URGENT: lamb help.

Latest Articles

URGENT: lamb help.
Page 1, 2, 3, 4 Next

Downsizer Forum Index -> Livestock and Pets

Author

Message

runtley

Joined: 07 Apr 2011
Posts: 14

Posted: Thu Apr 07, 11 5:54 pm Post subject: URGENT: lamb help.

I would be grateful for some advice.

I have 2 x 5-day old ram lambs, which need to be castrated by Saturday at the latest. I would like to keep them for more than 4 months and it is not viable to separate them from the related ewes, or each other. However, as this process is utterly unpleasant I wonder if anyone is aware of any pain relief I can give them.

I have tried asking the vet, but they have not phoned back with an answer.

As time is running out would it be utterly ignorant to suggest Calpol?

Thanks.

Cathryn

Joined: 16 Jul 2005
Posts: 19856
Location: Ceredigion

Posted: Thu Apr 07, 11 6:01 pm Post subject:
Next time forget the emotional stuff and do it straight away. Much kinder all round. You will have to ring the vet again. I'm sorry, I sound harsh. Are you intending to eat them? Time, in theory ran out 24 hours after birth.

Marionb

Joined: 27 Aug 2006
Posts: 5267
Location: Mid-Wales

Posted: Thu Apr 07, 11 6:08 pm Post subject:
Do you have a farmer nearby who will do it for you? It will be uncomfortable for a while but they soon forget about it. However dont do it yourself unless you know how to do it as if its not done properly it will ultimately kill the lamb. Calpol will do no good whatsoever as pain relief.

runtley

Joined: 07 Apr 2011
Posts: 14

Posted: Thu Apr 07, 11 6:15 pm Post subject:
Ah, this is where I let myself down further with regards being emotional. The rams are destined for the freezer, but one lamb - runtley, is the skinny one of 4 and being bottle fed. I am not keen to send him to slaughter until he has had some life. We have only ever had pigs before. We inherited 3 ewes, who have had lots of lambs and now we are fire fighting.

Marionb

Joined: 27 Aug 2006
Posts: 5267
Location: Mid-Wales

Posted: Thu Apr 07, 11 6:16 pm Post subject:
Whereabouts are you?

Cathryn

Joined: 16 Jul 2005
Posts: 19856
Location: Ceredigion

Posted: Thu Apr 07, 11 6:16 pm Post subject:
Take Marions advice. Discreetly.

runtley

Joined: 07 Apr 2011
Posts: 14

Posted: Thu Apr 07, 11 6:17 pm Post subject:
Thank you. I can call a local sheep farmer (even though he insists that if we follow his instructions it is not difficult), but the issue of pain remains.

runtley

Joined: 07 Apr 2011
Posts: 14

Posted: Thu Apr 07, 11 6:20 pm Post subject:
We are in mid Somerset.

kirstyfern

Joined: 03 Jan 2010
Posts: 1574
Location: Great Dunmow, Essex

Posted: Thu Apr 07, 11 7:50 pm Post subject:
You can do them legally up to 7 days old. Forget pain relief, a drink of mums milk is good enough! I still get help as I am not confident - call the farmer. If you are not happy looking after the ewes and lambs ask for help or rehome them, much kinder than being negligent through ignorance IMO

Pel

Joined: 29 Mar 2008
Posts: 2366
Location: Sennybridge

Posted: Thu Apr 07, 11 8:59 pm Post subject:

Only posting to say, that if you have a runt, then adding a bit extra milk to it is fine (assuming you can outweigh the cost of the lamlac), nothing to do with emotion. Castrating them should always be done in the first 24hours (if possible), same as tail ringing and most people I know also tag as well then (or at least on release to the field).
The only thing i notice when ram lambs have had the bits ringed is they do a funny little dance (some bleat), run over to mum and have a suck and then go back to being a normal little lamb.

I was just wondering to the sheep keepers when is the latest you are allowed to tag your lambs, is it just before they go off to slaughter (like pigs) or sooner, only wondering as I've been taught do it before they are let out into the field around 24-48 hours old.

Nicky cigreen

Joined: 25 Jun 2007
Posts: 9717
Location: Devon, uk

Posted: Thu Apr 07, 11 9:03 pm Post subject:
assuming you are using the rings, the pain issue is really not that bad.. really they are uncomfortable for a very short while. and you dont really want to bottle rear an intact ram

Camile

Joined: 26 Apr 2006
Posts: 376
Location: Co. Galway - Ireland

Posted: Thu Apr 07, 11 9:12 pm Post subject:
Hello, If they are only 5 days old, that means the ram would serve your ewes from mid-October .. To get a good size lamb you would kill them in August .. so shouldn't have any problems. We didn't castrate the lambs for the last 3 years and never got caught, they stayed with the ewes all their life. That's one way of doing it. Works for me, and lamb testis are a delicacy ! Camile

runtley

Joined: 07 Apr 2011
Posts: 14

Posted: Thu Apr 07, 11 9:17 pm Post subject:

Thanks. Farmer is coming tomorrow morning (with no pain relief). My concerns started after stumbling across the 2008 FAWC report condeming the act on grounds of cruelty. For our ram lambs it is a toss up between castration or earlier death, I know which I would prefer.

Pel - outdoor lambs born on the holding must be identified within 9 mths or before movement, whichever is first. Pigs are so much easier!

Thanks for the advice.

Cathryn

Joined: 16 Jul 2005
Posts: 19856
Location: Ceredigion

Posted: Thu Apr 07, 11 9:21 pm Post subject:
I couldn't keep pigs for emotional reasons, too easy to get attached to something so intelligent so I had no right to be sniffy with you.

runtley

Joined: 07 Apr 2011
Posts: 14

Posted: Thu Apr 07, 11 9:27 pm Post subject:

Camile - having not kept sheep before I find the idea of killing them at 4ish months rather difficult. This is a personal luxury, not an opinion of other's schedules. I am told by those in the know that I will be happy to see the back of them, but that is something I will need to experience first. When I have bought local meat it has been hogget, which I am happy with. So, my chaps will suffer the pain and indignity of wether-'ing' to live that bit longer. I might not feel the same way next time.

	Downsizer Forum Index -> Livestock and Pets	All times are GMT Page 1, 2, 3, 4 Next
Page 1 of 4

View Latest Posts