Preparing Small Ruminants for Kidding and Lambing

By Michael Metzger

Kidding and lambing season is coming and there are steps that owners should take to make sure their herd or flock is prepared. By taking the time to prepare the animals and facilities, owners can mitigate potential issues and position their animals for the best possible outcome during this stressful time. 

Step one: Implement a vaccination program for your herd or flock

Four to six weeks before the animals are due to deliver, they should receive a Clostridium perfringens type C + D and tetanus, or CDT, vaccine booster and an appropriate dose of BoSe if not already providing selenium through feed or mineral mix. BoSe is recommended for the prevention and treatment of white muscle disease (Selenium-Tocopherol Deficiency) syndrome in lambs and kids.

Step two: Monitor your feeding program to meet nutritional needs of the gestating animals

Does and ewes in the last trimester of pregnancy should have their feed intake monitored to ensure they are meeting the growing nutritional needs in late gestation. These nutritional needs can be difficult to meet and can be further complicated by the reduced size of the rumen due to the increased space occupied by multiple fetuses. It is important to feed a highly digestible forage such as good quality hay and an energy-dense supplement such as corn to meet these demands. Failure to meet the needs of these expectant animals can result in ketosis or other metabolic conditions.