Hypothermia in Newborn Lambs

For additional information go to Alberta Lamb Producers website for the "Sheep & Goat Management in Alberta - Health" module.

Hypothermia, or low body temperature caused by starvation, is the most common cause of death in baby lambs. It results from a combination of factors that lead to the lamb’s inability to consume enough energy to maintain its body temperature and blood glucose levels. These factors include exposure to inclement weather, low birth weights caused by poor nutrition in late gestation, weak lambs, poor mothers, inadequate colostrum, multiple births and poor supervision by the shepherd at lambing.

Lambs are often found dead and flock owners may assume that the lamb was laid on by the ewe in the lambing pen. If found alive, lambs will be weak, and often comatose. The mouth and extremities will be cold, the belly sunken and empty and the body temperature below normal.

Treatment depends on the age of the lamb and the severity. Any lamb that gives the slightest cause for concern should immediately have its temperature taken and be thoroughly towel dried if wet.

Prevention of hypothermia and starvation involves providing adequate shelter for newborn lambs, adequate nutrition in late gestation for ewes to insure good birth weights and milk production, and close supervision of baby lambs to detect problems before they become too severe. It is important to know the real reason for deaths in baby lambs. Discuss post mortems of your lambs with your veterinarian to make appropriate management changes.

External information on Hypothermia in Lambs