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A typical lambing process.

Ewes into lambing shed.

Many ewes are now lambed inside, either in a purpose built shed or a suitable barn which is temporarily adapted as a lambing shed.

Ewes are housed and feed in groups according to the number of lambs they are expecting. Ewes usually have 1 or 2 lambs, sometimes 3. Ultra-scanning will have been used to tell the shepherd how many lambs each ewe is expecting.

 

Lambing

When she is about to start lambing a ewe will separate herself from the group. She will become very restless.

The next sign is the amniotic bag of fluid appearing. This is a mucal membrane or 'bag of fluid' which contained the lambs within the ewe's womb.

Lambs are usually born head and front feet first.

The 'Moment of Birth' and the rest of the lamb should quickly follow.

The ewe will start to lick the lamb clean. It may be covered in some of the mucus membrane - ' the bag of fluid' which contained the lamb in the mothers womb.

The lamb will soon get to its feet and start suckerling.

If the ewe has more than one lamb the next lamb will soon follow.

After it has had all it's lambs the ewe finally expels the 'afterbirth', the membrane which surrounded the lambs in the womb.

During the lambing periods sheep are monitored 24 hours a day with many shepherds sharing night duty with extra help , often veterinary students, who are hired to help out during the lambing period. This is because sometimes things don't go smoothly and the shepherd has to step into help, saving the ewe and lamb from extra distress or even death. Shepherds may even have to blow into the lambs mouth to start it breathing.

After Lambing.

After lambing has finished, newborn lambs are penned with their mother so they get to know each other by smell and sound - bleats!

Various jobs are carried out, lambs and mother numbered, lambs tail docked and castrated, naval dressed with iodine if not done earlier.

Once lambs and ewe are suitably acquainted, the new 'families' are put together so they get used to finding each other in a crowd. That's what all the bleating is about:

"Johnnie where are you?"

"I'm here mum!"

In sheep talk!!!!

Turning Out.

Once the shepherd is happy with the new families , they are taken out to the fields.

This is the most critical time for newborn lambs, cold and wet weather now can lead to hypothermia and death.

The shepherd will look after his flock by checking them twice a day.

The ewes will also get extra feed so that they produce enough milk for their lambs.

 

Thanks go to:

Bishop Burton College, J. Renner & J. Stonehouse

for allowing us to vist their farms and capture the shots used on this page....