In 10 years, I've never had a lambing problem, and only lost one ewe to illness. After a devastating year of predation, the trading of several sheep for LGD, I find my reduced flock further impacted by small lambs, and Septic Arthritis, and now two deaths.
So now it has me wondering about where my LGD came from. Last year, the breeder of the LGD phoned me with a question about his Blackbelly flock. He had recently obtained them, and they were dropping dead. There were no recognizable symptoms that he reported, other than a day of subdued behavior. I had no wisdom to offer him, having a flock that had been robust for years. However this year, I have small lambs. Last year I had the first case of septic arthritis, though it was late onset (over a month old). It cleared up with Penn-G. This year, 4 out of 5 lambs developed septic arthritis. One of my ewes, a producer of robust twins every year, delivered two very small and weak lambs. I truly did not expect one to live, but she did turn around at the moment I decided she was a loss. She did also develop arthritis, and it cleared up with Penn-G, as did the other cases. However her twins began to grow nicely, but then stopped developing by appearances. I noticed they were hunched up and cold and put sweaters back on them. Last night one died. I expect the second one will as well. This is an old ewe, though I don't know how old. Three weeks ago, I lost my eldest ewe, a lovely girl of at least 12 years of age. She was bleeding vaginally, and in pain, appeared to be in shock. I thought she was having a birthing problem. She'd had a cough which was intermittent, and persisted despite deworming. I had assumed lung worm, because she did not present as having pneumonia. After putting her out of her misery, inspection did not reveal any pregnancy, but did show inflammation of her ovaries, fallopian tubes, etc. Her heart appeared degraded, and lugs were a little scarred. Liver and kidneys looked normal. I assume she just was old and failing. I don't know how anything is related, but wonder if the LGD brought something with them that has impacted the flock. I have also learned the property we are now on had some history of over population of animals, including goats. Just a strange and bad year. But not sure what has happened with this year's lambs. Reminds me of the size concerns Barb Lee had when she was producing. She asked me to her place to see her lambs. Her adults were beautiful, robust and well-sized... but her lambs were so tiny, though very healthy. It bothered her that they were so small, and took so long to reach a marketable weight. My lambs have always been robust and well-sized, until this year. Tracy Wessel www.intentionhill.com _______________________________________________ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
