The lamb is dead (stillborn) but the mom doesn't seem to realize it. She didn't go to the pasture with the rest of the mob and spent the whole day with the lamb, cleaning him, trying to get him to nurse and generally behaving like a happy new mother. I thought she would eventually realize that something is wrong but she didn't even after the flies did. We removed the lamb after several hours and she spent about 24 hours looking for and calling him but then calmed down and didn't show any signs of discomfort or stress.
Sunday, January 22, 2012
It's not all fun and games ...
The lamb is dead (stillborn) but the mom doesn't seem to realize it. She didn't go to the pasture with the rest of the mob and spent the whole day with the lamb, cleaning him, trying to get him to nurse and generally behaving like a happy new mother. I thought she would eventually realize that something is wrong but she didn't even after the flies did. We removed the lamb after several hours and she spent about 24 hours looking for and calling him but then calmed down and didn't show any signs of discomfort or stress.
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3 comments:
well that was uplifting...
Cause of death?
Michael - I can only reply now but I read your comment about a week ago, so things had time to ferment in my head :) My first reaction was something like Sorry but it's really not all fun and games or Reading about it is still much more fun than actually being there ... but then some realization came and while it's difficult to explain I now have this understanding inside ... You know, it shouldn't be depressing. If it is, it only shows that we're out of tune with the real world, where things like that are normal and important part of everyday life. It's like we're seating in a warm room and pretend that winter outside doesn't exist, you know? But it only works until wind hurls something through the window and breaks the glass.
Yuri - we didn't do autopsy, so not sure. These things happen. Moldy hay would be my main suspect.
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