ADAFSA urges livestock breeders to apply best practices for managing lambing season
1/11/2020 11:00 PM

As part of its efforts to apply bio-security system in the agricultural sector, Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA) urged livestock breeders to adhere to the best practices for managing lambing season and fulfilling requirements of bio-security system in breeding pens. The authority is keen on promoting animal health and ensuring full and adequate care for newborn lambs based on scientific and sound foundations that contribute to increasing the economic and environmental return from animal farming and achieving sustainable livestock sector in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, thus enhancing the food security and bio-security system in Abu Dhabi.

ADAFSA noted that managing livestock is a complementary process, stressing the need to vaccinate ewes against enterotoxaemia four weeks before parturition, avoid giving medications or vaccines except under the advice and supervision of the veterinarian, and avoid exhausting ewes in unnecessary activities to prevent abortion caused by the physical stress. It is necessary to put ewes into a clean and well-ventilated pen for lambing. In addition to preparing the farm birth record, ADAFSA added ewes that are likely to give birth within 4-5 days should be housed in an isolated pen.
"When lambing is observed to be imminent, ewes should be monitored constantly to ensure there is no a difficult lambing. Ewes often give birth naturally without the help of breeder. However, a small proportion of ewes need help, such as those giving birth for the first or second time," ADAFSA added.
"It is important to take care of the lamb and assist it to breathe by checking that there is no placenta covering the nostrils and making a gentle rub over the chest. If the lamb's umbilical cord does not clip normally, clip the cord to a length of 10 cm. Ensure the lamb stands well and disinfect the ewe's udder properly by washing it with water to be safe for lactation."
In addition to placing the ewe and its lamb in isolated pen, ADAFSA stressed the need to ensure the lamb is able to reach the ewe's udder. Moreover, ewes should be kept with their lambs for 2-4 days according to the health of lambs and their ability for lactation. Lambs should be given a selenium-vitamin E does and vaccinated against enterotoxaemia. It is important to document all these procedures in the season's birth record.

According to ADAFSA, the lambs of ewes with mastitis or poor udder should take their milk from ewes with higher lactation milk yield or from ewes whose lambs have died soon after birth. It is also important to constantly monitor lambs and ensure they receive sufficient milk from birth to weaning.

Furthermore, ADAFSA stressed the importance of the good nutrition for ewes in the first month after parturition to increase weight of lambs. Otherwise, inadequate nutrition during this period adversely affects the quantity and quality of produced milk, which decrease weight of ewes and lambs. During the first month of birth, 5 kilograms of milk increase the lamb's weight with about 1 kg. Besides, milk contributes to increase lambs' immunity, especially against parasites, due to the high nutritional value of milk.

ADAFSA also called on all livestock breeders to visit its veterinary hospitals and clinics across the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, visit its website and have a look at its educational and awareness publications, to increase their expertise and skills regarding animal farming and biosecurity. Through its platforms, ADAFSA introduces livestock breeders to the best practices in animal farming, to help them develop the breeding process and increase the economic return from this industry.

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  • Last Updated On: Jan 22, 2020