Thinking about how long a pregnancy lasts for a Romanovsk sheep? As a rule, the answer to this question depends on how well the formation of the fetus in the animal proceeds. In addition, each farmer must be able to determine the period of pregnancy in order to prepare in time for the upcoming birth. In more detail about all this we will talk with readers in our article.
Sheep pregnancy test
Before you figure out how many months a sheep’s pregnancy lasts, you first need to understand how to correctly determine the time of its onset. The main sign that the animal is carrying a lamb is the absence of hunting for three weeks. That is, the sheep does not have a state of excitement, which is characterized by increased production of estrogen - a special sex hormone. If the hunt did not come at the right time, then the probability is high that the animal is waiting for offspring. However, attention should also be paid to the fact that the absence of hunting can also be associated with a hormonal imbalance in the sheep, therefore this method does not give a one hundred percent guarantee. Only an experienced veterinarian can tell for sure how long a pregnancy in a sheep lasts and whether it is pregnant at all.
How to determine the hunting of an animal?
To determine on your own how long the pregnancy in a sheep lasts, you need to remember exactly when the animal was in the phase of sexual arousal. And for this you need to know the main signs of hunting:
- secretion from the vagina of the animal mucous secretion;
- mammals begin to jump on their brethren;
- swelling of the genital external organs in a sheep;
- The animal takes a cage of a ram.
If such a condition was not observed within three weeks after mating with a male, then you can almost certainly be sure that the sheep will soon bring offspring.
In addition, many experienced farmers recommend paying attention to the behavior of the animal. The pregnant sheep behaves calmly, however, he tries to stay away from young individuals, avoiding repeated mating.
Pregnancy Diagnostic Methods
Many veterinarians, in an attempt to determine how many months a sheep have already been pregnant, use various diagnostic methods that even an inexperienced farmer can apply. There are three of them, but each of them allows us to determine with great confidence whether the sheep is pregnant:
- reflexological method;
- rectal examination;
- palpation method.
The first method is based on the instincts of the animal. Every veterinarian knows that during a hunt with a female sheep try to fertilize a female individual as soon as possible. However, if the female is already pregnant, mating will not occur. The male simply will not be aroused and will lose all interest in the sheep. This method is feasible only from the 12th to the 19th day after fertilization.
The palpation method can be used 2.5 months after conception. By this time, the young fruit can be felt outside. To make the diagnosis as accurate as possible, it is advisable not to feed the sheep for 12 hours. It is best to carry out a similar diagnosis at dawn, clutching the animal with both hands on the stomach and feeling for an enlarged uterus.
The rectal examination method can only be performed with special equipment that responds to vibrations of the uterine arteries. The veterinarian inserts a special tube into the rectum of the sheep, and at the time of muscle relaxation, the device captures uterine vibrations. The most experienced veterinarians can perform this procedure without special instruments, using a hand for this.
The gestational age of the animal
So we came to the question of how long a pregnancy in a sheep goes. However, a novice breeder should understand that the answer to this question depends on several factors:
- animal health status;
- the number of fetuses in the uterus;
- sheep conditions;
- breed of animal;
- season.
On average, a sheep brings offspring 140-150 days after conception. If 2 females or more develop inside the female, then the period may be slightly reduced. It is also worth considering the fact that primiparous individuals slightly rearrange the offspring.
In order not to make a mistake with the lambing date, it is strongly recommended to keep records in which the mating time and other information for each female are recorded. This will avoid confusion and provide better care.
Pregnant Sheep Care
In order for the birth of the sheep to end without complications and the animal to bring good offspring, proper care must be taken. For example, it is worth taking care of a high-quality diet, which would also include complex mineral and vitamin supplements. Not only the health of the lamb, but also the condition of the sheep after lambing will depend on this. For example, many novice breeders complain that after giving birth the sheep does not have milk to feed offspring - the reason for this is a lack of vitamins.
It is also necessary to calculate the approximate time of childbirth and shear the wool from the sheep two weeks before lambing. This is done so that the lambs can get unhindered access to the nipples of the mother. After this, the food is transferred to normal mode, so that the hair grows at normal intensity. It is worth noting that sheep should have access to drinking water at all times.
Shortly before the expected date of birth, it is also necessary to put the paddock in order. To do this, change the old litter to fresh, and disinfect the drinker and feeder with saline. In addition, it is recommended to equip the barn with an additional heating source so that the newborn baby will not freeze.
Signs of the approach of childbirth
A novice breeder should know when the time for giving birth to a sheep is appropriate. Such knowledge will help the farmer to monitor childbirth so that they go as well as possible. The lambing approach can be identified by the following signs:
- the sheep begins to show concern, milk is secreted from the nipples;
- the external genitalia swell noticeably, the abdomen begins to sag;
- just before lambing, the sheep begins to dig a litter to prepare a place.
In addition, the animal can often get sick before lambing, so you will have to constantly monitor the health of the mother so that the baby is born healthy and strong. Feel free to contact your veterinarian for help if you do not have the proper experience.
How to take birth?
Now you know how long the pregnancy in a sheep lasts. However, for the process to go as well as possible and without complications, you must be able to provide assistance to the animal. For example, it is necessary to put a sheep on its side before giving birth and monitor it for about two hours. In addition, the farmer should be near at least in order to clear the lamb's airways of mucus in time. As soon as you do this, the mother should lick the newborn. This process is considered very important because it allows you to establish a connection between the lamb and the sheep. During licking, the ewe memorizes the smell of a lamb, due to which it then considers the newborn to be its own and feeds it.
Possible difficulties
In some cases, lambing occurs with certain complications. For example, the fetus in the womb may initially not be located correctly, so the lamb will not come into the light with its head, but with its side or hind limbs. This situation is extremely dangerous, and without human help, lambing will end in failure. To prevent this, it is necessary to tear the fetal membrane and wait for all water to flow out of it. As soon as you feel that there has been a relaxation of the uterine muscles, you need to put your hands in the sheep’s vagina and pull the lamb out. It remains only to cut the umbilical cord with disinfected scissors.
Care after lambing
Once the birth is complete, you must leave the mother with the lamb for 6 hours alone. After this period, the sheep should be brought warm water so that it begins to gradually recover strength. After this, the drinker should be removed and repeat the procedure after a couple of hours.
As for the first feeding, it should occur no earlier than 9 hours after lambing. The diet in this case is not recommended. Feed the sheep the same feed and vitamins as before. Otherwise, various experiments can lead to indigestion and poor mother health.
We hope you now understand how long a sheep’s pregnancy lasts. As you can see, caring for animals during and after pregnancy and the correct delivery of birth play a huge role in the implementation of a successful business. If you learn to competently approach this issue, then sheep breeding will bring you huge profits.