Two Little Lambies

These are the two little Blue Faced Leicester Lambs that were born this spring. The brown/grey one is a little boy. He has remarkable soft tightly curled fleece with a white spot on his left flank and two white "tears" under his eyes. He had a very good start to life, a simple and easy birth and all was well, that is until he got a sickness called coccidiosis. It is a common protozoa that gives animals diarrhea and can make them very weak. He was treated for that and then became anemic because of a heavy worm load. These two little lambs preferred not to go out to pasture with the other lambs and sheep, but to stay in the pen and eat the grass. The problem there is the grass is very soiled with droppings from the sheep and eating the grass perpetuates the worm cycle by ingesting worms in the grass. I would chase them out of the pen and out to pasture and the next thing I knew, they were right back. The little boy got bottle jaw, which is a condition  where anemia causes fluid to back up and collect under the chin. I treated him twice for worms, 10 days apart and in between that time, he began to lose his wool from stress. I did manage to collect it by rooing, or hand plucking his fleece, but he doesn't have a very warm coat for winter. He is no longer sick, but has a lot of catching up to do. 

The female, white ewe lamb, did not get coccidiosis and I kept a close eye on her, because the two of them hung around together. I have no idea how they know what breed they are, but they are the only two Blue Faced Leicester lambs born this year. It is rather strange that they stayed together. None of the other lambs did such a thing. Then the little girl developed bottle jaw rather suddenly, however; she responded quickly to the medicine. She is a bit ragged because it appeared she had a run in with a coyote or fox, but the dogs likely came to her rescue. If they stayed with the flock, I am sure that would not have happened, that is the attack on her. She has not lost her coat, thank goodness. 

The Blue Faced Leicester lambs were the only lambs to show any signs of illness or worm overload this year. I did not have to treat any of the other lambs and they are all healthy and robust. These babies were out of excellent stock, some of the finest Blue Faced Leicester sheep around. They ram was selected for his fleece, his genes for colour, though he is white and for his genetics. The two ewes were also selected for their superior fleece and they come from excellent genetics too. It was certainly strange that the two lambs did not fare well. 

At least, I can say that they are well now, but both have to do some catching up. I think I will put coats on them to help them retain some body heat. Then they don't have to fight with the available food just to grow. Keep going, little lambies!