The number of lambs you market has a direct impact on the profitability of your flock. Most lamb mortalities occur during or shortly after birth.  Investing the time and effort into ensuring your lambs are given the best start possible will pay off with more live lambs.  Taking care of lambs begins with ensuring your ewes are well taken care during pregnancy, particularly during the last four to six weeks of gestation.  See the ALP Reproduction and Nutrition modules for more details about ewe management. 

Sample Lambing Record Templates
Template one
Template two

Preparing for Lambing and Difficult Births (also see ALP video below):

• List of suggested lambing supplies
• What you need to know about lambing (Presentation by Dr. Ileana Wenger (pdf))
• Assisting Ewes with Difficult Births (Dystocia) (ALP factsheet)
• The Veterinary Book for Sheep Farmers: Lambing Time Summary (external link to a detailed lambing guide.)
• Manual of Lambing Techniques. (detailed lambing guide from The Farming Press, pdf)

Caring for Hypothermic Lambs:

• Hypothermia - using your thermometer (handout from Dr. Wenger's presentation)
• Intraperitoneal injection of glucose  (handout from Dr. Wenger presentation)
• Hypothermia and Interperitoneal Injections (ALP factsheet)
• Hypothermia and Stomach Tubing (ALP factsheet)

Castration and Tail Docking:

• Animal Welfare Considerations for Castration and Tail Docking (ALP fact sheet)

• For 'how-to' guides for castration and tail docking, check Shepherding 101, Reproduction module or the Code of Practice

• 'How to' tail dock lambs. Video on the Canadian Sheep Breeders Association website.

Neonatal Lamb Post-Mortem Resources (Also see 'Neonatal Management' webinar with Lynn Tait, below)

• 'ALP Examination Guide' - Detailed information on preforming postmortem exams, booklet
• 'ALP Examination Checklist' - 2-page sheet for use during a post-exam (laminated version available from the ALP office)
• 'ALP Examination Record Sheet' - To recording results for individual examinations
• 'Lamb Post-Mortem Protocol for Use on Farm: To Diagnose Primary Cause of Lamb Death from Birth to 3 Days of Age' - Reference article
• 'Lamb Autopsy. Notes on a procedure for determining cause of death' - Link to autopsy guide.

Mastitis:   Mastitis in Ewes (ALP fact sheet)

Early Weaning:  Early Weaning Protocol (ALP fact sheet)

Videos on ALP's YouTube channel, Sheep Central Alberta