Post by elnini on Nov 29, 2016 4:11:53 GMT -5
Ok, just throwing this out for any and all ideas.
First incident : 12 February Min (12 yo ewe) (both male lambs)
Second incident : 2 June Medea (10 yo ewe) (one male, one female)
Third incident : 26 November Medea (10 yo ewe) (both female lambs)
In each case there were twins, one twin half the size of the other and less developed, the bigger twin near term.
In the first case the bigger twin survived four days but contracted viral pnuemonia (we think, the ewe also contracted it) and was euthanaised when it was clear he was going backwards.
Things to note :
The same ram is the father of all the lambs, but the younger ewes have not had any problems. He is completely unrelated to either ewe and the two ewes are not related to each other.
The miscarriages are not seasonal, summer, winter and spring so far.
The ewes were well conditioned (understatement) and have access to free choice minerals and a magnesium block. They have fresh water, shade, grazing and shelter from rain and wind at all times. The hay provided has varied over time and there doesn't seem to be a connection either prior to or during pregnancy to any one hay source. The other ewes have eaten exactly the same things as these ewes unless the old girls have chosen to graze something the younger ones don't.
The older ewe has since passed away, so I don't know if she would have had the same problem.
Prior to the two cases above the other ewe had not lambed since 29 October, 2013, just over three years. Previously quite a regular lamber with zero issues.
Both ewes have been good producers, their lambs have thrived and they are good mothers. Their offspring have been prolific, indeed Medea's line of daughters is such a good family that the three lost ewe lambs represent quite a blow.
As I only witnessed the birth of the first twins, it is possible that the bigger twin was born alive in the second two cases and died at birth, from some misadventure such as membrane over the nose or being stepped on or something. Odd that it happened in both cases though.
If anyone can think of a miscarriage cause where one twin develops more slowly (the smaller one is not decomposed) or maybe starts after the bigger one ?
First incident : 12 February Min (12 yo ewe) (both male lambs)
Second incident : 2 June Medea (10 yo ewe) (one male, one female)
Third incident : 26 November Medea (10 yo ewe) (both female lambs)
In each case there were twins, one twin half the size of the other and less developed, the bigger twin near term.
In the first case the bigger twin survived four days but contracted viral pnuemonia (we think, the ewe also contracted it) and was euthanaised when it was clear he was going backwards.
Things to note :
The same ram is the father of all the lambs, but the younger ewes have not had any problems. He is completely unrelated to either ewe and the two ewes are not related to each other.
The miscarriages are not seasonal, summer, winter and spring so far.
The ewes were well conditioned (understatement) and have access to free choice minerals and a magnesium block. They have fresh water, shade, grazing and shelter from rain and wind at all times. The hay provided has varied over time and there doesn't seem to be a connection either prior to or during pregnancy to any one hay source. The other ewes have eaten exactly the same things as these ewes unless the old girls have chosen to graze something the younger ones don't.
The older ewe has since passed away, so I don't know if she would have had the same problem.
Prior to the two cases above the other ewe had not lambed since 29 October, 2013, just over three years. Previously quite a regular lamber with zero issues.
Both ewes have been good producers, their lambs have thrived and they are good mothers. Their offspring have been prolific, indeed Medea's line of daughters is such a good family that the three lost ewe lambs represent quite a blow.
As I only witnessed the birth of the first twins, it is possible that the bigger twin was born alive in the second two cases and died at birth, from some misadventure such as membrane over the nose or being stepped on or something. Odd that it happened in both cases though.
If anyone can think of a miscarriage cause where one twin develops more slowly (the smaller one is not decomposed) or maybe starts after the bigger one ?