Lambing & Kidding
The last month of pregnancy through weaning
Johanna Kingsley, DVM
April 2025
Veterinary Medicine is local!
The information in this presentation is intended for my clients in Northern New York. Recommendations may not be appropriate for other management systems and locations. This presentation is not intended to replace the advice of a veterinarian familiar with your location and management system.
Getting ready
Get yourself ready
Have a lambing kit packed and organized!
Old towels
Flashlight
Gentle soap
Lubricant
7 % Iodine
Thermometer
Feeding tube and syringe
Nipples and bottles
Frozen colostrum or colostrum replacer
Disposable gloves
Maybe-
BoSe with needles and syringes
50% Dextrose with needles and syringes
Cal-Nate with needles and syringes
Lambing straps
Luggage or fish scale
Record keeping supplies- to each his own
Livestock marking paint +/- paint brands
Ear tags
Record sheets
Writing utensils
Have an established relationship with a veterinarian and know their phone number
Getting mom ready-shots
CDT booster 4-6 weeks before lambing
Selenium?
Aim for 50-60 ppm in mineral mix
Maybe BoSe 2.5mL subcutaneously 4-6 weeks before lambing/kidding
Getting mom ready- Nutrition
In late gestation, mamas need lots of calories to grow a baby-BUT baby is taking up all the room in her belly!
Forage must be plentiful and of excellent quality
Think about bunk space! Pregnant mamas are wide!
Concentrates (aka grain) -at least through last month of pregnancy- 1-2 pounds/head/day (⅓ this for dwarf breeds)
Complete loose mineral mix - every sheep or goat every day
Water- plentiful clean, liquid, palatable water
Then you wait
Watch for signs of impending labor-
Predicting timing of labor is tough! Having accurate breeding dates is a huge help!
Timelines vary between breeds and even farm to farm- you will learn your animals’ signs.
Here comes baby!
Normal birth
Normal birth consists of 3 stages:
Stage 1- Preparation
Stage 2- Delivery of the fetus
Stage 3- Expulsion of fetal membranes
Stage One 2-12 hours
Uterine contractions start and the cervix dilates
Baby moves into position
BUT
You will not notice abdominal contractions yet
Maybe restlessness, inappetence, flank watching
Stage Two 1- 2 hours
Abdominal contractions begin, baby moves into the birth canal and is delivered.
Mama may give birth standing or lying on her side.
“Normal presentation”- both forelimbs extended with the head resting on top of them
Lambs and kids are small and floppy; many are born unassisted even in other presentations
Stage 3 Up to 6 hours
Birth isn’t complete until all the placentas have been delivered
May deliver one after each baby or save them all for last
If placenta hasn’t passed within 12-18h, contact your veterinarian for advice
Non-odorous red-brown vaginal discharge (lochia) will often persist up to 2-3 weeks after birth
Retained placenta-this veterinarian’s advice
-Monitor attitude and appetite
-Administer oxytocin
-Start antibiotics and anti-inflammatories
-Assess for other disease and address as necessary
-Don’t freak out and don’t pull on it
The 30-30-30 rule
30 min from pushing to fetal membranes
30 min from fetal membranes to a baby on the ground
30 min between babies until she is done
If any of these don’t happen, time to check her out.
The #1 Rule of Obstetrics
Be clean!
Be safe!
Be gentle!
(And use lots of lube)
How to examine mama
Restrain mama with a partner, if possible
Kneel behind with her head held or lay her on her side and have someone hold her down
Wash the perineum and vulva well- gentle soap and warm water
Wash your hands and forearms well- be sure fingernails are trimmed and clean and watches and rings are off!
Put lubricant (more soap or commercial lube) on your gloved hand
How to examine mama
Shape your fingers into a cone and gently introduce hand into vagina.
It may be very tight! These tissues are only stretched by a baby coming through- go slowly and be gentle
Go slowly and try to identify what you feel- head? legs? A dead end? Chaos?
Relevant anatomy-pelvis
Relevant anatomy-vagina, cervix and uterus
Hard-pelvis
Firm-cervix
Soft-vulva, vagina and uterus
Normal delivery
My favorite: discovering multiple clean dry babies up nursing
Mom delivers baby unassisted in one of 3 normal (ish) presentations
Causes of abnormal delivery
-Fetal-maternal size mismatch
-Uterine inertia
-Malpresentation
-Ringwomb/incomplete cervical dilation
Causes of abnormal delivery- F-M size mismatch
Risk factors- small dam or inappropriate size/breed sire
-Excessive nutrition early in pregnancy
-Overconditioned dam
Diagnosis- everything seems to be in the right place, just stuck!
What to do- generally, if a head and one leg can navigate the pelvis, baby can be born vaginally
-Lube lube lube!
-Try to smooth out vaginal tissue around head- no bunching up
-Snare or strap may help navigate head through pelvis
Meconium-baby’s first poop
Should happen after delivery
Stressed babies do it during labor
If you see this bright yellow color, even if the timer says everything is fine, get baby out now!
Causes of abnormal delivery- Uterine inertia
Risk factors- hypocalcemia, pregnancy toxemia, prolonged labor, general debilitation
Diagnosis- weak or absent contractions, sometimes partially dilated cervix, open cervix with babies sitting deep in abdomen
What to do- Maybe calcium supplementation- oral or subcutaneous
-Attempt manual dilation of birth canal if needed- go slow!
-Fish out babies
-Call for help
Causes of abnormal delivery- Malpresentation
Risk factors- multiple babies, over conditioned dams, crowding
Diagnosis- Any combination of body parts in birth canal other than normal
What to do- Convert to a normal birthing position- often have to push baby backwards to do so
-Ensure all body parts are attached to the same baby
-Do not pull out a head with no leg or a front leg with no head! You are just making it harder to fix!
Back or front limbs?
Forelimbs- the joints all bend the same way- so it curls into the letter C
Hindlimbs- the joints bend in opposite directions, so it folds into the letter Z
Look at mom’s legs, or even your own limbs
Your heel=their hock
The uterus and the pelvic brim
Every illustration
How it feels to me
Same thing=same result
Set a timer
Time is the enemy- tissues are swelling, fluids are dying, baby more likely to die, mom more stressed and tired
If you aren’t making good progress within 5 minutes, get experienced help
The Mary Smith Rule
How do I know if there are more babies inside her?
Interlock your fingers under the abdomen just ahead of the udder and forcefully jerk upwards.
If it feels like there is a frozen chicken in there, there are more babies.
If it feels like a load of laundry, she’s done.
Causes of abnormal delivery-ringwomb
Failure of cervix to dilate- sheep more than goats
Some cervices can be stretched by hand, but some simply cannot
Treatment- C-section, terminal C-section, gunshot euthanasia and salvage kids
A word on mini-livestock
Every pregnancy and birth involves risk!
But- the pelvic canal of a Nigerian dwarf goat is about the size of a wide mouthed Mason jar
-very little room to maneuver, even with “simple” problems
Every time you breed one, consider- is this goat worth a C-section?
Calling your vet
If you expect a night-time relationship, you need to have a day-time relationship
Have ready- lights
-warm water
-clean space
-information (breeding dates, treatments already administered, etc)
-a table or bale of hay?
-a human being’s full attention
What do I have that you don’t?
More/different experience?
Smaller hands?
Meds and tools?
Epidural anesthesia
C-section
Aftercare for mom
Normal birth-
Warm water +/- molasses
Check udder
Peace and quiet
Good meal
Abnormal birth-
If there were hands inside her
Antibiotics-
Oxytetracycline 200mg/mL - 4.5mL/100# SQ-2 doses 3 days apart
Procaine Penicillin G- 4mL/100# SQ daily 5 days
CDT -if she did not receive in late pregnancy
Maybe anti-inflammatories
Maybe tetanus antitoxin
Neonatal care
Healthy babies
Make sure mouth and nose are clear of fetal membranes
Give to mom- if baby is breathing well and mom is cleaning intently, let them be!
If mom is half-hearted OR if baby is not looking lively, clean and stimulate to breath by rubbing hard with old towel or twist of hay
Healthy babies should be walking and nursing within 30 min
Healthy babies
Dip, strip and sip!
Bo-Se-Administer 0.25mL BoSe subcutaneously at 2-3 days if dam didn’t receive 4-6 weeks prior
1mL/40lbs at 4 weeks
Think about goat kids’ horns NOW
Colostrum
The first milk a mama makes in her lactation-it looks thick and yellow.
Loaded with antibodies, sugars, proteins and fats
Baby’s gut is extra-receptive to absorb these antibodies- once it absorbs “something” it loses the ability to absorb large particles- be sure “something” is colostrum, not dirt or manure
Without antibodies from colostrum, baby has no defense against the viruses and bacteria out there.
Without energy in colostrum, baby will soon have no energy to burn to stay warm.
Drinking colostrum is the most important job in a sheep or goat’s entire life!
Colostrum
How much? Dam-reared- LOTS- Make sure mom has full udder, teats are stripped, baby is effectively suckling
Artificially reared/problem babies- 1oz/pound within first 2 hours and again 6-8 hours later
If mom has more milk than she needs, or a mama has a stillbirth, consider milking and freezing some colostrum.
The antibody levels decrease with time after birth increases, so for feeding or freezing, sooner is better.
Unhealthy babies
Why are new lambs and kids “unhealthy?”
-Hypothermia
-Starvation
-Prematurity
-Hypoxia or subdural hemorrhage from birth trauma
-Congenital defect
Hypothermia
A body temp <101℉ - get a digital thermometer and use it!
These babies need to be warmed up- BUT - they need the energy to warm up with.
Lambs and kids are born with some high energy brown fat- they burn this within the first 5-6 hours of life.
Once it is gone, if they haven’t had a good meal, when you warm them, they will likely convulse and probably die.
What to do? Babies under 5-6 hours old
Rectal temp <98F
Towel dry if needed
Active warming to 98F-check temp every 20 min
Tube or bottle feed colostrum (1oz/#)
Looks good! → back to mom, watch closely
Looks crummy→ keep in warm, draft free space, monitor temp, repeat feeding in a few hours
Rectal temp 98-101
Towel dry if needed
Tube or bottle feed colostrum (1oz/#)
Looks good! → back to mom, watch closely
Looks crummy→ keep in warm, draft free space, monitor temp, repeat feeding in a few hours
What to do? Babies over 5-6 hours old
Rectal temp 98-101
Towel dry if needed
Tube or bottle feed milk/replacer
Looks good! → back to mom, watch closely
Looks crummy→ keep in warm, draft free space, monitor temp, repeat feeding in a few hours
What to do? Babies over 5-6 hours old
Rectal temp <98F
Head down and unable to swallow
Administer intraperitoneal dextrose
Active warming to 98F-check temp every 20 min
Tube or bottle feed milk/replacer
Looks good! → back to mom, watch closely
Looks crummy→ keep in warm, draft free space, monitor temp, repeat feeding in a few hours
Rectal temp <98F
Head up and able to swallow
Tube or bottle feed milk/replacer
Active warming to 98F-check temp every 20 min
Tube or bottle feed milk/replacer
Looks good! → back to mom, watch closely
Looks crummy→ keep in warm, draft free space, monitor temp, repeat feeding in a few hours
Don’t warm up a baby without the energy to stay warm!
Warming up
Towel dry baby
Use a warming box- dry, draft-free and warm, not hot!
-Commercial or make-shift- but make sure you can clean it or pitch it!
Hair dryers, towels warm from the drier, warm water bottles
Only warm babies to 99℉, check rectal temp every 20 minutes
-Use a timer! Hyperthermia is a real risk
Be careful with heat lamps- they can burn babies that can’t move away or have nowhere to go
Bottle feeding
Pros: Easy
Requires minimal supplies
Gets nutrition into baby
Cons: May make baby less willing to return to mama
Can cause illness if hygiene isn’t excellent
Only works if baby knows how to suck
Risk of choking/aspiration
Bottle feeding equipment
Pritchard teat nipple- they are small and soft, just right for a baby nursing for the first time. They screw right onto a clean soda bottle.
They will wear out! Keep extras on hand. If you will be bottle feeding for an extended time, after a few days switch to a firmer rubber nipple.
From the package, the tip of the nipple is sealed shut- slit the tip vertically with a sharp blade
Bottle feeding
Stomach tubing
For babies that can hold up their heads and swallow!
Allows you to ensure colostrum intake, and to feed other vulnerable babies without getting them accustomed to bottle feeding
Use a 14-18F red rubber feeding tube and 60mL or 120mL catheter tip syringe(s)
Stomach tubing
Stomach tubing
What is “appropriate”?
Amount- Colostrum- 1oz/# body weight within 2 hours of birth and again at 6-8 hours old, then can switch to milk/milk replacer or continue mom’s “colostrum”
Milk/milk replacer- 3oz/# body weight daily
- If feeding every 8 hours, 1oz/#/feeding
-More frequent feeding will benefit vulnerable neonates (4-5 times daily)
Body temp- they run a little warmer than us- around 103℉- warm but not hot on the skin inside your arm
What to feed them?
Under 24 hours:
-thaw in warm water bath, not microwave!
-bovine ok-use 1/10 recommended amount for calf
-whisk thoroughly- immersion blender?
* Recommendations change if farm is attempting to eradicate CAE or Johne’s disease
Best
What to feed them?
Over 24 hours:
* Recommendations change if farm is attempting to eradicate CAE or Johne’s disease
Best
Intraperitoneal dextrose
For babies that need energy and can’t swallow
Only provides sugar
Involves injecting sugar solution directly into the abdominal cavity
Use a 60mL sterile syringe and 20gx1” sterile needle.
Intraperitoneal dextrose
Housing-Jugs/kidding pens
Penning mom and babies together for 1-3 days supports bonding and allows closer monitoring of mom and babies
If not, consider managing smaller groups based on birthing order to help protect babies born later in the season and simply management
Minor alterations
Sooner is better! Less pain, less bleeding, fewer complications
Consider tetanus, pain management, flies
Disbudding- best done under 2 weeks of age-cautery recommended
Tail docking- best done under 2 weeks- band, sharp or cautery
Castration- best done under 1-2 months, band, sharp, crushing
Nutrition-dam raised
Ensure dam has plentiful milk and all babies are getting enough
-watch for crying, sunken belly, baby getting cold, hunching up
-usually wagging tail means successful latch
-track weight?
If not enough, can supplement all with bottle or leave the most vigorous and pull the others for artificial rearing
Nutrition-creep feeding
Babies should have access to dams food and begin mouthing hay within a few days
Creep feeder with palatable starter feed should improve growth and prepare for weaning
Nutrition-artificially raised
Balancing act of goals- labor vs growth
Offer good hay, and creep feed early
-if limiting milk/replacer, need free choice water in pans or buckets (never a bottle)
Bottles vs milk bar
Cleanliness essential!
Weaning
It depends…
4 weeks for some bottle babies
8-12 weeks more typical
Consider limiting dams feed (no grain and poor quality forage) a week prior
Will be less stressful if babies have all the skills in place - drinking from waterers, eating from troughs, etc
Start to offer loose mineral
Coccidia
Coccidia- a protozoal parasite present in most healthy adults
The most common cause of diarrhea in 3 week to 5 month old kids and lambs
A poop-in-mouth disease
Manage with- hygiene, coccidiostat in feed, grouping dams and babies sequentially, prophylactic treatments
Treat with- Corid in water? Corid or sulfadimethoxine drenches, coccidiostat in feed, monthly prophylactic treatment
Starting vaccinations
Babies from vaccinated moms- 2 doses CDT (or other clostridial vaccine including tetanus) 3-4 weeks apart starting at 6-8 weeks
Replacements then can go on herd schedule the following spring
Rabies at 12 weeks if desired
Thank You!
The Veterinary Book For Sheep Farmers by David C. Henderson
Goat Medicine by Mary C. Smith & David M. Sherman
Sheep, Goat and Cervid Medicine by D. G. Pugh, A.N. Baird, M. Edmondson & T. Passler