Lambing and kidding season is an important time for a small ruminant operation. The survival of newborn lambs and kids is paramount to the economic viability of the farm. The new lamb or kid crop is the product of investments and decisions regarding genetics, and the next generation sets the stage for the future of the flock or herd.
During the period surrounding lambing and kidding, understanding and identifying normal versus abnormal behaviour and physiology and knowing when to assist, are essential to newborn survival, a healthy start to life, and productive individuals in the future.
Winter can be a stressful time for livestock. As owners, we need to help to reduce that stress by providing proper care, feeding and management practices. Adjusting management practices will help to ensure that sheep under your care will thrive through the cold winter months.
Proper facilities will provide protection for newborn lambs or kids, increase their survival, simplify handling, and reduce labour during the lambing and kidding season. Prepare lambing or kidding facilities prior to the start of the season.
Housing areas must be dry and well ventilated. Excessive heat can be more detrimental than cooler environments. Good facilities and proper preparation are the first steps to a successful lambing and kidding season.
Times when we left the sheep and goats to their own demise in the cold winter kraal to lamb or kid on their own are long gone. You need to take care of them so they take care of you as a farmer, hence proper lambing facilities like a barn or any makeshift shelter that keeps the cold out is advisable.
Most lambs/kids’ mortalities during winter result from cold stress, hunger and parasite infestation. Some of the health conditions in small stock are predisposed by unhygienic kraal environments or conditions, filled with parasites, dust, dirt and harmful objects.
Most of the time, lambs and kids are kept in the kraals for long, and thus, directly exposed to these conditions. Dust inhalation and cold stress can result in lung infections and eye infections when blown into the eyes. Guard against this by keeping your kraal clean.
Once the lambing process has been completed, do regular inspection of your lambs and kids to determine which ones need help. Some may be of weak body stature; others might refuse to suckle from the mothers. You need to know this early enough to be able to devise applicable strategies.
Also, some goats and sheep may be too old or weary and may die after lambing. It is, therefore, critical that you assess the number of lambs that are left motherless so that you can have alternative feeding methods for them.
It also helps if you are psychologically prepared; you are going to lose some lambs and the earlier you accept that as a reality, the better prepared you will be to soften the blow on yourself and your farming operations.
The bottom line is that if it is the quantity you are after as a farmer, it will be crucial to ensure that most of the lambs and kids that are delivered by your goats and sheep survive. It will be these lambs and kids that would one day replace your current herd and carry your farming further.
Simply put, lambing season is one of the most crucial parts of any small stock farmer and one that is equally delicate – handle it with care. If you beat this, your farming operation will be well on track.