The list below outlines the features and cause of death in new-born dead lambs. Use the list in conjunction with your veterinarian to determine the cause of death of new-born lambs.
Feature |
Comment |
Liveweight <3.5 kg> |
At risk of exposure/hypothermia |
Liveweight > 5.5 kg |
At risk of dystocia (difficult birth) |
Has birth stain been cleaned? |
Mismothering |
Pads still on feet |
Hasn't walked |
Skin on neck and chest/back:
bruising or teeth marks?
|
Primary predation – dead lambs will not have
bruising |
Do lungs float in water?
|
If they float the lamb has breathed if they sink,
the lamb died before birth |
Milk clot in stomach |
Lamb has suckled |
Kidney fat red |
Fat mobilised – lamb in nutritional deficit |
Kidney fat brown
|
Fat hasn't been mobilised - death at or very soon
after birth |
Kidney fat white
|
Fat has been replenished. Lamb has lived for a
few days. |
Swollen tongue, head, neck |
Dystocia |
Genetic malformation |
Various features incompatible with life |
Thyroid weight >0.4g/kg birth weight |
Goitre iodine deficiency |
The common features of lambs that have died of hunger/mismothering/hypothermia are light birth weight, red kidney fat, and no milk clots.
|
