Planning For Spring Babes

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You should vaccinate the ewe to ensure adequate maternal immunoglobulins in the colostrum 30 days before lambing. The vaccination routinely used for Clostridia bacteria covers tetanus. You should also give Vitamin E and selenium at this time, especially in selenium-deficient areas. While the ewes are in for vaccination, it is a good time to check the condition of the ewe to determine if she is getting adequate nutrition. At this point in gestation, each ewe should be getting one pound of concentrate in addition to daily roughage; it is important to increase the grain amount slowly to prevent indigestion. Many shepherds also shear their ewes at this time, so they may be easily identified, or they just shear around their udders, which is known as crutching. Frequently, new lambs will suck on tags of wool mistaking it for a teat, so crutching provides easier access to the udder for the lambs.

The pregnant mare should have her vaccinations boostered close to foaling to allow adequate colostral immunoglobulins. The mare should be vaccinated with an inactivated vaccine for Equine Rhinopneumonitis (Rhino) at months 5, 7, and 9 of pregnancy. A tetanus booster and vitamin E and selenium should be given approximately 30 days prior to foaling.

Neonatal Care

Neonatal care is the second important consideration in our preventative medicine program for healthy young stock. There are a few tried and true practices that if implemented can save time and prevent needless headaches. For all births, regardless of the species, if assistance is needed, it is important to get help in a timely fashion to prevent death of the young and possibly the mother. Primary neonatal care should happen within the first 12 hours of birth so it is wise to be at hand either at the birth or very soon thereafter.

The bond between a dam and her offspring is important and is based on the smell, taste, and sound of the young. In general the maternal instinct is very strong in our domestic animals so the dams know to attend to their young. Before leaving the animals to acquaint themselves, dip the newborn's navel in iodine solution that is greater than 7 percent iodine. This one minute procedure will sterilize the umbilicus and prevent infection from climbing the umbilical stump and entering the abdomen of the animal.

The neonate's intestines change in their absorptive capacity after twenty-four hours. After this time period, the immunoglobulins, important components, in the colostrum are no longer able to be absorbed. Therefore it is imperative to ensure that the newborn eats enough colostrum early enough to allow a good start to the animal's immunity and ability to fight off infection. The adequate amount of colostrum varies between species, but a good rule of thumb is 3-5 liters for a calf and 1-2 liters for a foal AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. Milking out the mom and bottle feeding will help determine the amount of colostrum ingested and the suckling action enhances absorption of maternal immunoglobulins from the colostrum. But, don't stop there! Make sure that the young is nursing readily and frequently during the first 24 hours of life. Continue to observe the suckling attempts of the young for the first three days of life. The level of nursing activity is an indicator of the general health of the neonate. Weakness due to illness will manifest itself as decreased nursing attempts and a weak suckle reflex on a finger.

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