Rocky Mountain husbandman. [volume] (Diamond City, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1878-04-11
LAMBS BORN DEAD.

A COTEcSpOlluCll NiltlHS " eS DoC
Stock Record in regard to lambs being born
dead. receives an answer from which we eX-
tract the following:
There are several causes for the dropping
of dead lambs. The most general one is
premature b~irth-abortion. This may be
individual. arising from injury, or it may
extend to the flock and many may abort.
Accidents cannot be avoided, but may be
l~essened by care. A common cause is wor-
rying by dogs chasing in the fields. This
may occasion many premature births.
Hence at Landing time, and for some time
preceding it, the ewes should be carefully
watched, to prevent the access of dogs and
guard against accidents. But there are
causes of abortion which arise from loca-
tons which are unhealthy, as damp or foul
ones. Want of proper and tull food. by
weakening the ewes will occasion abortions,
but is more apt to make the birth labored
at full time. when the lamb being weak for
the reason that the eve is weak, dies in the
birth. This does not apply to our cores
pondent's case, as his ewes are well cared
for. But again, the ewes may be fed too
highly, and a condition induced that acts
on the lamb, to either weaken it from dis
turbance of the dam, or make it liable to
strangulation or to apoplexy in birth. The
eve, if very fat, may have power to 60
through the birth well, but the lamb not.
Very fat ewes very often produce small,
weak lambs alive and many dead. 1t is de-
sirable to use food that will make flesh in
the eve rather than fat. At the time of
Landing, ewes shopld not be kept in num-
bers together. Better to have them sepa-
rate. Those dropping at one time should
be separated from those to drop II week or
even a month later. The lambing of others
often excites ewes that are ever two months
from due time, and occasions abortion.
Sometimes abortion will run through a
large portion of a flock, and there seems no
power to stay it. In such cases, the flock
should have a change of location and be put
in few numbers apart. The great causes
are, bad and improper food, if enough be
given under feed. right and sympathy. 1t
also often comes from habit in cases of indi-
viduals. If they abort one year, they will
often do so the next. If the lamb. when
dropped dead, does not look grown or ma
ture, then it is premature birth. This will
arise from either habit in the individual eve
or come from accident, or result from weak
ness in the eve. or from sympathy. If the
lamb is full grown and looks not diseased,
it will often look enlarged about the head.
Then it may have died from suftocation in
birth, or by apoplexy.
There is another great cause of abortion.
the use of diseased bucks. He being so. the
lambs inherit the disease, and it develops in
them while yet in the womb, and then they
are aborted, and almost always before the
full period of CESSATION. In these cases the
ewes suffer less than when the cause is in
themselves, and not in a diseased condition
OF the lamb. In the case of H.. NJ. we would
suggest a thorough examination of the food
given; ascertain if there We're any diseased
bucks used ; if there are causes for foul air
hear, or at some little distance off. Isolate
every eve that has aborted. Remove and
bury at once all lambs dropped dead. New
er let one be eaten by dogs or hogs. Let
the shepherd be much with the flock, and
make the ewes familiar. In case of fat ewes.
De sure and witness the birth, and help the
eve when needed. Keep them quiet, and
never permit them to suffer for water. and
never have them obliged to go far for it, or
nave difficulty in getting at it, and never let
them get chilled.