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HomeEditor's Picks4 pieces of equipment to make lambing season easier
Catherina Cunnane
Catherina Cunnanehttps://www.thatsfarming.com/
Catherina Cunnane hails from a sixth-generation drystock and specialised pedigree suckler enterprise in Co. Mayo. She currently holds the positions of editor and general manager at That's Farming, having joined the firm during its start-up phase in 2015.
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4 pieces of equipment to make lambing season easier

Lambing equipment

In this article, That’s Farming previews four items that could make your 2023 lambing season easier.

  • Lamb resuscitator/aspirator

Similar to the calf resuscitator that we featured previously, this is an award-winning handheld device which cleans the respiratory passages by removing fluid and other blockages and pumps air into a newborn lamb’s lungs.

According to the inventors of the life-saving McCulloch Medical Constant Delivery Resuscitators, this product is for use on lambs that have a heartbeat but are not breathing.

It has other uses and can be deployed in animals that require resuscitation in droning, smoke-inhalation and post-trauma.

A kit contains a resuscitator pump, a resuscitator mask, an aspirator mask, a carry case with handles and step-by-step instructions.

Prices vary amongst distributors but generally range from €150 (including VAT) upwards.

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This particular resuscitator can also be used on kids, alpacas, cria and miniature foals.

  • Lambing Snare

This is a simple lambing tool (a wire loop essentially) that farmers can use to hold a lamb’s head in the correct position for an easier and safer delivery process. Prices start from as little as €8.

Alternatively, there is a plastic lambing aid available for circa €10.

  • Udderly EZ Sheep Milker

This is another handheld device that enables you to collect colostrum or milk from a ewe with ease.

The trigger-operated vacuum pump is not powered by electricity or batteries.

According to the creators, the product can also help prevent and/or cure mastitis by regularly using the pump to milk the infected teat to stop build-ups.

To use, simply place the Udderly EZ pump under the ewe’s udder, and the pump will create a vacuum on the animal’s teat by pumping the handle several times to ensure a complete seal on the teat.

This will encourage colostrum or milk to start flowing into the collection container, and spillages are avoided as the milk or colostrum is directed into the bottle connected to the pump.

Prices vary from circa €195- €200.

  • Trusti Lamb Feeding Tube

This is an easy-to-use 240ml capacity lamb oesophageal tube which, the inventors claim, offers a “kinder, easier, safer and faster tube-feeding/colostrum feeder design.

It contains a number of features, including safety indicator strips and a specialised tube tip, which enables a farmer to know when they have safely positioned the tube to avoid inadvertent airway insertion.

The tube is also transparent, so you can see the milk flow, while a tube clip holds the tube off the ground, allowing for optimum hygiene levels.

Prices generally range from €25 upwards for this piece of equipment.

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