Ewe had triplets now is fat and has a hard side...?

[secuono]

Well, Winter never really came this year to our State, VA. They were free w/the horses on 4.5 acres before the lambs came. They had access to hay, which even the horses waited until late December or mid January, I forget, to start eating it.
They have free access to the grass paddocks I made two weeks before they lambed.
The lump is always there, no change in it what so ever.
There's another half roughly the same size on the other side which you can't see. Smaller area is 30x60 or so feet. Bigger is 60x60ft, I'll go out and get a more accurate size later.

But this is still how she looks, she's in the barn napping this morning. But it's still there.

 

[nomad]

I need to ask you a few questions before I give my thoughts to help guide you to find your answer.

The age of this ewe is?

Has this ewe ever been given grain since she was born?

Was the mother of the ewe grained while pregnant with her?

To be sure I am clear, did this ewe eat any hay over winter and if so, what type of hay was offered?

When you're stating she is "fat", you are using the condition scale (1-5) for sheep/goats; and, she is a number 4/5? Or, are you subjectively calling her 'fat'?

I think I have asked my few questions.

At least, she hasn't lost her appetite.

 

[secuono]

She's 8yrs.
Got her last year, no idea about that. Trio had pellets 2 months ago. Sometimes I toss them some crimped oats.
No idea about the mother.
No hay. W/e the horses got they had access to, but they were never in there eating.
People here have called them fat. Look at the picture and you tell me if she is or not. They ain't sheared, I can't tell either way.

 

[SheepGirl]

Well if she still has it, it's probably not bloat. Maybe a tumor? She is getting up there in years...

 

[nomad]

Thank you for answering my questions.

Since you do not know the history of this animal and how it was managed (as well as that of its mother), it is difficult to ascertain if she is having problems or not. Let's throw a few things out there as possibilities for you to consider.

I am a little perplexed that she is full and round without eating hay and does not appear to be eating much grass according to your observations. If the "lumps" that you are feeling are relatively hard and constant regardless of time of day, there is a possibility of fat deposits in one or several of her "stomachs". There have actually been cases of Boer goats who were fed excessively on grain that had 40 lb balls of fat removed from their stomachs after slaughter. The animals essentially ended up starving to death, though, due to the blockage in the stomach. I am not saying this is what is ailing your particular animal. Just something to consider.

If you feel her backbone and ribs, you can get an idea of what her conditioning score is. This will help you assess which direction she needs to go in. If she is too fat, then give her appropriate forage (grass) to bring her weight to a more desirable level. If she is too thin, then give her access to more grass and/or hay. It is also important to provide free choice minerals including sodium bicarbonate for proper health. The following link provides information on how to judge conditioning.

http://www.agric.wa.gov.au/PC_91909.html?s=1001

Carcase finish is assessed as a fat score which is directly related to the condition score of the live animal - carcase fat score 3 is equivalent to condition score 3. In both the sheep and goat meat industries body condition scores of 2 to 3 are desirable (well finished but not fat). Condition score 1 animals are unfinished; that is, muscle development is poor, while animals in condition scores 4 and 5 are overfat and unacceptable to all known markets.

Also, remember that "fat" is a very subjective term especially when someone is not familiar with what good conditioning looks like. How many bulemics think they are still too fat when they look in the mirror?

Hope this gets you in the right direction.

 

[secuono]

I have a picture from March 24th and she had the bump then. Wasn't there when the lambs were a week old.
:/

 

[secuono]

Thank you for answering my questions.

Since you do not know the history of this animal and how it was managed (as well as that of its mother), it is difficult to ascertain if she is having problems or not. Let's throw a few things out there as possibilities for you to consider.

I am a little perplexed that she is full and round without eating hay and does not appear to be eating much grass according to your observations. If the "lumps" that you are feeling are relatively hard and constant regardless of time of day, there is a possibility of fat deposits in one or several of her "stomachs". There have actually been cases of Boer goats who were fed excessively on grain that had 40 lb balls of fat removed from their stomachs after slaughter. The animals essentially ended up starving to death, though, due to the blockage in the stomach. I am not saying this is what is ailing your particular animal. Just something to consider.

If you feel her backbone and ribs, you can get an idea of what her conditioning score is. This will help you assess which direction she needs to go in. If she is too fat, then give her appropriate forage (grass) to bring her weight to a more desirable level. If she is too thin, then give her access to more grass and/or hay. It is also important to provide free choice minerals including sodium bicarbonate for proper health. The following link provides information on how to judge conditioning.

http://www.agric.wa.gov.au/PC_91909.html?s=1001

Carcase finish is assessed as a fat score which is directly related to the condition score of the live animal - carcase fat score 3 is equivalent to condition score 3. In both the sheep and goat meat industries body condition scores of 2 to 3 are desirable (well finished but not fat). Condition score 1 animals are unfinished; that is, muscle development is poor, while animals in condition scores 4 and 5 are overfat and unacceptable to all known markets.

Also, remember that "fat" is a very subjective term especially when someone is not familiar with what good conditioning looks like. How many bulemics think they are still too fat when they look in the mirror?

Hope this gets you in the right direction.

I don't think you have even read over the thread. If you had, you'd know it's just one, large bump on her left side. They were less round in Fall, it's not just the wool that's making them extra round.

 

[Cornish Heritage]

Is the lump hard or can you push at it? If you can push at it like a balloon then that would indicate some kind of bloat/gas. Have you tried some Probiotics? Also like Nomad suggested try some baking soda.

Liz

 

[secuono]

It's fairly hard.

 

[nomad]

I don't think you have even read over the thread. If you had, you'd know it's just one, large bump on her left side. They were less round in Fall, it's not just the wool that's making them extra round.

Since none of us are there to view the animal, it would be best to call a vet or someone with a lot of experience with ruminants to help with a proper diagnosis. Pictures and vague descriptions do not do justice to a proper diagnosis. To be honest, one solid lump on the side of an animal is most likely not a much better prognosis than 2 or more lumps (if they existed). If it is a tumor as SheepGirl indicated, you have a problem.

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