Question 1

When is the best time to lamb/kid?

Accepted Answer

There is no best time to lamb/kid. It varies by farm or ranch. There are pros and cons to different lambing/kidding seasons and many factors to consider when making this important decision.

Winter lambing/kidding is common. Lambs/Kids born in the winter months can usually be ready for the premium Easter markets. Lambs/kids born during cold weather often do better, as worms are not usually active in the winter (at least in most places). The periparturient egg rise is less of a problem. Labor is often more readily available in the winter months.

On the other hand, it is cold in many climates. Enclosed housing is necessary; thereby, increasing the cost of housing and other infrastructure. However, enclosed housing protects fragile newborns from predators. Feed costs are higher, as most farms do not have winter grazing and peak nutritional requirements need to be met, usually with harvested feedstuffs.

It is more natural to lamb/kid in the spring. The weather is (usually) milder and the grass is plentiful. Feed costs are less. Reproductive rates are usually higher: more twins and triplets. If you lamb/kid late enough in the spring, ewes/does can drop their babies on pasture. Less labor and facilities are usually needed for spring lambing/kidding. Because animals are more likely to be outdoors, certain diseases are less prevalent. Disease spread is much higher when animals are kept in close quarters.

On the other hand, spring lambing/kidding is not without its issues. Internal parasites (worms) are a far greater challenge with spring birthing. Sometimes, this obstacle is too great to overcome. Predators are also more of a risk, as predator moms have their own young to feed in the spring. They, too, can become too big of an obstacle to overcome. Livestock guardians can help, but they are not always enough. There is usually a lower level of performance when animals are raised on pasture.

Fall is probably the most favorable time of the year to lamb/kid. The weather is usually favorable for lambing/kidding. Worms are less active. Cool season forages are experiencing their second spurt of growth. Predation is usually less of a risk. Out-of-season births offer superior marketing opportunities. Lambs/kids born in the fall can usually be sold when market prices are usually higher, due to the lower supply of animals.

If only the sheep/goats would cooperate. Unfortunately, most sheep/goats are seasonal in their breeding habits and do not breed as readily in the spring. Even when they do breed, they tend to give birth to fewer offspring. If ewes/does do not conceive naturally for out-of-season births, there is an added cost of hormone treatments.

For commercial production, accelerated lambing/kidding is becoming an increasingly popular strategy. Accelerated birthing is when the lambing/kidding interval is less than 12 months. While ewes/does can theoretically produce two crops in a year, lambing/kidding every 8 months is more the norm. Typical birthing months include January, May, and September. Two groups of ewes can be overlapped to produce lambs every other month.

In the Cornell STAR© accelerated lambing system, ewes lamb every 7.3 months, producing 5 lamb crops in 3 years. The MAMRE lambing system (in South Africa) lambs every month with 8 management groups. Regardless, accelerated lambing/kidding requires a high degree of management to be successful, but it allows lambs/kids to be marketed year-round and increases the efficiency of production.

Content current as of Feb 06 2026

Question 2

What can go wrong before lambing/kidding?

Accepted Answer

The list is longer than we would prefer, but can be mostly prevented with good nutrition and management. Nutritional requirements increase during late gestation, especially for ewes/does carrying multiple births. There is an increase in the need for both energy (TDN) and calcium (for ewes) in the diet. Protein requirements do not increase substantially until after lambing/kidding (lactation). Good nutrition means meeting but not exceeding the nutritional requirements of the animals. There are consequences to overfeeding.

Besides diet, it is important not to stress ewes/does during late gestation. They should not be handled too close to term, especially if they are not used to being mustered. Ewes should not be sheared too close to lambing. Vaccinations and any deworming should be done about a month before the first offspring are expected. Groups should not be mixed. Exercise should be encouraged but not excessive. Rams/bucks should be housed away from pregnant females. Weather can be a huge stress.

Pregnancy toxemia

One of the most common problems in late gestation is pregnancy toxemia (or ketosis). This disease is also called twin lamb disease because it mostly affects females carrying multiple births. Pregnancy toxemia is caused by insufficient energy in the late gestation diet, resulting in low blood sugar. Besides females carrying multiples, fat and thin ewes/does are the most likely candidates.

The first sign of pregnancy toxemia is a ewe/doe that lags behind the flock or is slow to come to the feed trough. She is lethargic. She may grind her teeth. She may have poor muscle control. In latter stages of the disease, the female goes down and is unable to rise. There is sometimes a mucous discharge (or foam) from the nose. Diagnosis can be confirmed with blood or urine tests.

Early stages of pregnancy toxemia can be treated with propylene glycol or other quick sources of energy (e.g., molasses, corn oil). Recent research has shown that red wine and cola can also be effective treatments, especially in an emergency. Affected females should be drenched several times a day with the energy solution. Later stages of the disease usually require glucose via an IV. In some cases, induced lambing/kidding or a caesarian section is necessary. Like most diseases, early recognition and treatment is key. Pregnancy toxemia should be suspected any time a late pregnant ewe/doe appears sick.

Pregnancy toxemia is prevented by providing sufficient energy in the late gestation diet. To meet the increased needs for energy, it is customary to feed some grain. Grain is a more concentrated source of energy than hay or other forages. The amount of grain needed depends on the size (weight) of the female and the number of fetuses she is carrying, as well as the quality of the forage in the diet.   Having ample feeder space is also important, as grain is usually limit fed. Older, younger, or more timid females may not get enough to eat unless there is sufficient bunk space.  At the same time, it is important not to overfeed grain in late gestation, as this can lead to oversized fetuses and dystocia.

Milk fever (hypocalcemia)

Milk fever occurs mostly in late gestation and is usually the result of a diet deficient in calcium. Milk fever can also occur after parturition and be the result of a diet too rich in calcium. The signs of milk fever are similar to pregnancy toxemia. It is not uncommon to treat females simultaneously for both pregnancy toxemia and milk fever. Response to treatment confirms the diagnosis of milk fever. A blood test can confirm low calcium.

Affected females are usually given calcium borogluconate via an IV. The calcium should be injected very slowly. The response is usually dramatic. More marginal cases of milk fever can be treated with calcium via sub-cutaneous injections. There are also oral drenches and gels that can be given to provide additional calcium.

Milk fever is prevented by providing the proper amount of calcium in the late gestation diet. Legumes are a good source of calcium. In some cases, they contain too much calcium and should be saved for the lactation diet. A mixed grass-legume hay is usually ideal for the late gestation diet. Poor quality grass hays may be deficient in calcium. Grains and oilseeds are poor sources of calcium. Limestone is the best source of calcium. Kelp is a good source, too. Free choice minerals do not guarantee adequate calcium intake. It is better if the calcium is incorporated into the ration.

Vaginal prolapse

Some females (sheep more than goats) prolapse their vaginas in late pregnancy. There are many contributing factors. Ewes that prolapse their vaginas should not be retained, as there is a strong likelihood they will do it again. Because it is a heritable condition, their offspring should ideally not be kept (or sold) for breeding. Consider culling the sire, too, if any of his other daughters prolapse.

Prolapses need to be replaced as soon as possible to prevent more serious problems. The exposed part needs to be cleaned with warm, soapy water and pushed back into the female. The prolapse can be kept in place by using a bearing retainer (or "spoon") and/or prolapse harness. Homemade harnesses can be made from baling twine and tied to the sheep's wool. Sometimes, the prolapse is kept in with a suture. Ewes/does can push their lambs/kids through the retainers and harnesses, but the suture needs to be removed before lambing/kidding. Once the ewe/doe has birthed her offspring, the prolapse usually stays in. Problem solved.  After the lambs are weaned, the ewe/doe should be culled.

Abortion

Some ewes/does  abort their offspring before term. There can be many causes, both infectious and non-infectious. Early term abortions are usually not noticed, and the female usually breeds back. This is how we get some of our late lambs/kids. Late term abortions may result in the birth of premature or full term fetuses (sometimes deformed) or weak lambs/kids that die shortly after birth. Abortion due to infectious causes is a big deal. Veterinary advice should be sought. Treatment and prevention will depend on the cause.

Question 3

What can go wrong at lambing/kidding?

Accepted Answer

While most ewes/does lamb/kid on their own without any need for intervention, sometimes problems arise. Many of the problems are caused by poor feeding or management practices. Some problems occur randomly, and there is generally nothing you can do to prevent them.

Dystocia

Dystocia is the most common problem encountered. Dystocia means a difficult or prolonged birth. Technically, it is when birth takes more than an hour after rupture of the fetal membranes (water bag). Dystocia could be a prolonged unassisted birth or a birth in which assistance was provided. Dystocia causes the death of many ewes/does and lambs/kids. A study conducted in New Zealand showed that dystocia accounted for 50 percent of deaths among newborn lambs. Causes of dystocia are multi-factorial.

There are three primary types of dystocia: fetopelvic disproportion, malpresentations, and complications. Fetopelvic disproportion is when the lamb/kid is too big to get through the pelvic opening. A malpresentation is an abnormal presentation of the fetus(es) at the time of birthing. Complications include ringwomb, uterine prolapse, and retained placenta.

Fetopelvic disproportion is most common with singletons and oversized lambs/kids. Heavier birth weights are only good up to a point. The head, shoulders, and hips are the most difficult parts of the lamb/kid to get through the birth canal. Some big lambs/kids just need a tug or some extra lubricant. Others require more patience and extreme measures in extreme cases.

You can find various diagrams of abnormal presentations with explanations on how to correct them. Some are easy to correct. Others require more patience and manipulation. Normal presentation is the "diving" position: two front feet with the head resting between them. Unless something else is going on, the ewe/doe should be able to deliver these babies on her own. Backwards (hind legs first) can also result in a normal birth, though there is some risk of suffocation if the umbilical cord breaks before the head is out. It is always best to pull a backwards baby out if you see one.

Breech is different than backwards. In a breech birth, the rear is coming first, but the legs are still in the uterus, tucked under. Only the tail may be present in the birth canal. The ewe/doe cannot deliver a breech baby on her own. She needs help. The baby should not be turned around. It should be delivered backwards once the hind legs have been extended into the birth canal. In order to do this, you usually have to push the baby further back into the uterus. Breech births are a little tricky, but can be handled with a little experience (and confidence).

Elbow locks and one or more legs back are the most common malpresentations and the easiest to correct. Heads can present more difficult challenges, especially when the head is twisted back in the birth canal, in which case it must be righted before the baby can be delivered (easier said than done). If just the head is sticking out of the vulva, it is usually necessary to return the head to the birth canal, unless there is one leg out and the baby can be pulled out without extending the other leg. Swollen heads can present some challenges, as they can be difficult to push back in. Fortunately, those swollen, gross-looking heads can survive for quite long periods of time in the “hung” position.

Ringwomb

Various complications can cause difficult births. One of the most troublesome is ringworm. Ringwomb is when the cervix fails to dilate. A successful outcome is usually only achieved with a caesarian section. If the cervix is partially dilated (“false” ringwomb), it may be possible to manually stretch the cervix to get the baby out. Manual manipulation does not always works, and a C-section may still be necessary. Rarely females respond to drugs (smooth muscle relaxants, calcium). False ringwomb is sometimes caused by premature intervention. True ringwomb is not fully understood, though there seems to be a genetic component, so it is best not to keep affected ewes/does and their offspring.

Prolapsed uterus

One of the most dreaded sights in the lambing barn is a uterine prolapse. The everted uterus presents as a large mass of tissue hanging from the vulva. The caruncles (raised circular areas where the placenta was attached) are visible. A uterine prolapse may occur immediately after birth or 12 to 48 hours later. It is a life threatening situation. The prolapsed uterus must be cleaned and gently pushed back through the vagina. It must also stay in. That is easier said than done. A uterine prolapse is best replaced by a veterinarian with epidural anesthesia. Unlike a vaginal prolapse, a ewe is unlikely to prolapse her uterus the following year and you do not have to cull her or her offspring.

Retained placenta

The final stage of parturition is cleaning or expulsion of the placenta (afterbirth). Normally, it is expelled in the first several hours after birth. If the placenta is still attached after 12 hours, there may be a problem. It is okay to give the placenta a slight tug, but it should not be forcibly pulled, as it may still be attached to the uterus. Treatment for a retained placenta is usually antibiotics (Rx), to prevent infection. Some veterinarians advocate oxytocin or prostaglandins (both Rx).

Question 4

What can cause a ewe/doe to abort her offspring?

Accepted Answer

Abortion is when pregnancy is terminated and the ewe/doe loses her offspring or gives birth to weak or deformed lambs/kids that die shortly after birth. Sometimes, the ewe/doe gets sick, too (even dies; especially with salmonella). Young females are usually the most vulnerable. There are many causes of abortion, both infectious and non-infectious. The three most common infectious causes of abortion in ewes/does are campylobacter (vibrio), chlamydia (enzootic abortion), and toxoplasmosis.

Vibrio

Abortions due to campylobacter organisms (vibriosis) usually happen in late pregnancy or result in still births. If infection occurs in early gestation, the ewe/doe will reabsorb the fetus. The route of infection is oral. Strict hygiene is necessary to prevent an outbreak. Vibrio abortion can be controlled by vaccination. The vaccine should be given 30 days prior to breeding and again in mid-gestation. After that, boosters can be given during mid-gestation. Long acting antibiotics or daily injections of antibiotics may help. Antibiotics may have limited efficacy due to resistance issues. Aborting females are usually immune to the effects of the disease.

Chlamydia

Chlamydia causes enzootic abortions in sheep/goats. Late term abortions, still births, and weak lambs/kids are common. Abortion occurs mostly in the last 2 to 3 weeks of pregnancy regardless of when the ewe/doe was exposed. Ewes seldom abort more than once, but they remain persistently infected and shed the organism for 2 to 3 days before and after ovulation. Rams can also be infected and transmit the organism. The products of abortion are by far the greatest source of contamination and transmission. Enzootic abortions can be controlled by feeding antibiotics and vaccination. Antibiotic injections can also be given in the case of an abortion storm.

Toxoplasmosis

Abortions caused by Toxoplasma gondii can occur at any stage of pregnancy. Early exposure usually results in reabsorption or mummification. Later exposure causes abortion and prenatal death. In an outbreak, there is usually a wide range in the gestational age of aborted fetuses. Once infected, ewes/does are immune to reinfection. There is no vaccine for toxoplasmosis in the US (there is one available in other countries). However, feeding a coccidiostat late in pregnancy may help to reduce abortions.

Toxoplasmosis is a protozoan parasite. It can only complete its life cycle in a member of the cat family; thus, cats are the carriers. Sheep/goats get infected when they ingest oocysts excreted in cat feces. The oocysts are found in contaminated feed, water, bedding, and pasture and remain infectious for long periods of time. The best protection is to safeguard feed supplies from cat feces and empty feed troughs regularly. Young cats are the main shedder of the parasite. A stable population of neutered farm cats poses little risk. If ewes/does are exposed prior to pregnancy, they will develop immunity.

Less common causes of infectious abortion include listeriosis. leptospirosis, salmonellosis, brucellosis, bluetongue, border disease (BVD), Q fever, and cache valley virus. Cache valley virus is mosquito-transmitted. it is noteworthy because it causes congenital abnormalities (deformities) in the fetuses. Q fever (Coxiella burnetii) is becoming increasingly important because it is highly contagious to people. Q fever abortions are more common in goats than sheep.

Biosecurity is the best protection against all infectious causes of abortion. Maintaining a closed flock/herd will minimize the introduction of new diseases to the farm. Biocontainment will help to minimize outbreaks. Females that give birth to dead/weak full-term offspring should be isolated. Aborted material and bedding should be removed and destroyed. Fetuses and placenta can be submitted to a diagnostic lab to determine cause. Serology can diagnose a couple of the abortion organisms: toxoplasmosis and cache valley

Most of the infectious organisms that cause abortion in sheep/goats are zoonotic and can be transmitted to people. Flu like symptoms are most common, but some of the organisms can also cause miscarriage in pregnant women. People get infected by direct contact with animals and their environment or by ingesting contaminated food and water. Pregnant women and immuno-compromised individuals should not handle fetuses, afterbirth, or birthing fluids. Gloves or sleeves should always be worn when handling these materials or assisting with births. Good personal hygiene (hand washing) is foundational. Food should be properly cooked. Milk should be pasteurized.

Other causes

There is anecdotal evidence that dewormers can cause abortion in sheep/goats. The claim is unsubstantiated with the macrocyclic lactones (ivermectin, moxidectin). The claim that levamisole causes late term abortion (in goats) is taken more seriously. Even though there is no scientific proof, it is s probably a good idea not to administer levamisole to goats in late gestation. Albendazole (Valbazen®) can cause abortion in early pregnancy. The label states not to give it to ewes in the first 45 days of pregnancy or 45 days after the ram is removed. There is no pregnancy risk with the other benzimidazoles (e.g., fenbendazole, Safe-Guard®) or with copper oxide wire particles.

Certain nutritional deficiencies (energy or micronutrients) may cause abortion. Stress can cause abortion. Some drugs will halt pregnancy. Dexamethasone is a steroid used to treat various disease conditions. It is also given to induce labor. It should not be given to pregnant females unless labor is the goal. Lutalyse® (prostaglandin) will also cause abortion or induce labor in goats. Sometimes, it is used to terminate an early pregnancy or induce a late one.

It is always important to read labels to make sure a drug is safe for a pregnant female. If you are not sure, be sure to consult with your veterinarian.

Question 5

What are some of the problems with newborns?

Accepted Answer

The three primary causes of death of lambs/kids around lambing/kidding time are dystocia, starvation, and hypothermia. Hypothermia and starvation usually go hand-in-hand. Other common problems include scours, pneumonia, dysentery, navel ill, joint ill, and floppy kid syndrome. Most losses occur in the first few days.

Hypothermia/starvation

Lambs/kids are susceptible to hypothermia because of their small size and body weight relative to surface area. Goats and smaller lambs are most susceptible. The basis of treatment for a hypothermic lamb/kid is to warm it up and provide it source of energy.

The only accurate way to recognize hypothermia is to take the lamb/kids' temperature. Treatment varies by the degree of hypothermia. Lambs/kids with mild hypothermia (more than 99°F) can be dried (if necessary), moved to a warm place, and tube fed colostrum. Lambs/kids with severe hypothermia (less than 99°F) should be given an intraperitoneal injection of dextrose (20 percent) before being warmed.

Once/if the lamb/kid can swallow, it can be tube fed colostrum. Lambs/kids need to be slowly warmed to restore body temperature. The best method is to use a warming box. After body temperature has been restored, the lamb/kid should be returned to its dam or be put in the orphan pen (if necessary). If the lamb/kid remains weak, you should continue to tube feed it and keep it in a warm environment.

It is important to keep a watchful eye on lambs/kids for the first few days after they are born to make sure they are nursing and getting enough to eat. Lambs/kids that are not vigorous or active often are not getting enough. Starving lambs/kids often stand hunched up. They do not stretch when they get up. They are sometimes noisy because they are hungry. The primary cause of starvation is the ewe/doe does not have enough milk. There can be many reasons for this, but mastitis is the most common. OPP/CAE* can be another reason for little to no milk in otherwise perfectly formed udders. Females with these chronic diseases should be removed from the flock/herd.

Sometimes, the ewe/doe is not a good mother. She may not allow her lambs/kids to nurse. If the ewe/doe doesn't have enough milk or will not let her offspring nurse, you will need to cross-foster her offspring onto another ewe/doe or remove it (them) for artificial rearing. Sometimes, keeping her in a head stanchion for a few days will "convince" her to let her offspring nurse.

An intranasal administration of oxytocin (Rx) may stimulate maternal behavior in the female. Ewes/does that reject their offspring may not do it the next year, but some producers will cull the offending ewe/doe to keep it from happening again. The reasons a ewe/doe rejects her offspring are not fully understood, though it is considered to be uncommon in well-managed flocks/herds.

Scours

Scours can be due toe. coli, salmonella, or clostridium perfringins type C.E. coli scours (watery mouth, rattle belly) is an opportunistic disease that is associated with sloppy conditions. The lamb/kid often dies from dehydration. Affected lambs usually need electrolyte therapy. Oral antibiotics may help in the early phase of the disease. Disease outbreaks are prevented with good hygiene and adequate consumption of colostrum.

While most producers are more focused on classic enterotoxemia or "overeating disease" (clostridium perfringins type D), enterotoxemia caused by clostridium perfringins type C is more likely to affect very young lambs/kids. It is called dysentery and is characterized by diarrhea. Death can be rapid. Some die with no signs. Type C enterotoxemia can be prevented with vaccination of the ewe/doe in the last month of pregnancy. The antiserum can be used in the face of an outbreak.

Pneumonia

Lambs/kids that have not consumed enough colostrum are also at higher risk for developing pneumonia. The cause is usually the bacterium Pasteurella. Affected lambs/kids appear gaunt and lethargic. They may not nurse. They will usually have a fever. Housing is often a contributing factor to baby lamb/kid pneumonia. Poor ventilation is usually the culprit. Overcrowding exacerbates the problem. If you cannot provide a dry, draft-free place for lambing/kidding, you should delay your lambing/kidding until warmer weather. Pneumonia is more common in housed animals that those that are raised on pasture. Pneumonia is treated with antibiotics.

Other

Navel ill is an umbilical infection. It is caused by bacteria entering through the umbilical cord. Unhygienic conditions are usually the reason. Umbilical infections can remain localized or invade the body cavity. Treatment is often not very rewarding, especially with the latter. Dipping or spraying umbilical cords with an iodine solution soon after birth is a good preventative measure.

Joint ill is caused by bacteria that gain entry orally, via the navel or via wounds from tagging, castrating, and docking. The result is arthritis and lameness. One or more joints may be affected. Penicillin is the drug of choice for treatment. It may be effective if administered early in the course of the disease. Prevention is the same as for most neonatal diseases: good sanitation and adequate consumption of colostrum.

Kids that develop floppy kid syndrome are usually born healthy. The develop symptoms when they are 3 to 10 days of age: weakness, lethargy, and flaccid paralysis. While the disease is not fully understood, it believed to be the result of overconsumption of milk, along with the proliferation of some infectious agent in the gut. Kids have low blood pH (metabolic acidosis). They seem to respond to treatments with sodium bicarbonate solution, but may need supportive care.

Some lambs/kids are too "stupid" to nurse. Some are too weak. Sometimes, a ewe/doe's teats are too large, they are too nasty  or hang too low. In each of these situations, you may need to help the lambs/kids get started. You may have to help them nurse or bottle or tube feed them. Some lambs/kids are born with skeletal issues, e.g., weak or splayed legs. They often grown out of these problems, but need help getting started. Sometimes, lambs/kids are born with deformities that they cannot overcome, in which case they should probably be humanely destroyed.

*OPP - ovine progressive pneumonia, CAE - caprine arthritic encephalitis