EMS 2: Lambing Season

I completed a two-week lambing placement at a commercial sheep farm managing a flock of approximately 250 ewes, primarily mixes of Suffolk, Texel, Leicester, and Kerry Hill breeds. This was my first significant experience with sheep husbandry and lambing. The placement coincided with the peak of lambing season, providing extensive opportunities to assist with various aspects of ovine parturition and neonatal care.

My responsibilities included monitoring pre-parturient ewes, assisting with both normal and dystocia deliveries under the owner's guidance, and performing essential newborn lamb processing such as navel disinfection. I also administered treatments to ewes and lambs as directed by the farm owner and participated in routine flock health checks.

This lambing placement was physically demanding but an incredibly valuable introduction to production animal husbandry. As my first real experience working hands-on with sheep, coming from a background mostly in small animals and wildlife, I was honestly dreading it a bit beforehand. My primary concerns revolved around the notoriously long hours associated with lambing season; I worried about exhaustion affecting my ability to learn effectively and keep up with my concurrent exam preparation. However, this immersion in farm practice significantly expanded my perspective on veterinary medicine and the realities of livestock management. Thankfully, the shifts proved manageable, allowing sufficient rest and even time for study, and thanks to the welcoming farm family, I ended up having a great time.

The most significant practical skill I started developing was lambing technique. Assisting with births, both straightforward and those requiring intervention (dystocia), was a core part of the placement. The family who owned the farm were lovely and incredibly patient teachers, guiding me through the process. Under their supervision, I learned to recognise the stages of labour, assess presentations, and provide assistance when needed. This included learning specific manipulations for malpresentations; for instance, in one case of foreleg back dystocia, I learned the necessity of carefully repelling the lamb (pushing it back slightly) to gain enough room to correct the leg position before assisting delivery. While I didn't keep a precise count, I assisted with numerous births throughout the two weeks. This experience improved my basic understanding of ruminant obstetrics and gradually built my confidence in handling sheep, which was entirely new to me.

I was particularly struck by how the economics of sheep production influenced daily decision-making on the farm. The owner frequently had to balance animal welfare needs with financial constraints, often leading to pragmatic treatment choices that might differ from what's ideal in a textbook scenario. There wasn't a veterinarian routinely on-site, so many decisions were based on the owner's experience and assessment of cost-effectiveness. Witnessing this reality helped me appreciate the importance of developing practical, affordable treatment and management plans suitable for a commercial farm setting.

This placement also provided valuable exposure to some common ovine health issues. I observed and sometimes assisted the owner with managing lambs affected by watery mouth and neonatal pneumonia, and also saw cases of foot rot in the flock. Learning to recognise the early clinical signs of these conditions and seeing the practical approach to treatment on the farm reinforced the importance of vigilance in flock health. We also encountered a case of suspected hypocalcemia (milk fever) in a pre-parturient ewe. Recognizing the clinical signs, we administered calcium supplementation under the owner's direction. Witnessing the rapid and dramatic improvement in the ewe following treatment was particularly impactful and highlighted the importance of careful observation, even in animals assumed to be healthy.

Overall, despite my initial apprehension, this EMS placement greatly enhanced my appreciation for the challenges and rewards of farm animal practice. The farm family made it a positive learning environment, and the foundational experience in sheep husbandry and lambing has equipped me with valuable practical insights and basic skills that will undoubtedly benefit my understanding of the broader veterinary field, regardless of my eventual specialisation.