Sheep grieve the loss of a lamb just like shepherds do. Giving mum time and space to mourn helps her accept her loss. Grieving can not be rushed. It happens at its own pace. If you remove the dead lamb soon after death, the ewe frantically looks for it and calls for them. Allowing mum to come to terms with the death calms her and allows her to process the loss and bring closure.

Shepherds can help the grieving process in several ways:

• Leave the dead lamb near mum. Give her time to be with her lamb. Most ewes will stay by their side, nudging them and talking to them. Eventually, she will stop calling to the lamb and will rejoin the flock rather than stand over her dead lamb.
• Understanding the signs and stages of grieving helps the shepherd make decisions about when to remove the lost lamb. A grieving ewe will stand by her dead lamb. She will nudge it and talk to it trying to get it to respond. If you remove the lamb too soon, she will become frantic, running around trying to find it. She will often go back to the exact place where the lamb died, bleating loudly, sniffing and looking for it. By allowing her to stay with her lamb she will remain calm and with time, accept its death.
• Provide food and water for the ewe near her dead lamb so she stays hydrated and nourished. Allow her flock mates to eat alongside of her to encourage her to continue eating.
• Sheep are flock animals and find comfort in being a part of a group. Allowing flock mates to be a part of the grieving process helps the ewe feel safe and supported.
• Whether the lamb dies at birth or a few weeks after birth, the ewe’s udder will continue to produce milk. Monitor her udder for possible mastitis. Symptoms such as, excessive redness, swelling, discomfort, or heat can be a sign that mastitis is developing.
• If the lamb died at birth, watch closely for any other signs of infection in the ewe such as a high fever, lethargy, and not eating or drinking. Communicate with your vet if any of these other signs arise.

Sheep are social animals. They bond with one another and feel intense mothering instincts towards their young. When a ewe loses a lamb whether at birth or weeks later, she feels the loss. The best thing a shepherd can do for a mourning ewe is to allow her to grieve her loss.

Come Shepherd With Me

We offer farmstay vacations on our farm for people wanting to connect with rural life on a small sheep farm. We welcome our guests to join us in caring for our sheep and offer workshops and classes on shepherding and fiber art. Click the button below for more information! We’d love to host you!

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Though “kitchen lambs” are cute, I have a hard fast rule that lambs belong in the barn with their mums and flock mates. I know how important the early weeks are in providing the lamb with information which helps them thrive within the flock and I don’t want them to miss a minute of it. The only time I have made an exception is when a lamb is struggling due to weakness, hypothermia, or insufficient sucking reflex. Those lambs may spend a night or two in the house until they get their feet under them but during the day, they go back to the barn to snuggle with flock mates under heat lamps.

Ofelia was the smallest of triplets. Her brothers kept pushing her away from the nipple and she quickly became weak. It took me 7 days of tube feeding before she would take a bottle. Because of this she spent the night in the house so all her energy went into growing rather than keeping warm on the subzero degree nights. During the day, she snuggled and played with her brothers in the barn.

What do ewes teach their lambs?

• How to communicate-Moments before a lamb is born the mum is vocalizing to them. She knickers to them softly those final moments of birth and following. She continues to knicker and baa to them in those early days, weeks, and months. Her vocalizations are a source of safety, comfort, correction, and of calling them to herself. Often, lambs will begin to baa or knicker in response.
• Flock order and hierarchy-Every flock has a hierarchy, there is a head ewe and everyone else falls in line below her. Ewes teach her lambs not only about flock order but also protects their lambs from older ewes who want to defend their position and challenge them.
• Appropriate sheep behavior-As with groups of people, there are general rules of acceptable conduct within a flock. They are just like a large family and the little ones need to understand the rules. Ewes will help the lambs learn when it is appropriate to play, to sleep, and to eat and when it is not.
• Foraging and eating-Ewes not only provide milk for their young but they also teach them what to eat and plants to avoid.
• Predators and danger-Ewes teach their lambs how to recognize danger and what to do when danger is detected. In my flock we have guardian llamas. The sheep learn to come to the llamas when they sense danger. This is a learned behavior they pass on to their young. When strangers enter the barn or field, the sheep know to stand back until I signal they are safe. All of these nuances in position of ears, stance, distance, and behavior are passed from mums to their lambs.
• Navigating their environment-Ewes offer guidance to their lambs in handling stress, moving from one place to another, how to be level headed (or not ), how to seek shelter, food, and water, and how to survive in their world.

Ewes teach their young lambs about the world around them, their place in it, and how to survive in that world. From what to eat, flock hierarchy, sheep behavior, foraging, and sensing danger, the ewe teaches her lamb from the moment of birth. An attentive, level headed ewe is worth her weight in gold as she will set the tone of the flock through her offspring and provide all her lambs need to navigate their environment.

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Once our sheep have been on hay for a couple of months, they love any fresh treats we can offer them from time to time. Pumpkins are one of those vegetables they absolutely love and they also offer several health benefits for sheep. As a nutritious and versatile food, pumpkins can be a great addition to a sheep’s diet. However, like all feeds, they should be given with care. Let’s explore why pumpkins are beneficial for sheep and the precautions to consider when feeding them.

Health Benefits of Pumpkins for Sheep

• Rich in Nutrients

Just because pumpkins are very high in water doesn’t mean they don’t pack a highly nutritious punch! Pumpkins have several essential vitamins and minerals that are beneficial for shepherd as well as sheep. Beta carotene, found in pumpkin pulp is an antioxidant which converts to Vitamin A during the digestive process. Pumpkins also contain potassium, magnesium, and protein, all important for the growth and proper immune function of healthy sheep.

• Source of Fiber

The entire pumpkin provides a great source of much needed fiber. The fiber content in pumpkins helps support digestive health, encouraging healthy rumen function.

• Natural De-Worming Agent

Pumpkins contain compounds like tannins, cucurbitine and phenols that have properties shown to have mild natural deworming properties. Studies have shown adding pumpkin seeds to a sheep’s diet can reduce its overall intestinal parasite load. However, this should not be considered a primary deworming method.

Precautions When Feeding Pumpkins to Sheep

While pumpkins offer many benefits, it’s essential to feed them responsibly. Here are a few precautions to keep in mind:

• Introduce Slowly

As with any new food, introduce pumpkins gradually into your sheep’s diet. Sudden dietary changes can upset a sheep’s digestive system. Start with small amounts and monitor how your sheep responds before offering larger portions.

• Moderation is Key 

We feed pumpkins as a supplement to their normal diet rather than as a main food source. Although pumpkins are highly nutritious, they should not replace your flock’s regular diet of hay, grass, or other forages. Overfeeding pumpkins can lead to an unbalanced diet and might contribute to digestive upset or bloating.

• Avoid Moldy or Rotten Pumpkins 

Moldy or rotting pumpkins can contain harmful mycotoxins that may cause ill effects in sheep. Inspect pumpkins carefully before feeding them, and discard any that show signs of spoilage.

• Know Your Source

When feeding pumpkin as a supplement, know your source and whether or not they use any chemicals on their fields. Make sure they are free from any potentially harmful chemicals or substances.

• Watch for Choking Hazards  

Our sheep have always enjoyed eating fresh fruits and vegetables fed as a supplement. From a young age, the lambs learn from their moms what to eat and how to best eat it. I have had, on a rare occasion, a sheep that just doesn’t seem to understand how to eat what I am giving them. Always be aware of choking hazards especially when feeding pumpkin for the first time.

• If In Doubt Consult a Vet

If you are uncertain about feeding pumpkin or the proper amount or frequency of pumpkins to feed your sheep, consult with a veterinarian. They can provide advice based on your sheep’s age, size, and health needs.

How To Feed Pumpkin

There are several ways to feed pumpkin to your flock. The first is to allow the sheep into the pumpkin field once all the pumpkins have ripened. The sheep will paw and nibble their way into the pumpkins. Another way is to simply cut the pumpkins in half and let the sheep pull off bite sized pieces to nibble. This is a good way to feed it once winter has set in. This ensures that they are biting off chunks they can easily chew. You can also pre-cut the pumpkin into bite sized pieces. Precaution should be used when cutting pieces though so you don’t end up with pumpkins bites too large for the sheep to chew. My flock also enjoys eating cooked pumpkin that has been diced into small pieces. Cooking softens the pulp making it easy to chew and lessens the choking potential. It is also a great way to encourage a sick ewe who has gone off feed to start eating again. Often they will eat some cooked pumpkin before they will eat hay.

Conclusion

Can sheep eat pumpkin? Absolutely! Feeding pumpkins to sheep can be a healthy and enriching addition to their diet. Pumpkins can provide variety in their diet especially during hay feeding seasons and added nutrition to keep your sheep happy and healthy. Just be sure to follow the above precautions, such as introducing them gradually, avoiding moldy pumpkins, and ensuring they’re part of a balanced diet.

Further Reading

The Effect of Pumpkin Seed Cake and Ground Cloves (Syzygium aromaticum) Supplementation On Gastrointestinal Nematode Egg Shedding In Sheep

For further reading on natural means to control parasites: Bioworma Parasite Preventative Treatment.

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Criteria for Culling Sheep

After many conversations with other shepherds, I have broken down decision making regarding knowing when to cull breeding ewes into four different categories: genetics, environmental, production or profitability, and aging.

Genetics

Genetics focuses on inherited characteristics or tendencies. Often, these characteristics develop regardless of the care the sheep are receiving. Genetic reasons for culling sheep center around two conditions, first, does the sheep meet my farm’s genetic goals and secondly, does the sheep have unhealthy genetic tendencies. The list below will help you evaluate ewes that need culling based on their genetics.

• Lacks genetic qualities in our farm goals
• Poor conformation
• Prone to disease
  • Foot rot, repeated foot scald, poor immune system, CL, Johnes, OPP
• Prone to lambing issues
  • prolapse, c-section, still births, abortions, mastitis, not enough milk, large lambs, dystocia, uterine inertia, barren/open ewes, repeated assisted births, poor teat size and placement
• Poor mothering instincts
• Lambs with problems
  • Entropion
  • Deformities
  • Poor growth
  • Poor conformation

Environmental

Environmental reasons for culling sheep require an evaluation of the condition of your flock and health of your pastures. Often, these measures are effected by weather, passage of time, or other outside forces beyond our control. Here is a list of reasons one might feel a need to cut back on flock size.

• Opportunity arises to sell older ewes to fiber/pet home
• Have already retained a number of ewe lambs from ewe
• Aging
  • Poor teeth
  • Poor hooves
  • Producing fewer lambs
  • Poor immune system
  • Thin/unable to gain weight after lambing
  • General thriftiness
• Lifestyle of shepherds

Production/Profitability

Another category of concerns effect production, management systems, and the profitability of your farm operation. They are often considered some of the most important factors to consider when deciding whether or not to cull. Below is a list of production considerations when deciding if a ewe is profitable to the farm operation.

• Lambing rate of each ewe
• Weaning weights
• Milk production in ewe-can she feed her lambs
• Overall growth rates of ewe’s lambs
• Upkeep expenses greater than profit
• Ewe does not meet our management style or farm goals
  • Personality
    • Flighty
    • Trouble seekers
    • Bossy
    • Too clingy
    • Bad attitude
    • Poor mothers
    • Hard to manage
    • Aggressiveness
  • Wool quality
  • Body type

Aging Ewes

Often when I asked shepherds why they cull ewes, many answered with one word, age. Upon further questioning, they listed characteristics typical of aging sheep which may cause them to be put into one of the categories above and thus on the cull list. These include:

• Poor teeth
• Having fewer lambs
• Poor immune system
• Thin/unable to gain weight after lambing
• General lack of thriftiness

In conclusion, knowing when to cull your breeding ewes is not a one-size-fits-all decision. It’s a nuanced process that depends on various factors, including your farm’s goals, management style, and resources. As shepherds, we must recognize that culling is a natural part of maintaining a healthy and productive flock. Whether it means removing a ewe from your breeding lineup or from your farm entirely, the decision should be approached with thoughtful consideration. While it may be challenging, especially for those with small flocks, it’s essential for the overall well-being and sustainability of your operation. By evaluating each ewe’s performance and contribution to your goals, you can make informed decisions that benefit both your flock and your farm in the long run.

Did you know that Kim offers one on one consulting to shepherds? If you would like help setting farm goals or making decisions about which ewes to cull or remove from your breeding program, Kim can assist you! You may book a one time session or ongoing mentoring.
Click HERE for more information!

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Choosing a large animal vet

1. The most obvious consideration is that they are trained and certified as a large animal vet for your state. It is even better if they have extensive training and experience with the different kinds of livestock on your farm.
2. Distance and time to get to your farm are also a factor in choosing a vet. In our area, vets have an area that they service. If you live beyond that area, they will not come to you and often do not take you on as a new client.
3. One of the most important factors for me is how they converse with me and their level of professionalism. I tend to ask A LOT of questions and do my own research. I like a vet that will have a conversation with me about what is going on with my sheep. I like to understand the cause of the problem so that it can be addressed rather than just moving on once the issue is resolved and never really getting at the root cause or core of the problem. This takes extra time, which I am happy to pay for. It is important to me that I learn from each issue that arises.
4. In being able to carry on a conversation with my vet, there must be mutual respect for one another. If you can not respect your vet or vice versa, chances are it is not a good fit.
5. I like to have a vet that can perform various surgeries and procedures as they are needed. If your vet is not able to do the kinds of tasks you need, whether that be castrations, vacectomies, post mortems, or assist with difficult births, then you may find yourself juggling between two different vets.
6. Lastly, does your vet agree with your overall flock management style? Finding a vet who aligns with your philosophy of your preventative care and treatment preferences is vital to developing a trusting relationship built on respect.

We have been blessed with several wonderful vets throughout our journey with sheep. They are indespensable and have provided hours of their time to our farm. Some have gone above and beyond the call of duty coming. It is well worth taking the time to form a relationship with a large animal vet you respect and trust.

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