![]() ![]() ![]() If you are not an experienced carer or rescuer, please phone ALV immediately for advice in a difficult situation. This will ensure you do not startle a potentially unaware lamb.ĭo not touch a lamb unless they are completely alone, visibly injured or very weak. If the property is unattended, approach the lamb slowly and call out to them. If there is a house on the property, speak to the owner about your concerns in a polite manner, suggesting you would be more than happy to take care of any unwanted orphaned lambs. It may be helpful to have a pair of binoculars and a camera. If they do not move, it is time to intervene. If you ever come across an individual lamb laying down, separate from the flock, it is likely something is wrong.Ĭall out to lambs from the fence-line to identify whether they are alert and can get up. The following information is provided for use in an emergency situation. We do not suggest rescuing your own lamb and encourage you to contact us if you wish to care for a lamb. Learn more about what happens to sheep in Australia. Less common causes of death are linked to congenital deformities, injury during birth, infection and predation. Weaker lambs (most of them twins or triplets) usually starve or freeze to death. The longer it takes a lamb to stand, the less likely they will receive the critical colostrum they require in order to gain essential fats, energy and immunoglobulins, to fight infections. Lambs weighing under 4kg at birth are much more likely to die, as they do not have the fat or energy reserves required to withstand the harsh wind, rain and frost, as well as to stand and drink from their mothers. The two main causes of death are hypothermia and starvation. It is estimated by the industry that between 10 and 15 million lambs die within the first 48 hours of life in Australia annually. Mothers with multiple births suffer from increased stress levels, and can even prolapse, become downed, and die. In most cases sheep and their babies are not provided sufficient shelter from the wind, rain and frost, or protection from predators, resulting in a high mortality rate. ![]() This means that lambs will grow fatter and more quickly and reduces the need for supplementary feeding. The pastures are most fertile in Autumn, while the ewes are pregnant and require richer feed, and in Spring when the lambs are weaned. They do so by impregnating their ewes so that they give birth between May and July. In the southern Australian states, farmers practise winter lambing in order to produce the highest number of lambs. In Australia, sheep are raised for their meat, milk, wool and skins. ![]()
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