Hello,
I had a large ram-lamb born this morning that has a curled tail...almost like a piglet's tail, except since its thicker, its like a ball of tail. I'm hoping his rectum and organs aren't affected...I haven't seen him pass the meconium, but then again I haven't been with him most of the day so he could be normal except for the tail. Has anyone seen anything like this? His dam is a dorset, and his sire is either my dorset ram or a southdown ram (he's dry but is yellow from the birthing fluid and I can't tell yet which ram fathered him). Any idea if this is caused by something genetic, or environmental (squished in the womb? I sort of doubt that, but it did cross my mind).
Since the tail doesn't hang down (the end is actually pointing towards his head over his rump) I don't know if I should dock it...I'm afraid of doing nerve damage or some such if its abnormal. Should I dock it, or leave it? He's not a show lamb or anything...he'll be wethered in a couple days and marketed when he gets to be 100 lbs or so.
I can get a pic of it tomorrow if I can get the digital camera to work...its pretty odd looking!
Leah
I had a large ram-lamb born this morning that has a curled tail...almost like a piglet's tail, except since its thicker, its like a ball of tail. I'm hoping his rectum and organs aren't affected...I haven't seen him pass the meconium, but then again I haven't been with him most of the day so he could be normal except for the tail. Has anyone seen anything like this? His dam is a dorset, and his sire is either my dorset ram or a southdown ram (he's dry but is yellow from the birthing fluid and I can't tell yet which ram fathered him). Any idea if this is caused by something genetic, or environmental (squished in the womb? I sort of doubt that, but it did cross my mind).
Since the tail doesn't hang down (the end is actually pointing towards his head over his rump) I don't know if I should dock it...I'm afraid of doing nerve damage or some such if its abnormal. Should I dock it, or leave it? He's not a show lamb or anything...he'll be wethered in a couple days and marketed when he gets to be 100 lbs or so.
I can get a pic of it tomorrow if I can get the digital camera to work...its pretty odd looking!
Leah