Not a good practice to squeeze teats prior to birth, you are opening your girls to infection/mastitis. Teats opened must be closed either by lamb saliva (natural) or dipping the teats, we use iodine after milking. Colustrum is light yellow, cream colored and is thick and sticky.
Colostrum colour????
First time we have owned any sheep we put them to tup between august 21st and finished October 31st we didnt get them raddled as we only have 2 sheep, they are gimmers, no sign of lambing yet but they have like water out their teats when squeezed, test a little bit once a week to see any change but nothing yet, they are coloured ryeland sheep so they have alot of fur and are like teddy bears! Is the water normal before lambing or does that mean they are not in lamb.
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I'm with @mzgarden. Dip those teats in betadine or other iodine solution, and leave them alone.
When they lamb will be soon enough for you to see what colostrum looks like. Don't push things.
When they lamb will be soon enough for you to see what colostrum looks like. Don't push things.
I dont squeeze them massively just to see if any colostrum is there once a week a vet told me but you still didnt answer my question is the water normal in their teats? Before they r due?
Yes it's normal.I dont squeeze them massively just to see if any colostrum is there once a week a vet told me but you still didnt answer my question is the water normal in their teats? Before they r due?
I am in the same camp as other posters here, leave their teats alone until they kid. However, in college (very recently) I was taught to do this same milk test to try and determine imminent kidding. 🤷♀️
Does it change anything? It won't make the babies come faster.
Opening their teats to squeeze anything out is putting them and you at risk of serious mastitis infection which can lead to a permanently damaged udder and could seriously impact the lambs ability to feed.
It's likely that you didn't get an answer to your question right away because no one here believes it's something that should be done, so we're not doing it and getting any kind of liquid out. Yes, as @RJ2019 said, you will get something out of the teats if you squeeze them open. And when they lay down in the dirt or straw, those open teats will let bacteria flow right up into the udder.
You might ask your vet about the responses you got here and see what they say, if you're going to follow the vet's direction.
It's likely that you didn't get an answer to your question right away because no one here believes it's something that should be done, so we're not doing it and getting any kind of liquid out. Yes, as @RJ2019 said, you will get something out of the teats if you squeeze them open. And when they lay down in the dirt or straw, those open teats will let bacteria flow right up into the udder.
You might ask your vet about the responses you got here and see what they say, if you're going to follow the vet's direction.
I am afraid that, when it comes to any "not-bovine" animal, a good many veterinarians are somewhat under-educated. Too many vets treat goats and sheep like they are small cows when, in reality, they are closer to cervidae than bovine.
Some of you may remember a few years back, when I sold two very healthy pregnant does. The buyer's vet told her to feed them sweet feed, and that grazing (!) would be fine - they didn't need to bring in hay.
That did not go well, and the vet blamed my lines. Uh-huh... 2 does that were healthy and pregnant with triplets when they left my farm - with instructions on what to feed - somehow go south in 8 weeks,
@mzgarden's advice is good. Run what you learned here past your vet. If the vet scoffs, I recommend finding someone who is a bit more knowledgeable or willing to learn about sheep.
Some of you may remember a few years back, when I sold two very healthy pregnant does. The buyer's vet told her to feed them sweet feed, and that grazing (!) would be fine - they didn't need to bring in hay.
That did not go well, and the vet blamed my lines. Uh-huh... 2 does that were healthy and pregnant with triplets when they left my farm - with instructions on what to feed - somehow go south in 8 weeks,
@mzgarden's advice is good. Run what you learned here past your vet. If the vet scoffs, I recommend finding someone who is a bit more knowledgeable or willing to learn about sheep.
Yes thankyou i dont want them coming any quicker my knowledge is not 100% i work full time so i hust want to pin when their milk will change so i can be there with them and i know the signs also i got told to check there behind area for swelling many thanks for your help xYes it's normal.
I am in the same camp as other posters here, leave their teats alone until they kid. However, in college (very recently) I was taught to do this same milk test to try and determine imminent kidding. 🤷♀️
Does it change anything? It won't make the babies come faster.
The new goat owner anxiety is intense when it comes time for those first babies. I remember it well.Yes thankyou i dont want them coming any quicker my knowledge is not 100% i work full time so i hust want to pin when their milk will change so i can be there with them and i know the signs also i got told to check there behind area for swelling many thanks for your help x
Try not to stress, usually things work out just fine even if you aren't home.
Thankyou just that they r due soon we think and they are not changing the only thing i noticed the the water like stuff coming out when u squeeze so im not actually sure if they r in lamb they are ryeland sheep so they r very fluffy and cannot really get to grip on their belliesThe new goat owner anxiety is intense when it comes time for those first babies. I remember it well.
Try not to stress, usually things work out just fine even if you aren't home.
When was the last time they had babies?Thankyou just that they r due soon we think and they are not changing the only thing i noticed the the water like stuff coming out when u squeeze so im not actually sure if they r in lamb they are ryeland sheep so they r very fluffy and cannot really get to grip on their bellies
If they have not had babies in the last year or two then the clear fluid most often means they are pregnant.
I know you are anxious, but please consider taking more of a wait and see approach. The risks of milking animals that aren't lactating and creating a painful and catastrophic infection are very real. I think you have most likely established that they are pregnant.
When did you get them? How about trying to find the date they were bred? You can also watch for a mucous plug, note their changes in behavior, get a fetal doppler and try to listen for heartbeat. There are other less harmful ways of predicting new babies💙
Even if you do know when they were tupped, and carefully counted 155 days from that magic moment, not all ewes' eggs implant that quickly. You can still be up to a week later than the anticipate due date.
Furthermore, ewes can be very sneaky about lambing, just as they are about breeding. They will find a nice, secluded space, and Plop! Plop! Out pop the lambs, which they usually clean right up. Next thing you know, you have more sheep at the hay feeder. Around here, the lambs are usually eating hay within 24 hours.
Fortunately, most ewes, even first-timers, are great at lambing. You seldom need to assist. Check on them regularly, of course, but please try not to fret.
Furthermore, ewes can be very sneaky about lambing, just as they are about breeding. They will find a nice, secluded space, and Plop! Plop! Out pop the lambs, which they usually clean right up. Next thing you know, you have more sheep at the hay feeder. Around here, the lambs are usually eating hay within 24 hours.
Fortunately, most ewes, even first-timers, are great at lambing. You seldom need to assist. Check on them regularly, of course, but please try not to fret.
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