Facts About Baby Sheep Lambs

Lambs are cute and cuddly, but they grow fast.

Sheep are fascinating creatures. They have been kept by shepherds for over 11,000 years. Some sheep are raised for meat and others for their wool. Male sheep are called rams unless they are neutered; then they are called wethers. Wethers make good pets and wool animals. Female sheep are called ewes. Baby sheep are called lambs.

Lambing Season

Twin lambs are very common.

Lambs are most often born as twins. Even though some ewes have single lambs or triplets, twins are the most common. Sometimes the lambs become entangled with each other before birth and need assistance from a veterinarian to be born. Occasionally, a ewe will have quadruplets. Most lambs weigh around nine pounds when they are born, which is the same as some newborn human babies. Lambs can walk minutes after birth so they can eat and follow the flock.

Feeding Lambs

Orphan lambs may be bottle fed.

Lambs will drink their mother's milk until they are around four months old. They begin nibbling on grass, grain and hay starting at two weeks of age. Lambs can be bottle fed if they are orphaned or their mother had several at one time and cannot feed them all. Some sheep farmers also give their lambs supplements and vitamins to ensure their health. Lambs are born with eight milk teeth. These are like human baby teeth. Two of these teeth will fall out each year until they have all been replaced with mature teeth.

Three Shakes of a Lamb's Tail

A sheep that still retains its long tail.

Lambs are born with long tails. Most sheep have their tails cut off when they are only a few days old to prevent infections from flies and their larvae. Farmers do this because the tails are fully wooled, just like the rest of the sheep. The wool on the tail tends to collect feces and create a terrible mess that attracts flies and other insects. Since most sheep spend their lives free in the pasture, it is not easy to capture a lamb and keep its tail clean on a daily basis. The phrase "three shakes of a lamb's tail" refers to something that happens very quickly. If you've ever seen a happy lamb nursing, their tail will wag back and forth so fast it can be hard to keep track of it.

Shearing

Sheep's wool is warm and is known for its curly crimp to the fibers.

The first shearing of a sheep's wool produces lamb's wool. It is much softer than mature wool. The lamb is shorn for the first time when they are between seven and nine months of age. Lamb's wool is of premium quality and may be in high demand for spinning into yarn. This yarn can then be used to make scarves, hats, sweaters and other garments.

Lambs are Fragile

It is important for newborn lambs to nurse as soon as possible.

Up to 20 percent of newborn lambs can die soon after birth unless they are given improved conditions. Some starve if their mothers reject them or don't produce milk soon enough; others may suffer from hypothermia if they get chilled. Many farmers will have special areas for ewes to give birth in so they can keep the lambs warm and fed. Other lambs may contract pneumonia or diarrhea, which is known as scours in sheep. If birthing is complicated, the lambs may be more susceptible to health problems.

References

• The Big Sheep: Sheep Facts
• Sheep 101: Newborns