Sheep lambing: how long does the gestation and the process of lambing at home

Sheep lambing is characterized by many features. In order to notice the onset of labor in a timely manner, it is important to take into account the behavior of the animal and a number of external signs. This will help to carry out preparatory activities and, if necessary, provide assistance to the female. Otherwise, there is a risk of complications. They can negatively affect the newborn lamb and the lamb itself. In such a situation, it will not be possible to do without the help of a veterinarian.

What is the name of the birth of a sheep

The birth of a sheep is called lambing or lambing. At the same time, the process of bearing offspring was called “pregnancy”.These periods have a number of features. In general, the lambing of a lamb cannot be considered very difficult. In most cases, females do not require human assistance. However, pregnancy should not be allowed to take its course. You need to prepare for the birth of the cubs.

How many sheep bear and bring lambs at a time

Usually, childbirth occurs 146 days after mating. This means that the pregnancy lasts 5 months. However, sometimes lambing occurs earlier or later than the specified period. This is influenced by the quality of nutrition and the he alth of the animal.

With an unbalanced diet, the fetus develops slowly. As a result, childbirth occurs later. A similar situation is observed in the weakening of he alth. Therefore, during pregnancy, lambs must be given mineral supplements. These include table s alt, crushed chalk, bone meal.

Not only the duration of pregnancy depends on nutrition, but also the number of lambs. Also, this indicator is influenced by the characteristics of the breed and the he alth of the female.On average, sheep give birth to 2 lambs. Sometimes 3 babies can be born. Some breeds are characterized by increased productivity. So, Romanov sheep are able to give birth to 5 viable individuals.

Animal behavior before lambing

Before the onset of labor, the sheep behaves restlessly. She begins to move a lot around the paddock and constantly look around. Also, the animal's appetite worsens. Just before lambing, the sheep constantly gets up and lies down.

Preparations

Preparation for childbirth should begin in advance. It is recommended to cut the wool around the udder 1 month before the expected lambing. 2 weeks before lambing, sheep are moved to a separate room. It should be warm and spacious. It is important to ensure that there are no drafts. Adequate lighting is of great importance. 1 individual should account for at least 2.5 square meters of area.

The room is recommended to be cleaned, ventilated, treated with disinfectants, and dry bedding is placed on the floor.

For the successful course of childbirth during the last 2 weeks of pregnancy, it is recommended to control the nutrition and drinking regimen of the sheep. It is important for her to give food that is easily digestible. Sheep need to be watered 2 times a day.

The process of lambing and how to give birth

If a sheep gives birth at home, she may need help. That is why it is so important to get acquainted with the main stages of labor activity. At the first stage of lambing, the opening of the uterine pharynx occurs. Under the influence of uterine contractions, the amniotic sac moves into the birth canal. This stage lasts 1-2 hours. At the same time, the contractions intensify and become more frequent, the udder and labia become bright red and swell strongly.

By the end of this phase, a bubble comes out of the vagina, it bursts, after which the water leaves.Sheep licks amniotic fluid. After that, the next phase begins. It is called fetal expulsion and lasts 5-50 minutes. At this point, the lamb's contractions become more frequent. At the same time, she makes rhythmic movements of the animal.

At this stage, a lamb is visible from the burst bubble. In the normal course of the process, it should exit with the forelimbs and head. In the intervals between contractions, the sheep rises, sniffs and licks the amniotic fluid. When the hooves of the forelimbs and the head come out, the baby falls out and the umbilical cord is torn.

After the lamb is born, the female cleans its nose from mucous masses and amniotic membrane, and then completely licks it. The contact between mother and calf is considered an important part of lambing.If there is more than one cub, after 10-45 minutes the female gives birth to a second one. Since the birth canal is already open, the stage of expulsion of the fetus begins immediately. After a certain time, the remaining amniotic membrane comes out. After another 4-6 hours, the afterbirth comes out. At this point, the lambing is completed.

When one calf appears, on average, childbirth lasts 5-9 hours, two - 6-10 hours. With more lambs, the process can take 10-18 hours.

To deliver a sheep, it is recommended to prepare the following:

towels;
iodine;
hot water;
sharp scissors - they must be sterile.

Human assistance is needed if the lambs come out backwards. In this situation, it is important to pull the baby's head out of the amniotic sac as quickly as possible. Otherwise, he may suffocate. If the lamb comes out sideways, you will not be able to do without the help of a doctor.

Help the sheep is required if the umbilical cord is not torn off. In this situation, it is recommended to disinfect the scissors with iodine and cut it. This should be done 8-10 centimeters from the belly of the lamb. Then it is recommended to clear the baby's nose of mucus. This is done with a cloth soaked in water. It is also acceptable to use a baby suction for mucus. Such a procedure is required if the female did not do this herself.

What to do after lambing a sheep

After a sheep has lambed, no special action should be taken. Within a few days after giving birth, the female recovers on her own. At the same time, it is recommended to take the lambs from the mother, since she can behave unpredictably. Cubs can be allowed to mother only for feeding. Babies should eat every 3 hours.

If several lambs were born from different sheep, it is permissible to keep them in the same room. The female will be able to find her cub by smell.

Several days after lambing, the condition of the sheep is recommended to be carefully monitored. Even with a normal birth, there is a risk of complications. Most often occurs postpartum paresis. This pathology can provoke the death of the animal.

You can stop monitoring 8 days after lambing. During this time, fluid is released from the genitals. This is considered a variant of the norm. If the process continues for more than a week, this indicates damage to the genitals. It should be borne in mind that at first after lambing, the female is reluctant to go for a walk and does not want to graze. This is due to anxiety due to the lack of lambs. But after a while it passes.

What could be the complications

Sometimes there are situations when a sheep cannot give birth on its own. This is usually seen when the cub is placed feet first. In such a situation, it is better to involve a specialist. If this is not possible, you must give birth yourself.

Before you try to help the sheep, it is recommended to wash your hands well. Then you should break the amniotic sac, release the fluid and turn the baby around. It is important to carry out this procedure with extreme caution.

Another problem after lambing may be a lack of milk. At the same time, it is recommended to supplement the cubs with the milk of another sheep. In the absence of such an opportunity, cow's milk must be used. However, it is important to consider that it is less nutritious. Therefore, it is recommended to use a larger amount of the product. To control the development of lambs, it is worth keeping a weight gain plate.

Expert Tips

In order for a sheep's pregnancy to proceed safely and end with the birth of he althy offspring, it is recommended to pay attention to its diet. It should contain a sufficient amount of mineral supplements.

It is also important to notice the onset of labor in a timely manner. This will help the animal. If complications occur, it is recommended to consult a veterinarian.

Sheep lambing has a number of features. In order for childbirth to be successful, it is important to properly prepare for them. If necessary, it is necessary to provide the female with timely assistance. Equally important is the full care after lambing.