml
600ml
Based on 50ml/kg weight/feed
This must be increased by 20-30% in cold, wet or windy conditions. Colostrum must be
received by the lamb within the first 3 hours of life.
Intraperitoneal injection
This route is only used for glucose solution for starving, hypothermic lambs which have
low blood sugar level.
Equipment:
- 50ml syringe (sterile)
- 1” 19 gauge needle
- 20 or 40% glucose (warmed)
Site: hold the lamb with the front legs raised. The site for injection is half inch to the
side and 1 inch behind the navel. Fully insert the needle pointing towards the lambs
rump. Empty the syringe and withdraw.
Amount: 20% solution can be used directly, 40% needs diluting with an equal volume of
water.
Large lamb – 50ml
Small lamb – 25ml
Please remember that some of the diseases that sheep can get are contagious to
humans, pregnant women and children are particularly at risk but take great care to be
clean and careful around sheep, especially at lambing time.
This handout is intended as a guide to accompany our Clover Club “Lambing Skills” practical, for further
information please consult your vet or a handy book to have is “Practical Lambing and Lamb Care” by FA
Eales and J Small.
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