SUSAN SCHOENIAN (Shāy-nē-ŭn) Sheep & Goat Specialist

Western Maryland Research & Education Centersschoen@umd.edu – www.sheepandgoat.com

2011 Ewe and Doe Management

Webinar Series

SMALL RUMINANT PROGRAM

Jan 13 I. Late Gestation

Jan 20 II. Vaccinations

Feb 3 III. Parturition

Feb 10 IV. Neonatal Care

Feb 17 V. Lactation

Feb 24 VI. Weaning

2011 Ewe and Doe Management Webinar Series

Neonatal careCare of newborns (day 0-14)

http://www.slideshare.net/schoenian/neonatal

What factors affect neonatal survival?

OffspringBirth weight #1 factor!SexBirth typeBehavior (vigor)

Dam factorsBody condition score #2ParityMaternal behaviorColostrum accumulation

#3

Factors affecting with neonatal survival

Environmental factorsLambing/kidding systemWeather

ManagementNutrition during pregnancyEase of birthSanitationCrowding

GeneticsBreedSire

Sour

When death losses occurSpooner Agricultural Research Center (Wisconsin) - dairy sheep

Source: Lamb mortality and causes: A nine year summary at the Spooner Agricultural Research Station

When death losses occurNational Sheep Health Survey - all sheep operations

Source: USDA APHIS NAHSM

Cause Loss

Scours 46 %

Starvation 20 %

Pneumonia 8 %

What causes neonates to die?

U.S. Sheep Experiment Station, Dubois, Idaho: range sheep, shed-lambed

Causes of deathSpooner Agricultural Research Station (Wisconsin): dairy sheep

Source: Lamb mortality and causes: A nine year summary at the Spooner Agricultural Research Station

Causes of death in neonatesSmall ruminants in Jordan

Source: Bulgarian Journal of Veterinary Medicine (2007)

Clip, dip, strip, and sipClip navel cord (if

necessary)

Dip navel cord in gentle iodine, chlorhexidine, or betadine.

Strip teats to remove wax plugs and open up teats for baby to nurse easier.

Make sure lambs and kids nurse.

ColostrumAll newborn mammals require colostrum for optimal health

Thick, yellowish first milk that dam produces after parturition (for the first 24 hours).

Rich in energy, protein, vitamins, and minerals.

Has laxative qualities.

Contains maternal antibodies

Large protein molecules that can only be absorbed by neonate during the first 24 to 36 hours after birth.

Absorption by neonate is most efficient the first few hours after birth.

Baby should consume 10% of its body weight in colostrum.

Source Characteristics

Own dam Best

Fresh or frozen colostrum from another female in flock

Next best sourceFreeze colostrum from females with surplus milkThaw slowly

Ewe or doe colostrum from another farm

CAE / OPP riskJohne’s risk

Cow colostrum Lower in nutrition (fat)Milk from colored breeds is higher in fatOnly from Johne’s-free herd

Colostrum substitute Would contain antibodies

Colostrum supplement

Would be nutritious, but would not contain antibodies. Better than nothing

Homemade colostrum

Provides nutrition, but no antibodies

Lamb or kid replacer Feed after 24 hours

Colostrum sources

Common problems of the neonate

HypothermiaStarvationDiarrhea (scours)PneumoniaFloppy kid syndrome

°C °F TreatmentMild hypothermia

37 to 39

98-102 1. Warm baby 2. Tube feed colostrum

Severe hypothermia(or cannot swallow)

< 37 < 98 1. Reverse hypoglycemia by giving an intra peritoneal injection of 20% dextrose

2. Warm baby slowly with dry heat3. Tube feed colostrum

Hypothermia

Caused by excessive body heat loss and reduced heat production.

Neonates are unable to regulate their body temperature during their first 36 hours.

Energy is required to generate heat.

Causes Inadequate colostrum Dam rejection Mastitis Teats too large or close to ground Inadequate milk production Joint injury or illness Soremouth Difficult birth Small, weak baby Can’t compete with siblings

Symptoms Lethargic Head down

Weak Empty stomach Hypothermia

Glucose injection Tube feed colostrum Feed milk replacer Artificially rear

Starvation

Treatment

Tips for tube feeding lambs and kids Use clean equipment

Measure how far the tube needs to go in

Hold baby between your knees in upright position.

Dip tube in clean water.

Gentle advance tube towards back of animal’s mouth

The animal should swallow as the tube is advanced. It will still be able to bleat and cry.

http://cru.cahe.wsu.edu/CEPublications/eb1998/eb1998.pdf

Tips for tube feeding lambs and kidsFeel the tube on the left side of

the animal’s neck.

Fill syringe with warm milk.

Do not force milk with plunger.

Let fluid trickle in via gravity.

Squeeze end of tube when pulling tube out.

Frequent meals are better than big meals 2-3 ounces at a time

http://cru.cahe.wsu.edu/CEPublications/eb1998/eb1998.pdf

Intraperitoneal injectionSuspend baby by front

legs

Introduce 1-in, 20-g needle through body wall 1 inch to the side of the navel and 1 inch caudal.

Point needle towards tail

Slowly inject solution into body cavity.

CausesEnvironmental

Unsanitary conditions Unclean water Infected feces

Bacterial E. coli - “watery” mouth Salmonella Cryptospordia Giardia Clostridium perfringins type C

Viral Rotavirus

Neonatal scours

SymptomsGauntDepressedWet, rear legsDehydration

TreatmentOral electrolytesOral antibiotics

[Rx] Spectinomycin

Adequate colostrum intake

Good sanitationCD-T vaccinations

Neonatal scours

Prevention

Watery mouth (NADIS UK)

Causative organismsPasteurella hemolyticaParainfluenza virus-3

SymptomsElevated body

temperatureLabored breathingDepressedDroopy ears

Treat early with injectable antibiotics [Rx] LA-200 [Rx] Naxcel/Excenel [Rx] Nuflor [Rx] Micotil (NOT GOATS)

PreventionProper ventilationAdequate colostrum

intakeVaccination of dams

Bacterial pneumonia

Treatment

CauseUnknown

Metabolic acidosisElevated D-lactate levels

SymptomsNormal at birthSymptoms develop 3 to

10 days of ageWeaknessLateral recumbencyNo muscle toneLoss of nursing reflex

Early detectionCorrect acid/base status of kid

Oral bicarbonate (baking soda)

½ to 1 tsp. in 1 cup of water

Electrolytes

Floppy kid syndrome

Treatment

1. Slime 2. Scent/odor3. Skin4. Stanchion

Cross-fostering or grafting

Artificial rearing lambs and kids

Why?Dam diesDam doesn’t have milkDam doesn’t have enough milk

Poor milk producer Genetics Poor nutrition Disease

Large litterDam rejects babyBaby is weak.

Dairy enterprisePrevent CAE and OPP

Which baby should you choose for artificial rearing?

Old recommendationRemove the largest,

most aggressive baby for artificial rearing.

New recommendationRemove the smallest

weakest baby for artificial rearing.

Select lambs/kids 2 to 6 hours after birth for artificial rearing.

How to rear lambs and kids artificially

Make sure baby gets adequate colostrum. Let baby nurse dam for first

four to six hours. Tube feed colostrum

Feed the right milk replacer for optimal performance Sheep milk contains more fat.

Follow instructions on bag. Mixing Feeding amount Feeding frequency

After first few days, feed milk replacer cold.

How to rear lambs and kids artificially

Hand-feed or use self-feeder.

Keep feeding equipment clean.

Start offering solid food when the lamb or kid is a few days old.

High quality lamb or kid starter

Soybean meal

Vaccinate for CD-T at 4 and 8 weeks of age.

Weaning orphansUsually 4 to 8 weeks

Better to wean on weight than age.

Common rules of thumb Minimum of 20 lbs. 2.5 x birth weight

Lamb or kids should be eating solid food and doing well. Lamb: 0.5 lb. creep feed daily

Wean abruptly.

After weaning, keep lamb or kid on starter diet; do not wean onto lush pasture.

When to feed heat-treated/pasteurized colostrum or milk

To prevent CAE

To prevent OPP

To kids that have recovered from floppy kid syndrome

Heat at 130-135ºF (56ºC) for 1 hour

Antibodies will be destroyed at 140ºF (60ºC)

Common management practicesThese practices are not done on all farms

Ear taggingBefore baby leaves jug

WeighingAt day 0 or 1

Docking1 to 7 days of ageNo later than 6 weeks

Castration 1 to 7 days of ageNo later than 6 weeks

Disbudding3 days to 2 weeks

WHY?Health

Reduce risk of fly strikeHygieneEasier to shear/crutchEasier to observe udderEasier to assist lambingMarket preference

Tails reduce dressing percentage

Cleanliness at harvest

Some breeds don’t require dockingHair sheepShort or rat-tailed

sheepLow incidence of

dagginess.Short-wool breeds

Animal welfare concerns

DockingShortening the length of the tail

WHY NOT?

Length of docked tail

RecommendationU.S.

Distal end of caudal tail fold.

EuropeCover female’s vulvaCover male’s anus

Show lambs are usually docked shorter (for appearance)

WHY?Management

Prevent unwanted pregnancies

Control behaviorSell as pets or grazersMarket preference

Traditional marketsCustomer preference

Market older animalsTradition

Better growthBetter carcassBigger carcassMarket at a young

ageMarket preference

Ethnic marketsAnimal welfare

CastratingTesticles are removed or their function is inhibited

WHY NOT?

Tools for docking and castrating

Electric docker

Burdizzo® Emasculatome

Scalpel

Emasculator

Elastrator

All-in-one

Knife

ProsQuickEasyBloodless Inexpensive toolLess painful than surgical

castration with knife

Increased risk of tetanusPainful

Can reduce pain by giving an local anesthetic or combining use with Burdizzo

It is less painful to make a “short-scrotum” male.

Docking and castrating with an elastrator

Cons

Cuts off blood supply to tail and/or testicles

Bands should be applied at 1 to 7 days of age (definitely before 6 weeks of age)

ProsCan dock and castrate

older lambs (and kids)Less painful than

other methods.

Less reliableRequires more skill

More expensive tool

Docking and castrating with a Burdizzo

Cons

Crushes spermatic cords inside testicles, thus stopping blood supply, eventually causing atrophy of the testicles.

Use in conjunction with elastrator to minimize pain during docking and castrating

Use small-size Burdizzo

ProsCan dock and castrate

older lambs (and kids)Less painful than

other methods.

Less reliableRequires more skill

More expensive tool

Docking and castrating with an emasculator

Cons

Crushes arteries before severing them.

ProsInexpensiveMost reliable

method of castration (1 + 1 = 2)

BloodyGreatest potential

for infection and fly infestation.

Most painful method of castration

Surgical castrationTools: knife, scalpel, all-in-one

Cons

1. Cut off bottom one-third of sac, with a parallel cut to the ground.2. Pull testicle down away from the body until the cord breaks.3. Do not cut cords (may sever by scraping with a scalpel).4. Repeat for other testicle.5. Minimize pain and stress by performing on young animals only.6. Use antiseptic to prevent infection.

ProsLess chance of

infectionCan dock older

lambsProbably most

humane method of tail docking

Requires electricityRequires more

physical effortMore expensive tool

Using an electric docker

Cons

Cuts and cauterizes tail.

WHY?Personal preferenceSafety

Animals Humans

Management Close confinement Feeders Fences Handling

Show or registration requirements

Personal preferenceHandling

Loss of “handles” Goats not handled frequently.

Natural part of goat Breed character Weapons

Welfare (pain)

Disbudding

WHY NOT?

Polled trait is linked to infertility in goats: polled x polled horned

Disbudding goats When?

1 to 3 weeks of age Horns grow differently Ideal time is just as horn is coming

through skin

Tools Disbudding box Disbudding iron Clippers (optional)

How? [Vx] Numb region around the horn

buds with an anesthetic. Carefully press dehorner onto the

buds for 8 to 15 seconds. Twist tool to cut through skin to the

skull. If the procedure is done correctly,

you should see a copper-colored ring around the horn bud.

Thank you for your attention. Any questions?

SMALL RUMINANT PROGRAM

Susan Schoeniansschoen@umd.eduwww.sheepandgoat.com

Thank you for your attention. Questions?

Susan Schoenian

sschoen@umd.edu

www.sheepandgoat.com SMALL RUMINANT PROGRAM