Note that up to 24% of lambs in indoor lambing systems suffer from Watery Mouth. The causative agent, E. Coli, can survive in an immature gut and cause endotoxaemia. Infection pressure can be reduced by combining good colostrum management and flock management.
In modern and intensive farming systems newborn spring lambs often face battles with hypothermia and systemic infectious diseases during the first 48-72 hours of life.
Digestive health and enzyme production
Check all ewes for signs of mastitis post-lambing to determine if she can provide nourishment for all of her lambs
Ensure all lambs receive adequate quantities of clean colostrum
Dip all navels with an approved disinfectant
Focus on ewe and environment hygiene
Take swift and early action on weak lambs
With E. Coli infections, many challenges arise within the first hours of life, being amplified as the lambing season progresses. This is why the use of oral antimicrobials have been widely employed in the past. However, this practice has contributed to antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
Why Gut Health Matters From Day 1
In this modern era of farming, we all understand and appreciate the value of colostrum when raising lambs. These young animals are born agammaglobulinaemic, which means they are born with a poorly functioning immune system and are therefore dependent on receiving protective antibodies from colostrum to survive in the early stages of life. Without adequate quantities of this energy dense colostrum many lambs may succumb to hypothermia and infectious diseases such as Watery Mouth (caused by the pathogen Escherichia Coli).
It is also important to appreciate that the gastrointestinal tract of lambs will undergo significant changes within the first hours, days, and weeks of life. Initially, lambs possess an ‘open gut’ which allows for the absorption of the large proteins (i.e., immunoglobulin antibodies) from their mother’s colostrum. However, this ‘open gut’ also presents an avenue for pathogenic organisms from the lamb’s immediate environment to invade the body.
Under normal conditions a lamb’s gut becomes colonised with a variety of microbial populations which begins during lambing, and continues following interactions with their mother, their environment, and their diet. It is of paramount importance that a balanced gut microbiome is established and maintained during this critical period of the lamb’s life to ensure a healthy start to life. A healthy gut microbiome also plays an essential part of digestive heath and optimal development of the immature immune system.
