B528
Management of Lambs and Kids -
Lambing and Kidding Supplies

1. Propylene-glycol, molasses, or "Karo" syrup - for treatment of pregnancy toxemia. Watch for mothers appearing tired and not wanting to get up or move. See page F650.
2. Lubrivet, K-Y Jelly, mineral oil, or other suitable lubricant (not automotive lubricants) - a necessity for helping a mother that is having difficulty giving birth. Too much lubrication is very seldom a problem.
3. Iodine (7% tincture, not 1% tame iodine) - for dipping umbilical cords.
4. Colostrum - a must for weak or orphan newborns.
5. Uterine boluses - for retained afterbirth (placenta) and assisted deliveries.
6. Injectable vitamin E and selenium (BO-SE) - for prevention or treatment of white muscle disease.
7. Antibiotics (penicillin or LA-200/Liquamycin antibiotic) - for treatment of pneumonia, navel ill, and general bacterial infections. Good for ewes/does following difficult, assisted deliveries.
8. Intra-mammary infusion tubes or injectable antibiotics - to treat mastitis.
9. Antiseptics - isopropyl alcohol, tame iodine, chlorhexidine, or other similar disinfectants.
10. Bloat remedy (Therabloat).
11. Ketostix (ketosis test strips) - for measuring ketones in the urine.
12. Scour remedy - many of the pig oral anti-scours treatment products work well (spectinomycin, aureomycin tablets).
13. Aspirin - for pain relief and discomfort for a ewe/doe following a difficult delivery.
14. Glucose, electrolytes, and amino acids mixture - for treating weak and dehydrated lambs or kids. Products like Biolyte can be purchased from local farm stores or veterinarians.
15. Aerosol products - to assist in grafting orphan lambs.
16. Tetanus antitoxin.
17. Soremouth vaccine - only if problem exists.
18. Clostridium perfringens C & D vaccine (enterotoxemia).
19. Footrot treatment medication.
20. De-worming product.
21. Approved product for external parasites, i.e. keds, ticks, lice, etc.
22. KRS spray or other anti-fly product for spraying on wounds.
23. Blood stop powder or hemodust - for use after docking and/or castration.
24. Slack lime - for disinfecting birthing or lambing pens and jails.
25. Bag balm - use for injured and/or swollen teats on the mother caused by newborn’s teeth (especially on first time mothers).

1. Shears - for tagging (shearing) the rear-quarters and cleaning wool away from around the udder and face of the ewe.
2. Crook or cane - for catching the mother’s legs, not her neck!
3. Buckets - for water, equipment, etc.
4. Veterinary obstetrical (OB) gloves - sterile and disposable for assisting ewes/does with dystocia problems.
5. Snare, or puller - to help correct general conditions of dystocia.
6. Nylon cord - to use on those elusive feet in difficult deliveries.
7. Old towels, burlap sacking, etc. - for drying off wet newborns.
8. Oxygen bottle - small bottle, with small funnel and hose for use on oxygen deprived newborns shortly after birth.
9. Heat lamps - very helpful for chilled, weak, or orphan newborns.
10. Pritchard nipples, bottles, etc. - for orphans or weak newborns.
11. Tube feeder (60 cc syringe and a 16-18 inch feeding catheter) - for feeding colostrum to weak newborns.
12. Scales (hanging) - to obtain birthweights.
13. Lambing/kidding or "claiming" pens (jugs or jails) - to pen up mothers and newborns for a day or so (particularly ewes with twins or triplets).
14. Thermometer - be sure to attach string or umbilical tape to the thermometer for easy removal and prevention of accidental rectal retention. Normal temperature is 102.3° F.
15. A good variety of unused syringes (from 3 to 60 mL capacity) and needles (18-22 gauge x 1-1.5 inch in length).
16. Skinning knife - to skin dead newborns for grafting purposes.
17. Scalpel, blades, and surgical scissors (slight curve of blades) - ideal for treating entropion eye, cutting umbilical tape, etc.
18. Cotton balls (sterile) - for antiseptic swabs.
19. Ear tags, paint brands, marking crayons, scourable spray paints, and chalk - for individual animal identification.
20. Ear notcher or ear tatoo equipment - if "permanently"’ identifying animals.
21. Elastrator, elastrator bands, emasculatome, etc. - for docking and castration.
22. Prolapse loops or bearing retainers - for treating vaginal and uterine eversion (prolapse). See page C900 for additional details.
23. Balling gun - for giving oblets or pills.
24. Barn sheets, records, etc. - for data collection.

* IMPORTANT NOTE: This list is not all inclusive, and recommendations may vary from region to region. It is recommended that producers consult their local veterinarian for additional suggestions.