Spring is in full swing, and lambing season is well underway for many of our local farmers.
Back in February, I had my own sheep scanned, and I’m due 18 lambs in May!
If you’ve been out and about in the countryside lately, you might’ve spotted some ewes (female sheep) and their lambs with numbers sprayed on their sides.
It’s a handy way for shepherds to keep track of which lamb belongs to which ewe.
Sheep aren’t always the brightest of animals, and with so many newborn lambs hopping around, it’s easy for a mum to lose track of her babies.
Those numbers make it much easier for the shepherds to reunite the right lamb with its mum.
The lambing process begins with the ewes showing signs of labour, such as seeking out a quiet spot, restlessness, licking their lips, or pawing at the ground.
Most lambs are born without any issues, but farmers are always on hand, just in case they’re needed.
Farmers tend to leave things to nature as much as possible, but if there's a problem, they’re ready to step in.
Newborn lambs are quick to get up on their feet, and the first 24 hours are critical.
They need to get colostrum—milk packed with essential antibodies—to give them the best start in life.
During lambing season, pregnant ewes are more susceptible to getting stuck on their backs, unable to right themselves.
This is called being ‘cast’. Once cast, a sheep can struggle to get up, and if left unattended, it can lead to problems for the sheep and, in the worst case, even death.
If you come across a cast sheep and are able to help, gently roll them back over.
If they’ve been stuck for a while, they might be a bit wobbly on their feet, but as long as they’re back on all fours, they should be fine!
One of the cutest sights of spring is seeing lambs hopping around the fields in bursts of energy, and I recently learned that this playful behaviour is actually called "pronking."
This is when lambs excitedly launch off all four hooves at once, bouncing in all directions.
Lambs often form their own little groups, energetically pronking around while their mums graze. It’s an adorable sight that perfectly captures the joy of new life on the farm.
With the lovely spring weather, I’m sure many of us will be out and about, enjoying the countryside.
Just a quick reminder to dog owners—please, if you see livestock, keep your dog on a lead.
It doesn’t matter if you think your dog would never chase sheep or cattle; the risk is still there.
A dog chasing a pregnant ewe can cause a lot of stress, potentially leading to miscarriage, not to mention the injuries from biting.
Some sheep can even die from the stress in the days that follow.
These kinds of losses are devastating for farmers, both emotionally and financially, and unfortunately, it happens more often than we’d like.
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