Low Udder

plowjockey · #1 04/04/12, 03:13 PM

The older ewe, with the quads, seems to be struggling to get them to eat right, even though they looked good, but seemed hungry. DW fed them a bottle today (they are about 24 hours old)

The teats are very large and very low to the ground. The lambs keep poking their heads into her upper udder area, ingoring (it seems) the teats. I tried to manually introduce them to the lambs, but they don't too interested. The teats seem to milk fine, but she does kick a bit sometimes. There was a decent milk flow, but not like whe was packed.

Will lambs nurse when she is laying down? It just does not appear like they are feeding properly.

Also, is over large udders a negative trait, good, or does it matter?

Hoping to not have to make a major investment in milk replacer.

Callieslamb · #2 04/04/12, 04:40 PM

I had a first time momma that didn't seem to have any milk. I supplemented her for a few days and just today- 1 week later, was able to see that the lambs are finally getting enough from mom. Hurray! So be patient with her. It might take a while for her to get a good milk supply going for 4 babies. Give her a bit more grain to help her out nd lots of warm water. You might just take a bottle down 2-3 times a day and feeding a who ever happens to be hungry. Or, you can pull one and see if mom can feed the other three. I'd rather take a bottle down and let momma do all the worrying. MR for lambs is very expensive but I don't think you will need to feed all 4 of them MR.

I just learned that the babies find the mom's udder by the scent gland inside the ewe's leg. That's why they are sticking their noses up there. You might have to help them find the right place. I have a ewe with triplets and they will nurse when mom is laying down.

I think a low udder is always a problem, but what can you do? They are more likely to get injured and get mastitis due to draging in the dirt.

You might check to see if the lamb's teeth are really sharp. That might be what is causing her to kick a bit. You can file them back with an emory board.

lambs.are.cute · #3 04/05/12, 10:33 AM

Also check if the teats are too big for the lambs mouth. I had one ewe who I swore had an udder like a cow. Nice for milking but a problem for lambs. I had to bottle feed them for 1/2 a month before they could get their mouth around them (her milk). Then I just milked her in the morning because she wouldn't nurse them after dark and the udder was too big again.

plowjockey · #4 04/05/12, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lambs.are.cute

Also check if the teats are too big for the lambs mouth. I had one ewe who I swore had an udder like a cow. Nice for milking but a problem for lambs. I had to bottle feed them for 1/2 a month before they could get their mouth around them (her milk). Then I just milked her in the morning because she wouldn't nurse them after dark and the udder was too big again.

I think that what I am up against.

One would be worked over pretty good (4 lambs) the other is huge and untouched. I milked it out tonight so it's smaller, but they may have to get bigger, to use it.

We are bottle summlementing anyway, as one or two lambs do not look like the are getting enough milk.