Lambulance in Action

With the current lamb count at 40, today was our first occasion to use Horned Lark's new field vehicle to assist with a lambing issue.

When Miranda went to move the flock to fresh grass today, she found a ewe and her two new lambs didn't have the energy to get up and move with the rest of the flock. Miranda checked the ewe's udder, and found that one teat was extremely hard to the touch and the ewe was having serious discomfort. This ewe is experiencing mastitis, which isn't uncommon. We often have one or two cases each lambing season. A healthy ewe produces milk, then one or both of her teats becomes plugged—often from an oversupply of milk—and then she is left with a painful, engorged udder, often followed by an infection.

When the ewe has mastitis, her lambs aren't able to nurse fully, either because the ewe's teats are too sensitive or because there is a full blockage stopping the flow of milk.

When Miranda sees a doting mom who has cleaned off her babies and bonded with them, but lambs who are weak and lethargic, the first thing to check is whether milk is flowing and available for them. As soon as she felt the udder, she knew this ewe had mastitis.

Miranda and our friend Chelsea loaded up the ewe and her two lambs and drove them to the barn, where they'll be staying while she's treated. Miranda gave the ewe Banamine, which is an anti-inflammatory pain medication for livestock that should help reduce swelling in the udder and make her more comfortable. If the blockage and pain don't improve quickly, we'll add an antibiotic to the mix.

In the coming days, Miranda will be trying to help milk her manually to get the flow of milk going again. We'll also be supplementing the lambs with bottled formula so that they continue to gain weight and remain energetic.

In the best case scenario, the oversupply of milk is relieved, the ewe begins to feel better, and the lambs are able to return to being strictly fed by their mother.

If her milk production does not return to normal, we'll bottle feed these lambs for the next six weeks or so.

Fingers crossed she feels better swiftly, and the whole fam can go back to the field with the rest of the flock!