Preparing for Lambing Season

Producers should prepare for the first lambs to arrive a few days prior to the full 144 days gestation, although gestation can range from 144 to 150 days. As producers prepare for lambing, there are a few main points to keep in mind. These are:

• Body condition of the ewes
• Lambing supplies
• Lambing facilities
• Paying attention to details

Body Condition of the Ewes

Maintain ewes in average body condition during pregnancy to ensure healthy and vigorous lambs at birth. Average body condition score for ewes close to lambing should be a score of 3 to 3.5 on a 5-point scale. A 3 to 3.5 body condition score means that the backbone on the ewe should be well covered with fat and producers should only be able to feel the spinous processes with slight pressure. The loin eye muscle should be full and covered with some fat.

Ewes with body condition scores of 4 or 5 should receive additional observation during the last third of gestation. Ewes with a body condition score of 4 or 5 will have excessive amounts of fat over the backbone and the producer may only be able to feel the spinous processes with firm pressure or not at all. The loin eye muscle will be well covered with fat. Producers should easily recognize that sheep with a body condition score of 4 or 5 are obese. The added amounts of fat in their body cavity as well as the increasing size of multiple lambs can cause issues with pregnancy toxemia, also known as pregnancy disease and ketosis. Pregnancy toxemia results when a ewe does not consume enough energy to meet her increasing energy needs during late pregnancy.

Thin ewes, those with a body condition score below 3, should receive supplemental nutrition to improve their body condition to prepare them for lambing.  This supplemental nutrition will help to ensure that the lambs will be born with adequate size and will also be healthy and vigorous. Thin ewes that do not consume enough energy in their diet can also develop pregnancy toxemia.

Lambing Supplies

Preparing for lambing begins long before any ewes begin lambing by assembling supplies needed during lambing season. The following are some recommended supplies to gather.

Iodine or Triodine: Producers should use either a 7% Iodine solution or triodine to dip the navel cords of newborn lambs within a few hours after birth. 7% Iodine is recommended, but it can be difficult to locate. Triodine is another option for disinfecting navels. Both products help to kill bacteria and dry up the cord. Do not dip a navel cord if more than a few hours have passed since the birth, as this could seal bacteria in the cord, which increases the potential to develop a navel infection.

Colostrum: Colostrum, or a colostrum supplement, should be fed to lambs when a ewe does not have enough for her lamb(s). Producers can obtain colostrum from a healthy ewe on their farm who produces more than her lambs need. Milk the ewe, within several hours after she gives birth to her lambs, into a clean container and store the colostrum in the freezer for later use. Store three to four ounces of colostrum in each container in the freezer. Thaw and warm colostrum slowly when needed. Heat a container of water in the microwave or on the stove, and then place the frozen container of colostrum into the very warm, but not hot, water. Never warm colostrum in the microwave, as this produces hot spots that can destroy antibodies. Heating colostrum to too high of a temperature can also destroy the antibodies. Livestock supply companies also sell dry colostrum supplements, which can be fed according to label directions. Collecting colostrum from ewes on a farm with diseases such as Ovine Progressive Pneumonia (OPP) is not recommended. Producers should consult with their local veterinarian about any disease issues that may be present in the flock.

Weak Lamb Feeding Tube: If lambs are too weak to stand up and nurse on their own, producers can tube feed them, which places milk directly into their stomach. Be sure the tube reaches the stomach of the lamb and not the lungs! Misplacement of the tube into a lung could result in a dead lamb. Lambs should be strong enough or warmed enough, if chilled, to hold their head up before attempting to feed with a tube. 

Milk Replacer: Orphan lambs, or those removed from their mothers, can be fed a milk replacer supplement until weaning. Always use a milk replacer formulated specifically for lambs, and that contains milk-based proteins.

Towels: Use towels to dry the heads of lambs immediately after they are born if needed. This helps to clear the mucous away so that the lamb can breathe more easily. However, in most cases, it is best to allow the mother to take care of licking the lamb dry.

Heat Lamp or "Lamb Hotel": Producers who lamb during cold weather may need a heat lamp to prevent lambs from becoming chilled or to help them dry off more quickly. The "lamb hotel" is a 55-gallon barrel that has a heat lamp hanging inside from the top and a door cut into the side for the lambs to enter. The "hotel" supports the heat lamp so that the ewe can't knock it down and also radiates the heat to keep the lamb warm.

Take care when hanging a heat lamp by itself. Be sure to hang the heat lamp so that if it gets knocked down, the lamp will come unplugged. Heat lamps can cause a barn fire if left unattended.

Bottles and Nipples: Be sure to have several bottles and nipples on hand for feeding colostrum or milk replacer to weak or orphaned lambs. Nipple styles range from very simple rubber nipples that slip over the end of a soda bottle, to nipples with a ball bearing that allow air into the bottle as the lamb nurses. This style, known as a Pritchard teat, screws onto the top of a soda bottle.

Antibiotic: Some type of antibiotic is useful in case a lamb or ewe develops an infection. Be sure to consult with a veterinarian about treatment options. Types of infections that producers may encounter in ewes include those from a retained placenta or an infection in the udder known as mastitis. Producers may also need to treat lambs or ewes for pneumonia.

Lubricant: If ewes need assistance during lambing, producers may need some type of lubricant to make it easier to birth the lamb. Typical livestock birthing lubricants range from liquid soaps to powdered lubricants that must be mixed with water. Be sure to check the labels to ensure safety.

Warm water, bucket, and soap: In the event that a ewe requires assistance and the producer must reach inside her to realign a lamb, the producer will first need to scrub hands and arms. Producers should also use an obstetrical sleeve to protect themselves from potential disease. Place any lubricant on the outside of the sleeve.

Propylene Glycol or molasses: If a ewe exhibits pregnancy toxemia, one method used to treat the disease is to drench fed with propylene glycol or molasses to increase her blood sugar level. Signs of pregnancy toxemia include depression, lack of appetite, and, in some cases, paralysis. Ewes that are not receiving adequate amounts of energy in late gestation or that are overly fat are most likely to develop pregnancy toxemia. Consult a veterinarian on how to proceed with treatment.

Lambing Facilities

Several weeks before the expected arrival of the first lambs, move the ewes to a group pen or a convenient area where they can be watched more closely. Ewes should remain in a group pen or area until they have finished lambing. Be sure to have enough room to prevent overcrowding. Allow approximately 16 square feet for each ewe in a barn, but plan for a larger area if you have large ewes. The facility should have good ventilation that provides access to fresh air, but the area should be free of drafts. Sheep can lamb inside a barn in a group pen or outside on pasture. The choice to lamb inside or outside often depends on weather conditions, the mothering ability of the ewes, and potential predator issues.

When lambing takes place inside, be sure to have enough lambing jugs to accommodate the flock size. A lambing jug is a pen that houses a ewe and her newborn lambs for the first 24 to 48 hours after lambing to allow the ewe and lamb(s) to bond.  Each ewe should have her own jug. A jug should be 4' x 4' or 5' x 5' with sides at least 3' high, made of moveable panels so that they can be set up and taken down as needed. For large ewes, you may want larger pens. Plan on one or two lambing jugs for every 10 ewes.  It is not always necessary to jug all ewes. Those with singles often do not require jugging.

Keep the jugs dry and well-bedded. Use straw or another suitable bedding material. Sawdust is not considered a suitable material due to contamination that could lead to mastitis, an inflammation of the udder. Never move a ewe and her lamb(s) into a jug until the ewe has birthed all of her lambs. This prevents a ewe from lying down on a newborn lamb while birthing another lamb.

Ewes that lamb outside may or may not need to be jugged. Producers must use their judgment based on the ability of the ewes to care for multiple lambs as well as the likelihood of problems with predators.

Pay Attention to Details

During the last month of pregnancy, the ewe's belly grows and her udder begins to produce colostrum, the first milk. You may also notice that the ewe has more difficulty getting up and moving around due to the weight of her pregnancy.

Make sure ewes are eating and have access to fresh water. Increase the energy density of the ration during the last third of the pregnancy to prevent pregnancy toxemia. This disease occurs with ewes carrying multiple lambs and is most often caused by insufficient energy consumption

A few days before she goes into labor, the ewe's vulva begins to change from light pink to a dark pink color if the ewe has light-colored skin. The vulva will also begin to swell, and the muscles around the vulva and hips relax. The udder will be full of colostrum and will feel tight and hard.  As lambing time draws closer, ewes tend to move off by themselves and do not eat. Take time each feeding to observe ewes for signs of abnormal behavior. This could be the first clue that lambing will proceed shortly.

Closing Thoughts

Pay close attention to nutrition to maintain proper ewe body condition throughout pregnancy. Adjust rations as needed to maintain ewes in average body condition. Assembling supplies well ahead of when the first lambs are expected to arrive and taking the time to observe ewes throughout the lambing season will help to ensure a smooth lambing season.

Special thanks to Dr. Tara Felix for editing comments.