In this article as part of our new Farm Vet’s Corner series, That’s Farming editor, Catherina Cunnane, speaks to a farm vet about essential equipment for lambing 2023.
On many enterprises, ‘Lambing 2023’ is just around the corner, and the season makes for one of the busiest times of year for sheep farmers.
This is particularly true where farmers may be lambing large numbers over time or within a compact lambing window or possibly where their lambing season coincides with calvings.
The season can be physically and mentally demanding for many farmers, who, as a result, can become tired or overwhelmed and may even reach burnout.
Ensuring you have a lambing toolkit containing all your essential items at hand, can make navigating through the season easier.
Remember that good preparation and planning will help in achieving a better outcome this lambing season.
This farming publication spoke to a vet who helped us to compile this 30-strong list of items that you may require on your farm.
Please note that your requirements may differ from that below, but you can use this as a checklist:
- Gloves: 1) Disposable arm-length 2) Nitrile;
- Towels;
- A headlight;
- Prolapse harness;
- Prolapse spoon;
- Feeding bottle for lambs;
- Vet lube;
- Lamb colostrum;
- Lamb stomach tube;
- Iodine for navels;
- Marking spray;
- Ear notchers;
- Management tags;
- Daniel’s Lambing Snare;
- Syringes;
- Needles;
- Infrared bulb;
- Infrared bulb protector;
- Lambing aid/lamb pullers;
- Lambing ropes;
- Rubber rings;
- Rubber ring application;
- Lamb jacket;
- Operating table/ trimming stand/crate – Not a requirement on farms, but can be useful if you vet needs to perform a C-section;
- Nutritional supplements for lambs;
- Fostering crate;
- Propylene glycol;
- Calcium;
- Disinfectant;
- Buckets.
Previous article on That’s Farming: 4 pieces of equipment to make lambing season easier
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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.
