[Jacob-list] Inducing birth.

[Linda]

I sure hope your ewe (and her lambs) get through this in good health.  She's sounds like a good one and I know you'd love to have more of her line.

I don't know anything about ultrasounds for determining exact pregnancy dates. From what you are saying (and are worrying about), it doesn't really sound all that accurate. Maybe a marking harness next year?  

I had a Jacob ewe prolapse a couple years ago.  She was huge and we are definitely on the side of a mountain which doesn't help. After replacing the prolapse and fashioning a home made retainer with a hay string harness and confining her to one of the few flat spots around here, I was able to remove (actually it fell out) the retainer the next morning and she lambed three days later. Good news was two healthy lambs and bad news was one huge dead lamb.  I guess since you had the ultrasound, you know how many lambs she's carrying?  

Your ewe probably knows when it's time to lamb better than the ultrasound. Especially since she's done this before. Maybe give her a chance before you induce labor?  You'll lose some sleep, but it might be better for the ewe.

Linda



 
www.patchworkfibers.com
Registered Jacob Sheep, Angora Rabbits, Handspun Yarn


> First let me say I DO NOT have an exact breeding date on this gal. 

> We did have ultrasounds done, and she was due the earliest on the

> 9th at 147 days.

>

> Now that I have a little more info on this ewe, I probably would

> not have bred her.. She is a 12yo ewe, that ha produced 3 of the

> NICEST ewes in my flock.  She has a pinched nerve in her neck which

> gives her a little trouble from time to time... BUt we found out,

> that she has a significant heart murmor.

>

> All that on the table.   She vaginally prolapsed last Sunday (4-6-

> 08)  She is sheared off pretty close, and didn't have enough wool

> to hold a ewe spoon in.  SO I put a box Stitch in with 1/8"

> umbilical tape. 

>

> We are watching her like a hawk, as OBVIOUSLY, we need to be there

> IMMEDIATLEY when she starts to lamb.  We have her in a horse stall

> with a few of her old buddies, with the foaling camera on.  Im up

> each night hourly to check the camera, and have the volume turned

> WAY up, so if she starts yelling, we can hear her.

>

> I would have no issues inducing labor if we KNEW the EXACT breeding

> date, but I just am not willing to trust that U/S 100%. 

>

> Anyone offer any advice on this?  Id sure like to get some sleep

> SOON! 

>

>

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