Lambing and kidding season is in full swing
Monday, January 12, 2026
Media Contact: Kinsey Reed | Communications Coordinator | 405-744-6740 | kinsey.reed@okstatee.edu
Spring marks lambing and kidding season, making close monitoring of pregnant ewes and does essential for healthy outcomes for both mothers and offspring.
During the final month of pregnancy, ewes and does should be isolated and provided with clean water, high-quality hay and grain. Grain supplementation helps reduce the risk of pregnancy toxemia, ketosis and twinning disease.
Ewes and does should receive the clostridium perfringens CD&T vaccine and be dewormed three to four weeks before lambing or kidding, but not all animals require deworming. Decisions should be based on the evaluation of the membranes around the eye, known as FAMACHA scoring.
When labor begins, animals should be monitored closely for signs of normal progression or complications. Active labor signs include lying on the side, straining or pushing, and the presence of clear to bloody vaginal discharge. Animals in distress may appear restless — frequently standing and lying down. Does may vocalize often and attempt to urinate repeatedly.
This stage of labor typically lasts one to two hours, during which the feet or head should become visible. If labor does not progress, intervention may be necessary.
Take the following steps when assisting ewes or does experiencing delivery complications:
Isolate the animal — Move the ewe or doe to a clean, quiet area away from the rest of the flock, where her movement can be safely restricted. If needed, have another person assist with restraint.
Ensure cleanliness and protection — Wash hands thoroughly before examining the animal and trim fingernails short to prevent injury. Clean the area around the reproductive tract. Wear gloves to reduce the risk of exposure to abortive diseases that can be transmitted to humans. Women should use particular caution.
Provide lubrication — Adequate lubrication is essential. Failure to properly lubricate the birth canal can cause tissue damage and significantly complicate delivery.
Check cervical dilation — When entering the vagina, keep fingers close together to avoid injury to the reproductive tract. Locate the cervix and determine whether it is fully dilated. If dilation is incomplete, allow more time and gently massage the cervix to encourage expansion. If the cervix fails to dilate due to ring womb, a cesarean section may be required to save the ewe or doe and her offspring. Do not attempt to pull the fetus if the cervix is only partially dilated.
Determine fetal presentation — Once dilation has occurred, palpate the fetus to determine whether it is positioned headfirst or backward. Compare what you feel with the ewe’s or doe’s anatomy to distinguish front legs from hind legs. Follow each limb to the body to ensure only one lamb or kid is being delivered at a time.
Assess fetal posture — Next, evaluate the position of the legs and head. A normal posture is upright, with the head and front legs extended. Visualize a normal presentation as you identify the parts you are feeling.
Assist delivery if necessary — In most cases, pulling is not required. If intervention is needed, wait approximately 45 to 60 minutes after the water bag breaks before assisting. A lack of progress may indicate malpresentation or a size mismatch between the lamb or kid and the ewe’s or doe’s pelvis. Never rush delivery, as this can cause serious injury or death to both the mother and offspring.
Contact a veterinarian — Call a veterinarian immediately if labor does not progress, the cervix does not dilate, more than two legs are felt in the birth canal, or the pelvis appears too narrow for delivery.
After lambs or kids are delivered, follow these steps to improve survival and support the health of both the offspring and the dam:
Clear the airways — Use a clean cloth to remove mucus and remnants of the water bag from the lamb’s or kid’s head. Clear mucus from the mouth and nostrils. Gently insert a clean piece of straw a short distance into the nostril to stimulate sneezing and open the nasal passages, if needed.
Stimulate breathing — If breathing is slow or shallow, gently swing the lamb or kid by the back legs with one hand, stopping briefly with the other to encourage air intake.
Disinfect the navel — Spray or dip the navel in a 7% tincture of iodine or another effective drying agent to help prevent navel infection.
Encourage bonding — Place the lamb or kid near the dam’s head to allow her to lick and clean the newborn. Do not remove the afterbirth, as the ewe or doe uses scent to recognize her offspring.
Check for additional offspring — Examine the ewe or doe to determine whether additional lambs or kids remain. Subsequent births often require assistance, even if the first delivery did not. Allow approximately 30 to 45 minutes before intervening with the next lamb or kid.
Consult a veterinarian — After a dystocia, consult your veterinarian regarding antibiotic therapy. Many antibiotics labeled for food animals are not approved for sheep or goats and must be used in an extra-label manner within a valid veterinarian-client-patient relationship.
Support postpartum recovery — Administer oxytocin, as directed by a veterinarian, to help the ewe or doe pass the placenta, promote uterine involution and reduce the risk of uterine infection.
The first 18 hours after birth are the most critical period for lamb and kid survival. Newborns should be placed with their dams in a warm, clean and dry pen immediately after delivery. Lambing and kidding pens are recommended for the first 48 hours to promote bonding and ensure uninterrupted access to colostrum.
Colostrum provides essential antibodies that protect newborns against disease. If a lamb or kid is weak or unable to nurse, colostrum should be administered by bottle or with a small feeding tube. Newborns should consume approximately 15% of their body weight in colostrum within the first 24 hours. A general guideline is two ounces per kilogram of body weight within the first 12 hours.
As a precaution, remove and properly dispose of afterbirth from the delivery area to reduce the risk of disease transmission.
About the author: Lionel J. Dawson, BVSc, MS, DACT, is a professor and small ruminant specialist at the Oklahoma State University College of Veterinary Medicine and the Sherman Lewis School of Agriculture at Langston University.