Just like human babies, when lambs are born, they need some special attention to make sure they live happy, healthy lives. Mother ewes can provide the babies with all the love and nourishment they need, but it is up to the shepherd to make sure the babies get a healthy start.
First, the shepherd checks the mother ewe to make sure she is able to feed her baby. The lamb gets milk from its mother's teats, so it is important to make sure the teats are clean and that the mother is producing enough milk to feed her baby (or babies, if she has twins or triplets!)
When a lamb is born, it is attached to its mother by an umbilical cord. The shepherd cuts the cord close to the lamb's belly, then dips the part still attached to the lamb in iodine so it will not become infected. Eventually, the cord will dry up and drop off.
A lamb is born with a long tail that can drag in the dirt and manure. Because the shepherd wants to keep the lamb healthy and clean, he "docks" or shortens the tail. This is done in one of two ways. Sometimes a special rubber-band is placed around the tail. This cuts off the blood supply to the tail and causes the tail to fall off in 7 to 10 days. A shepherd can also use a special pair of electric scissors. They are very hot, like a curling iron, and when the shepherd makes the cut, the heat of the scissors stops the bleeding instantly. This is called "cauterization." A lamb's tail is soft and made of cartilage, so removing the tail doesn't hurt much. Take your thumb and finger and pinch the top part of your ear or the tip of your nose. These are made of cartilage, same as a lamb's tail.
After birth, each lamb gets its ear pierced! The shepherd uses an "ear tag" to identify each lamb. The information on the ear tag tells the shepherd who the lamb's mother and father are, and helps the shepherd keep track of the lamb's age and health records.
Finally, the shepherd puts the mother ewe and her baby lamb into a small pen, so the mother and baby can bond and get to know one another. The mother learns the smell and sound of her lamb, and the lamb learns the smell and sound of its mother. They stay together for a few days, and then rejoin the rest of the flock. Once they have bonded, a mother sheep will usually not let any lamb other that her own nurse.
Sometimes when a lamb is born, the mother dies, or sometimes she is unable or unwilling to take care of her baby. The shepherd tries to find another ewe who has just had a baby of her own to "adopt" the lamb and accept it as her own. Or, sometimes shepherds keep goats to serve as "nannies" to the lambs. If the shepherd can't find another ewe or goat to care for the lamb, then the lamb must be hand fed with a bottle. The lambs are given a special formula. Sheep milk has more fat and protein than cow's milk, and the lambs can get very sick if they are fed cow's milk at this age.
Continue with: "!"
Back to the page.
