Well that was an interesting start to the day.
We've started lambing with 3 ewes having given birth to successfully to 6 lambs. The 4th ewe to go into labour was Girlie, a favourite of mine and a great doting mum to her babies.
But all started going a little wrong.
When I noticed that Girlie was in labour, I thought I would see if I can video it as she was close to the house. So I setup the tripod only to discover the sun was in the wrong position and then to notice Girlie was having difficulty.
See Facebook Reel...
https://www.facebook.com/share/r/157rJeCwmp/
This is the first time in 10 or so years of raising Arapawa sheep that I have had a birthing issue. Girlie was due, she was very big and possibly carrying twins as she had last year.
I wasn't too sure what to do. The lambs normally just pop out... but this lamb was truly stuck no matter how much Girlie pushed. The lambs head was out... so I had a little feel around... bare handed...ewww... and I could feel a hoof above the head and thought that's not right. I didn't want to forcefully pull the lamb out, as I wasn't sure what to pull and I didn't want to cause additional injury.
It was time to call out the vet.
Girlie was a trooper and on the vets arrival and elbow deep the vet discovered Girlie was trying to birth the two twins at the same time. The head of 1 lamb and the leg of the other coming over the top. The vet repositioned the second lamb and pulled out the first.
There was some signs of life in the first lamb, but as much as the vet tried to keep it alive it didn't survive. The second lamb was born dead.
What's really sad... Girlie is such a great Mum, and I can feel her heartbreak, as she stayed nearby watching me burying the lambs.
Once I had finished Girlie rejoined the flock. Girlie should make a full recovery.