Weak Lamb At Birth - Karras Farm - Assaf Dairy Sheep

Weak Lamb at Birth

A lamb weakened by a by a protracted or difficult birth may be suffering from Anoxia (lack of oxygen) or have fluid in the lungs. The first few minutes are crucial to the lams survival. If the lamb gurgles with the first few breaths or has difficulty breathing, dry off the nose; grasp the lamb momentarily on the return end of the upswing with your free hand so the lamb is stopped abruptly in the vertical position. This accomplishes two things. The centrifugal force aids the movement of fluid from the lungs and the weight of the Viscera presses on the diaphragm causing a forced expiration. When you catch the lamb on the upswing, the weight of the Viscera falls in the opposite direction causing a forced inspiration. Normally two or three swings will get the vitals performing normally. If the heart is beating and the lamb is still not breathing after this exercise, artificial respiration is mandatory. Grasp the lamb by the nose so your thumb and fingers are slightly above the nostrils and respirate until you see the chest expand. Repeat this procedure until the lamb begins breathing. Please be cautious not to blow too hard as the labs lungs are quite small and can be ruptured by excessive pressure. If your attempts are still unsuccessful sometimes a cold water shock treatment will do the trick. Dunk the lamb in cold water, such as a drinking trough. The shock may cause the lamb to gasp and start breathing. Sometimes a finger inserted gently down the throat will stimulate a coughing reflex and get things going. After the lamb starts to breath, be sure to keep it warm and have it checked by a livestock veterinarian asap. 

Sincerely,

Andy Karras
http://karrasfarm.com
http://eastfriesiansheep.com
http://awassisheep.com
karrasfarm@gmail.com

Assaf Ram - F1 50/50 cross 

Assaf Ram - F1 50/50 cross

Awassi Sheep Photos - Awassi Fat Tail Breeder Karras Farm USA

Awassi Sheep Photos

We have been very busy at Karras Farm preparing our sheep for transport and placing lambs around the country. We will be posting some informative blog posts in the very near future but for now we would like to share some recent photos of the Awassi Fat Tail Sheep. The Awassi sheep continue to amaze me with their hearty nature and resistance to medical issues other sheep breeds are more prone to contract.

Thank you all for continuing to stay in touch and please feel free to ask questions or comment on the blog. 

Sincerely,

Andy Karras

andy@karrasfarm.com

http://karrasfarm.com

http://eastfriesiansheep.com

http://awassisheep.com

http://facebook.com/karrasfarm

Constipation in Lambs - Dairy Sheep Constipation

A constipated lamb usually stands rather humped up, looking uncomfortable with no signs of droppings or a few very hard ones. Sometimes the lamb will grind its teeth and if the condition worsens the lamb may enter into convulsions or die without proper medication.  Administer two tablespoons mineral oil for a small lamb under two weeks old. For lambs over one month old, give ¼ to ½ cup of mineral oil.

There is an external kind of stoppage that is fairly common in very young lambs, usually under a week old. The feces collect and dry into a mass under the tail plugging up the lamb. If not noticed or corrected the lamb will die. Be sure to clean off any visible mass with a warm damp rag, disinfect the area if irritated and lightly apply mineral oil to prevent feces from sticking. Check all lambs on a regular basis. This is another good reason to keep ewes with newborn lambs in a separate pen for the first 3-4 days allowing for easy inspection.

Say in touch with us on Facebook and share photos of your spring lambs.

Andy Karras - Owner
http://karrasfarm.com
http://eastfriesiansheep.com
http://awassisheep.com
karrasfarm@gmail.com

The Assaf Sheep

The Assaf Sheep

In 1995 researchers of the Israel Agriculture research Organization (ARO) developed the Assaf sheep. The Assaf is a dual purpose breed, raised for milk production and meat.

The original concept of the Assaf sheep was to improve the prolificacy of the Awassi fat tail sheep without losing many of the desirable Awassi traits. The result was an animal which consisted of 5/8^ths  Awassi and 3/8^th East Friesian. From there the breed was selected for the most beneficial traits and the new breed was created.

Wishing you all a very Happy New Year~

Andy Karras
Karras Farm Inc. http://karrasfarm.com http://eastfriesiansheep.com http://awassisheep.com karrasfarm@gmail.com

Sore Mouth - Awassi Dairy Sheep

Sore Mouth ( Contagious Ecthyma )

Sore Mouth is a viral disease that affects the lips, mouth, nose and teats of sheep. It can be spread to humans so treating infected animals requires careful handling. Always wear gloves and do not place your hands around your face after working with infected animals. Be sure to was your hands thoroughly with anti-bacterial soap.

Sore Moth forms blisters which rupture and cause prolific, scabby lesions around the mouth area. This is highly contagious and spreads rapidly to other sheep that have not been vaccinated or previously exposed. The virus is resistant and durable , it will survive in the environment for extended periods of time until it finds a host.

Applying Tincture of Iodine to the lesions will dry them up and may speed healing. An antibiotic ointment can be applied to aid in softening the scabs and controlling bacterial invaders.

A vaccine is available which is applied by scarifying a small area of skin then applying the live virus onto the area with a tool provided. Once Sore Mouth has occurred, all lambs should be vaccinated at a few days of age. Do not use the vaccine if the flock has never been exposed to the disease.

Andy Karras - Karras Farm

http://eastfriesiansheep.com
http://awassisheep.com
http://karrasfarm.com
andy@karrasfarm.com