-
SHEEP-fed-barely-sprouting-fodders, page : 193
A lamb that has become weak on account of protracted or difficult birth may suffer from anoxia which is lack of oxygen, or have fluid in its lungs. When this is the case, the first few minutes are critical. If you hear it gurgling with the first breaths, or notice it having trouble breathing swing it sharply back and forth to expel the fluids. Two or three swings usually does the trick, but remember to clear the area from anything that might hit its head and make sure you have a firm grasp on its legs.
Although it is essential for the lamb to receive colostrum during the first few hours of life, its first feeding need not be colostrum. As we mentioned before, as time slips by the ability of the lamb to absorb the antibodies in the colostrum drops rapidly and after 16 hours there is very little benefit.
A weak lamb may be fed with a baby bottle with the nipple hole enlarged to about the size of a pin head, or it can be fed by a stomach tube (how to do this is discussed in its own section on page 119). The lamb should be given 2 ounces of warmed colostrum to give it strength – do not force the lamb if it has no sucking impulse because the milk will go into its lungs and cause death. More often than not once a weak lamb has received just one bottle feeding, or stomach feeding, it will get up and be ready to nurse from its mother without any help from you.
Resuscitation:
Although it is essential for the lamb to receive colostrum during the first few hours of life, its first feeding need not be colostrum. As we mentioned before, as time slips by the ability of the lamb to absorb the antibodies in the colostrum drops rapidly and after 16 hours there is very little benefit.
A weak lamb may be fed with a baby bottle with the nipple hole enlarged to about the size of a pin head, or it can be fed by a stomach tube (how to do this is discussed in its own section on page 119). The lamb should be given 2 ounces of warmed colostrum to give it strength – do not force the lamb if it has no sucking impulse because the milk will go into its lungs and cause death. More often than not once a weak lamb has received just one bottle feeding, or stomach feeding, it will get up and be ready to nurse from its mother without any help from you.
Resuscitation: