Get ready to lamb confidently—our ultimate lambing kit guide has got you covered. Whether you’re an experienced shepherd or new to lambing, having the right gear is key to keeping your flock healthy. From lambing pens to lifesavers for difficult births, we’ve got you covered for every challenge. With these essentials, you’ll be lambing like a pro and keeping your ewes and lambs safe. Let’s get into the must-haves for a stress-free lambing season!
Lamb and Kid Cradle
You can safely and efficiently transfer your lambs with a lamb and kid cradle. This cradle is designed with both the lamb and ewe in mind. If you are concerned and want to prioritize animal welfare and efficiency, you’ll need this essential tool for the well-being of your lambs and ewes.
Why Use a Lamb and Kid Cradle
Here are the reasons why you should use a lamb and kid cradle:
Designed to Support the Lamb’s Natural Posture
The cradle supports the lambs’ natural posture, minimizing stress and potential injury during transport. This tool ensures the well-being of your sheep and flock.
Safe Handling During Transport
The cradle’s innovative design allows you to carry one lamb or multiple lambs (up to four lambs) simultaneously. This unique feature lets you utilize your energy and effort wisely. Your time and strength are valuable; use them well, especially during a lambing season.
Handles Injured Lambs With Care
It’s crucial to ensure the safety of your lambs during transport, especially if they are injured. This cradle provides the necessary care and attention to safeguard them during movement.
No Fuss Sterilization
Sterilization is easy. Just pour hot water on the lamb and kid cradle and use any antiseptic solution. This process will ensure it can be safely used several times.
High-Quality and Durable Materials
The Lamb Cradle is made from high-quality, durable materials and is prepared for the demands of farm life. Its comfortable design allows the navel to protrude, supporting the lamb’s healthy development. Additionally, it reduces pressure during transport.
OB Leg Snare
The OB Leg Snare is designed with expertise and precision to help with the normal delivery of newborn lambs, kids, and other young animals. It supports a smoother and safer lambing and birthing process, making it an essential lambing supply.
Benefits of Using an OB Leg Snare
Enhanced Delivery Process
When deliveries become complicated, such as when a lamb is presented with rear legs first, the OB Leg Snare offers improved control over lambs, kids, or other young animals, minimizing lambing difficulties. This tool gives you peace of mind as you manage the pregnant ewe.
Firm Grip, No Slipping
Because of its adaptable notches, this tool reliably prevents slipping and maintains a firm grip. If you worry about harming your flocks when handling them, this OB Leg Snare ensures safety. It was crafted to address this concern because it fits securely around the front or back of the fetlocks.
Designed for Long-Term Use
You can reuse it many times as long as you disinfect it well. Don’t worry. It can easily be disinfected. The quality-controlled design ensures easy sterilization. To fully enjoy the comfort of having this tool, pair it with the Lamb and Kid Puller and Prolapse Retainer.
Prolapse Retainer
During lambing season, your main goal is for the ewe’s safe delivery without complications through reliable support and supplies. But there are occasions when you need assistance, such as when the lamb is not positioned for a safe, normal presentation. You can say that lambing time can become both thrilling and challenging.
This challenging birthing process usually happens when there are multiple births, when the lambs’ legs are tangled, or when it’s your first lambing experience. Don’t worry. Even experienced shepherds ask for assistance when needed.
And because your flock’s health is a priority, the Prolapse Retainer is highly recommended for managing vaginal prolapse in ewes. The design ensures easy use, so your flock is undoubtedly safe. Most importantly, this product provides gentle and controlled prolapse management.
Why Use a Prolapse Retainer
Here are some reasons you need a prolapse retainer:
Helps Gently Reposition the Prolapse Back Into Place
This prolapse retainer helps gently reposition the prolapse back into place. You’ll know that lambing is starting when mucous discharge starts. The next situation will be more challenging because lambing occurs when uterine contractions increase. The ewe will feel more comfortable urinating because it helps lessen the discomfort.
The Prolapse Retainer has a well-lubricated paddle that conforms perfectly near the rectum where it can fit in. This tool smooths the lamb’s natural birthing process. However, other challenges can occur, such as no space in the birth canal for proper lamb positioning or a blocked birth canal.
Can Stay In Place for a Month
This retainer can remain in place for up to a month. Once inserted, the prolapse retainer does not interfere with lambing and can safely stay that way, supporting the ewe throughout its recovery.
Easy to Sterilize and Resistant to Foreign Matter
Because it is crafted from high-quality materials, this product is easy to sterilize and resistant to foreign matter. To sterilize, pour hot water over it or use a reliable antiseptic solution for quick disinfection.
The Pull-EZE Lamb and Kid Puller
The Pull-EZE Lamb and Kid Puller is another helpful tool for assisting during difficult lamb and ewe deliveries. It can handle the most challenging births because it provides a secure and gentle way of pulling the newborn during delivery.
The ewe may need extreme effort to push the head and shoulders of the lamb through her pelvis. The Pull-EZE Lamb and Kid Puller assists with challenging deliveries, ensuring the safety of the lambs or kids. This tool makes difficult births easier and more accurate, speeding up the ewes’ birthing process.
Why Use the Pull-EZE Lamb and Kid Puller
Let’s guide you through the advantages of using the Pull-EZE Lamb and Kid Puller:
Safety for Both Ewe and Lamb
Our comprehensive guide offers step-by-step instructions to support you throughout the delivery process. The puller is designed to minimize stress and effort for the ewe and the lamb, ensuring that all limbs and the head belong to the same lamb during delivery. This approach guarantees a smoother and safer birth process, regardless of the circumstances.
Precision and Ease of Use
The Pull-EZE tool’s clear, step-by-step instructions allow farmers to correctly position the lamb’s head and legs. The puller’s “Y” design ensures the lamb stays in the proper spot for a successful delivery without harm.
Durability and Hygiene
Our Pull-EZE is made from a uniquely engineered synthetic material that resists foreign matter. It’s easy to sterilize and maintain. Simply pour hot water over it or apply a trusted antiseptic solution to clean it. This ensures the tool remains clean and ready for repeated use.
Pull-EZE Lamb and Kid Puller: A Step-by-Step Guide
- Put the ewe in the position that is usually used for lambing.
- Use your left hand to hold the Pull-EZE. Put your first three fingers through the loop of the cord with your right hand. Leave your thumb and little finger outside.
- Put your hand and the tool into the ewe. Let go of your thumb and little finger and bring them back into the loop. You can now use your whole hand to help with the release.
- Take a firm hold of the lamb’s head and slowly pull it forward. Make sure the tool’s “Y”-shaped part is firmly under the neck.
- Put the string behind the lamb’s ears and around its head. Make the cord tight with your left hand. Place the tool’s flat end against your right knee to make it more stable. This will free up your left hand to pull the cord.
- Setting up the Legs: Once the cord is tight, pull the tool forward a little to make a space between the “Y” and the lamb’s neck. This is where you should put the legs. With your right hand, hold the legs and pull the cord tighter.
- The lamb is now ready to be born because its head and legs are in the right place. Pull the cord and instrument firmly towards you with your left hand. Keep your right hand inside the ewe to keep the lamb’s nose from getting out of place by guiding it past the hip.
- Once the nose and legs are in the pelvis, remove your right hand and keep pulling steadily on the instrument to finish the delivery without stressing the ewe too much.
- Farmers who use the Pull-EZE Lamb and Kid Puller can make sure that both the ewe and the lamb have a better and less stressful birth.
Preparing for Lambing Season
As you prepare for the lambing season, you need to focus on the following:
Body Condition of the Ewes
Maintain ewes in average body condition during pregnancy to ensure healthy and vigorous lambs at birth. Most ewes with body condition scores of 4 or 5 will have excessive amounts of fat over the backbone and may develop pregnancy toxemia. Small ewes that do not consume enough energy in their diet can also develop pregnancy toxemia.
Observe ewes during the last month of pregnancy for signs of difficulty getting up and moving around due to their pregnancy weight. Ensure ewes are eating and have access to fresh water, and increase the energy density of the ration during the last third of pregnancy to prevent late pregnancy toxemia. Young ewes may require additional monitoring and care due to their smaller pelvic size and inexperience, which can lead to complications during delivery.
Lambing Facilities
Move ewes into a group pen or a convenient area where they and the sheep can be watched more closely a few weeks before the expected arrival of the first lambs. Ensure enough room to prevent overcrowding, with approximately 16 square feet for each ewe in a barn. Use lambing jugs to accommodate the flock size, with one or two jugs for every ten ewes. Sort out ewes closest to lambing based on breeding dates and physical appearance.
Lambing Supplies and Equipment
These are the essential items to help in the lambing process:
- Iodine or triodine is used to dip the navel cords of newborn lambs.
- Colostrum or milk replacer is used to feed lambs when an ewe does not have enough for her lamb(s).
- Weak lamb feeding: tube feed, bottles, and nipples for feeding weak lambs.
- A heat lamp or “lamb hotel” keeps newborn lambs warm.
- Towels for drying off newborn lambs.
- Antibiotic and lubricant for assisting with difficult births.
- Veterinary advice and specialized tools may be required to deliver and handle deformed lambs safely.
Health and Hygiene
Health and hygiene must be the main focus when handling the lambing process. As a good practice the following essential guidelines must be set, and the tools provided:
- Arm-length disposable plastic gloves for handling ewes and lambs. It is vital to wash hands and arms first and always wear gloves while handling the flock.
- Clean bucket, warm water, soap, and approved surgical scrub solution for cleaning and disinfecting equipment.
- Lambing snares (various designs available) are great for assisting with difficult births. A great example is the OB Leg Snare.
- Obstetrical lubricant for assisting with difficult births.
The Lambing Process
Understanding Normal Parturition in Sheep: What to Expect and When
Sheep pregnancy typically lasts 143-147 days, during which unseen development occurs. However, as lambing time approaches, visible signs indicate the start of the birthing process, allowing shepherds to prepare.
Signs That Labor Begins
As a ewe nears parturition, these are the signs you should look out for:
- Udder Development. When a ewe is getting ready to give birth, her udder and teats will be distended. Additionally, the udder enlarges and begins producing colostrum. This colostrum, the same one that human mothers produce, is the nutrient-rich first milk crucial for lamb health.
Following the delivery of one lamb, it is customary to gently probe the abdomen right in front of the udder, which shows whether there is another lamb(s) in the uterus. Opinions are divided on whether to deliver the second lamb or leave well alone.
- Ligament Changes: The ligaments around the tail head soften, causing a noticeable slackening as the ewe’s body readies itself for birth.
The three stages of normal lambing are:
- Cervical Dilation
The cervix relaxes and opens, and the ewe experiences uterine contractions. This stage typically lasts 2–6 hours. - Expulsion of the lamb
The lamb’s head, forelegs, or hind legs enter the birth canal. This stage usually lasts 30–120 minutes. - Expulsion of the placenta
The ewe passes the placenta, usually within 8–12 hours after birth.
Signs that a ewe is about to lamb include:
- becoming uneasy,
- getting up and down frequently,
- switching her tail,
- bleating often,
- and straining.
A farmer may need to assist with the delivery if the ewe is having trouble, there are complications, or the lamb is too large.
Assisting with Difficult Births
Use a ewe retainer if the ewe is having trouble giving birth. The Prolapse Retainer aids in the smooth assistance of the lambs’ birthing process. Preparing for the lambing and even an abnormal delivery as the worst-case scenario has never been easier with the prolapse retainer.
Check the ewe to ensure she’s fully dilated and the lamb is in the correct position, especially in cases involving later-born lambs, which can include risks like asphyxiation if the amnion does not rupture appropriately or an elbow lock.
An elbow lock is one of the most common malpresentations and is usually easy to correct. It is when a lamb’s head and front feet extend from the cervix, but the feet are bent downward at the elbow.
To correct an elbow lock, you can:
- Press the lamb’s head back into the ewe’s pelvis.
- Flex the lamb’s shoulder, elbow, and knee joints on the remaining leg.
- Extend the femur and elbow joints in that sequence.
- Apply mild tension on both forelegs.
Another strategy for assisted delivery with difficult births is to pull one front leg back alternately and then the other, at a slightly downward angle, to help the live lamb out.
Remember to place the lamb before the ewe once it’s born. The first hour after birth is the most crucial bond the ewe has with its lamb. Let us learn why bonding between the ewe and the lamb is essential in the lambing process.
This is the time the lamb gets the colostrum from the ewe. Sucking colostrum from the ewe helps create that mother and child bond, which improves its survival. Lambs that are weak and slow to stand and suck have a high chance of developing hypothermia, infectious disease, and starvation.
Remember, colostrum contains growth factors that strengthen the lamb’s gut, help close it, and limit the spread of pathogens. Allowing the ewe to claim the lamb helps her clean and dry it off. After the lambing, the ewe and lamb can be moved to a lambing jug, an individual pen that helps bond and prevents the ewe from smothering the lamb.
How to deliver a breech lamb?
- Start by carefully bringing the lamb’s back legs forward and guiding them until they’re straightened out.
- Cup the lamb’s ankles (fetlocks) in your palm, keeping a gentle but steady grip to support the legs.
- Once the hind legs are in position, continue delivering quickly. Timing is important here to help the lamb enter the world safely.
- The lamb will start breathing as soon as the umbilical cord breaks, so act promptly to reduce the risk of inhaling any fluid.
Managing Newborn Lamb Mortality and Handling a Dead Lamb
Handling a Dead Lamb:
- Dispose of dead lambs and birthing fluids properly to prevent disease and deter predators.
- Wear disposable gloves or sleeves when handling dead lambs or birthing fluids.
- If a ewe has only dead lambs, put her in a lambing pen with straw and reduce her energy intake to prevent udder complications.
Post-Lambing Care of Newborn Lambs
Caring for Newborn Lambs:
- Monitor the ewe’s contractions and behavior, and leave her alone if she’s pushing.
- The water bag will appear first, followed by the lamb within 30 minutes to 1 hour.
- Assist the ewe by cleaning the lamb’s mouth and nose, and ensuring it’s breathing.
- Allow the ewe to claim the newborn lamb and dry it off.
- Ewe lambs should not be bred until they have reached maturity to avoid potential complications during delivery.
- When the ewe and ram lambs are four months old, they must be separated and vaccinated to control parasites that might impose health risks on other sheep.
Tips for a Successful Lambing Season
Pay close attention to nutrition to maintain proper ewe body condition throughout pregnancy.
- Assemble supplies well ahead of when the first lambs are expected to arrive and take the time to observe ewes throughout the lambing season to ensure a smooth lambing season.
- Watch for signs of labor, such as the udder becoming engorged.
- Be prepared to assist with lambing if needed.
- You must be present to ensure the safety of the newborn lamb. Ensure the lamb’s mouth and nose are free of mucous and fluid.
- Ensure the lambs are breathing well, then allow the ewe to claim the newborn lamb and dry it off.
- To ensure no dead lamb, assisting with newborn lamb birthing is needed. Difficult births (Dystocia) are one of the leading causes of newborn lamb deaths. In New Zealand, it accounts for 50% of newborn deaths in lambs.
- Never put the ewes into lambing pens if they have not finished lambing. These ewes may not have enough room to get the first lamb out, given the limited space in a lambing pen. When they’re done lambing, that’s the time you may put them into lambing pens.
- If the ewes have enough room in the lambing pens, they should be locked up at night.
- Additionally, remember that ewe lambs should not be bred until they have developed into a sufficient age. When healthy and nutritionally nourished, breeding ewe lambs should be between 10-12 months.
Why Choose Our Products?
We designed our lambing supplies with you, our dear farmers, in mind. We aim to provide practical solutions to help you streamline your operations and, most of all, enhance your lamb’s welfare. Our lambing equipment ensures both quality and performance for your farm.
Get your supplies ready, so you won’t have to worry about the coming lambing season!