Two key attributes needed when lambing sheep are patience and a gentle approach to assisting in the delivery of lambs.

This was the view of Conor Geraghty of Farmgate Veterinary Group speaking at a recent lambing event organised by Teagasc Ballinasloe on the farm of Martin Fleming and his family, Mountbellew, Co Galway. The live lambing demonstration was enhanced by the use of one of seven lambing simulators funded by the Department of Agriculture for use in agricultural colleges and Teagasc technology transfer.

Conor started the demo by cautioning farmers that there is a big difference in the approach to lambing sheep and cattle, with ewes more prone to damage from difficult lambings or poor handling techniques. He said that the aim when handling sheep and approaching a difficult lambing has to take the health and wellbeing of both the ewe and lamb into account with a greater risk of subsequent health problems in ewes following a difficult lambing. A few actions were addressed before beginning to handle a ewe.

Hygiene is paramount and the advice is to wear clean gloves and to use a good quality lubricant. The lubricant should be more gel than liquid like and should stick to the glove when applied rather than running off.

Some people use washing-up liquid for lubrication but this can have the opposite effect of extracting moisture in the process of foaming or making suds. It is also important to clean the area around the vulva as this can be a risk source of introducing bacteria to the uterus. In terms of restraining the ewe, Conor says that it all boils down to handler preference with no difference between a ewe’s ability to lamb based on whether she is lying down, standing or hoisted up. For a right-handed person the most natural way of handling is to have the ewe positioned to your right.

The starting point is to see if the lamb is presented in the correct manner for lambing. While scanning will typically give an accurate guide of what lies ahead it is not absolute as a lamb could have been missed in the scanning process, there could have been embryo loss or abortion-causing agents or viruses could result in mummified lambs or malformations.

As such it is important to run your hand from the hoof of the lamb to its shoulder to see that the legs match with the head that is present. Where there is a number of legs present, then Conor advises to exercise patience and to double-check before starting to pull a lamb.

Where there is a lamb presented normally alongside a lamb coming backwards then a tip to differentiate is that the bend in the joints above the hooves and knee in the front legs bend the same way while in the back leg the joints bend in the opposite direction. When the lamb is in the birth canal then it can be pulled as normal.

It is important to use your judgement at the start, as if the lamb is too large, veterinary assistance should be sought, as a caesarean section may be necessary. Plenty of lubrication and a gentle approach is paramount here.

One leg can be eased out a time to reduce pressure. Any force should be steady avoiding excessive strain or jerking as this can lead to tears or rupture of the vulva.

A head rope is a good aid here as it spreads the force across the legs and head of the lamb and not just the legs.

A good tip to apply a head rope is to position it between your knuckles and maintain some force to keep it in place with your free hand.

The rope can then be positioned behind the ears of the lamb and under its mouth using your thumb and small finger.

Conor advises farmers new to the practice of using a head rope to experiment with using it in normal deliveries rather than waiting for when it is needed.

He cautions that there is a high risk in such lambings of the ribs of the lamb breaking due to the force. Once the head and the legs are out he advises to try and work with the ewe and her natural birthing process rather than maintaining excessive force.

Continuous pressure where a lamb is stuck generally does not work and only leads to injury in the lamb and/or ewe.

Relaxing the pull and waiting for a contraction may help. Changing the position of the ewe or pulling downwards towards the ewe’s udder may help to free the lamb.

This type of malpresentation can be very serious if not noticed quickly as the head can swell rapidly.

The initial reaction is often taken is to push the head back in but Conor advises against this being the first approach.

His reasoning is that where the head is badly swelled there is likely to be little room available to then bring the head and legs into the birth canal.

A preferred approach is to see if there is any room to get your hand in beside the lamb’s neck and to gently guide a leg in to the birth canal.

Trying to deliver the lamb with one leg and its head is often a more preferable approach than trying to reinsert the head immediately.

Where there is no option but to reinsert the head then having a head rope in place is important as there is a tendency for the head to turn back due to its size when entering the birth canal. The head should be gripped behind the ears and not in the mouth, jaw or around the neck.

This is quite a common type of lamb presentation. A lambing rope or cord is the best addition here to guide the head in to the birth process.

Conor advises that excessive force here will just result in the neck of the lamb breaking and a dead lamb subsequently being delivered.

A lamb coming backwards with both legs sitting underneath is termed as a breech presentation.

In the majority of situations it is usually best to try and deliver the lamb backwards rather than trying to turn the lamb in the uterus as there is a risk of the umbilical cord breaking with excessive movement.

The lamb may need to be pushed back into the uterus to give more room to work where the legs are not presented. It is also important to ensure that the lamb’s legs and back are level as if the tail head is sitting up then there is no way the lamb can be delivered.

The natural inclination once the lamb starts to be delivered is to pull as quick as you can to get the lamb out for fear of the umbilical cord breaking and the lamb drowning in its own fluids.

Here Conor again advises patience.

He says that the intestines and internal organs of the lamb are pushed towards the chest in a difficult delivery backwards and applying constant excessive force can increase the risk of ribs breaking.

Q How long should you leave a ewe before intervening?

A “A ewe can be left for up to an hour as long as she is showing signs of progress in delivering the lambs. There is no point in delaying though if you know there has been no progress and in such a case it is worth handling to see that there is no issues with presentation.”

Q Where a ewe is prolapsing but is a way off lambing is it better to use a restraint or stitching?

A “A restraint usually is the easiest solution provided it is applied early.

Harness restraints work better than spools in my opinion.

Acting fast and applying a harness once you see warning signs is best. If a ewe is attempting to prolapse and no intervention is taken then the vulva can become stretched and eventually there may be little option than to apply a stitch.”

Q Should you disinfect the area where a ewe has prolapsed before inserting the material back into the ewe?

A “Yes, it is important to dilute the disinfectant correctly to 1% solution.

The prolapsed material is obviously sensitive and if you apply a disinfectant at 10% solution or stronger it will lead to chemical burns and cause more harm than good.

One percent disinfectant in warm water will work well. I have seen people try and clean the area with old rags or towels that are dirty and are a major source of infection.”

Q Is there any need for antibiotic treatment or pain relief following a difficult lambing?

A “If the lambing has been carried out in hygienic conditions and there is no signs of any tears or rupture to the vulva then there is generally no need for antibiotic treatment, but where excessive handling has taken place and there is a high risk of infection establishing then it can be warranted. Pain relief is useful – the welfare of animals is critical”.