Cecil,
In my opinion, feeding concentrates(grains, pellets(I am not talking alfalfa
or grass pellets) etc) will not keep the animal warmer. Only forages do,
grass hay and alfalfa.
If temp gets too low, the rumen may not work as efficiently or not at all,
the rumen bugs will die off if the temp in the body gets too low.so I like
to give them free choice brome/orchard grass hay and alfalfa, only 25% of
their diet being alfalfa.
We first started to get interested in hair sheep due to the no docking,
disbudding and no shearing aspect of them, since we shear alpacas, and have
our Nubians disbudded. And some ads stating parasite resistant,and no need
for vaccinations.
I realize that everyone needs to do what they feel is best for their
herd/flock, but these are my feeling regarding no vaccines to lambs. I
think that every animal is subject to tetanus bacteria if the conditions are
right, it is in the soil, and manure. To not give CD&T is a disservice to
the animal as dyeing of tetanus is a horrible death. In alpaca they are
looking into giving the tetanus part once every 5 years or so, not yearly as
was done in the past, after the initial vaccine and a 21-28 follow up
booster, and then again at a year.
I think the ideal in feeding ruminant animals is no concentrates, unless in
late pregnancy or heavy lactation, and then only a small amount, and
hopefully you know what you are doing. I think for the most part, the
grains/concentrates are being fed for the humans.
Now diagnosing tetanus(from one of my goat books)
usually occurs 2 weeks after wound or contamination, convulsions, may be
head pressing, usually not circling. Excited and stiff when touched,
usually within 24-48 hours the entire body is stiff. Fever.
treatment with high doses of penicillin IM , sedatives, and tetanus
antitoxin., but treatment usually unsuccessful and 80% of goats die.
Hope this makes since, hard to articulate at times, not being a writer.
Sorry about your poor little lamb.
Liz Radi
Idar Alpacas and Nubian Goats
Nunn, Colorado 80648
970-716-7218
http://idaralpaca.blogspot.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "Cecil Bearden" <crbear...@copper.net>
To: <blackbelly@lists.blackbellysheep.info>
Sent: Sunday, February 06, 2011 8:16 AM
Subject: Re: [Blackbelly] Help TETANUS????
It appears I have a lamb with tetanus or Closridium. It is my largest
lamb and the first one of one of my 2 year old ewes. I have been feeding
oat hay that has a lot of grain in it. I also have been feeding corn
gluten pellets to supplement as we are in some of the coldest weather we
have ever had. Last Tues a blizzard hit with 10 inches of snow and 6 ft
drifts. 4 ewes had lambs that day. I have about 45 lambs. I have to
keep everybody penned in about 2 acres as the wheat pasture is gone due to
the drought. About 3 am I found this lamb stretched out and could not
stand. His muscles are tight and will not allow him to move. He has a
frothy bloat. I gave him tetanus antitoxin and penn last night but he is
still in the same condition this morning. It appears he is somewhat
dehydrated as the skin is tight and tough. I ran a feeding tube down his
throat last night and it gave him some relief from the gas, but the froth
is still there and I cannot get my feeding tube far enough down to
administer a surfactant. I am going to try some electrolyte solution in
the tube and give hime more antitoxin and penn.
It appears to be tetanus /enterotoxemia.
any opinions would be welcome
Cecil in OKla
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