Find practical resources and downloadable guides to support key areas of flock management, including biosecurity, lambing, shearing, emergency preparedness, and more. These tools are designed to help you handle everyday tasks and challenges with confidence.
Biosecurity
Biosecurity refers to precautions taken to reduce the risk of introducing livestock diseases to a farm or region where they do not already exist.
For an overview of biosecurity principles see the ALP Biosecurity factsheet.
The Alberta Veterinary Medical Association has a variety of biosecurity publications available on their website, including the Lamb Biosecurity Booklet, developed in cooperation with Alberta Lamb Producers.
The Voluntary National Sheep On-Farm Biosecurity Standard and Planning Guide are available. The Standard and Planning Guide were developed by producers, veterinarians and other industry experts, using CFIA guidelines.
The Planning Guide provides a step-by-step approach to implementing a biosecurity plan that will fit the unique requirement of your flock.
- Standard – The National Sheep On-Farm Biosecurity Standard
- Planning Guide – The National Sheep Producer Biosecurity Planning Guide
ALP is a central point of contact for all industry participants. Producer check-off dollars provide the infrastructure that creates a collective voice and a positive influence.
Unhealthy animals produce fewer lambs and cost more to maintain. By taking a proactive approach to flock health, producers can improve productivity and keep more money in their pockets—instead of spending it on problem animals.
Alberta Lamb Producers offer resources to support basic flock health and management decisions. We also strongly encourage producers to maintain a Veterinary-Client-Patient Relationship (VCPR) to help diagnose specific concerns and establish a comprehensive flock health program.
Learn More With Videos
Two videos on ALP’s YouTube channel, Sheep Central Alberta, provide an overview of biosecurity (Part 1) and a guide on how to use the National Biosecurity Standard and Planning Guide (Part 2).
On-Farm Biosecurity for Sheep Producers Part 1
On-Farm Biosecurity for Sheep Farms Part 2
Wool and Shearing
Shearing and Animal Welfare
Wool growth is continuous, and with the exception of ‘hair’ breeds, all sheep require shearing. Shearing at least once a year—or as needed—is essential to prevent animal health and welfare issues, including:
- Difficulty moving
- Becoming cast (unable to rise)
- External parasites
- Wool blindness
- Flystrike
- Overheating
The Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Sheep states that regular shearing is a ‘Required’ practice for animal welfare. Read the ALP factsheet on ‘Shearing and Animal Welfare‘.
Use the resources listed below to learn more about shearing and how you can make the most from your wool.
- List of Alberta Shearers
- List of Alberta Wool Depots
- Canadian Cooperative Wool Growers (CCWG) Resources Explore the CCWG website to access resources relating to wool preparation and shearing.
- Shearing Your Sheep (ALP fact sheet)
- Wool Quality (ALP fact sheet)
Lambing
The number of lambs you market directly affects your flock’s profitability. Most lamb mortalities occur during or shortly after birth. Investing time and effort to give your lambs the best possible start will result in more live lambs. Successful lamb care begins with proper management of ewes during pregnancy, especially in the final four to six weeks of gestation.
See the ALP Reproduction and Nutrition modules for more details about ewe management.
Sample Lambing Record Templates
Keeping records is important for health flock reasons. Keeping records from lambing time will help to make flock decisions further down the road. Lambing books (or more often calving books) are often available at your local farm supply store, or use one of the templates below.
Preparing For Lambing And Difficult Births
Lambing is an exciting time! Being prepared is essential to handle any unexpected situations.
Lambing supplies can include:
Ewe Care
Proper care of the ewe during late gestation is key to a successful lambing. Keep these points in mind as lambing approaches.
- At the average gestation of 148 days, the ewe should have a Body Condition Score of 3 – 3.5. See the BCS Info for more details.
- A ewe that is too fat can result in prolapses, pregnancy toxemia, dystocia
- A ewe that is too thin can also result in pregnancy toxemia or small weak lambs
- Ewes need adequate fat cover for lactation. Ewe nutrition directly impacts colostrum quality and milk production
- An increasing plane of nutrition during the last two to six weeks of gestation is important. Good quality hay for protein and grain for energy is often the key to a successful lambing.
A ‘Normal’ Birth
The best way to be prepared is to educate yourself on what can be expected during lambing. A ‘normal’ birth often can be described as follows:
Stage 1
Cervical Dilation (3-4 hours)
- Often do not notice this stage
- Uterine contractions +/- straining, up and down, “cooing”, pawing, circling
- Loss of mucous plug
- Appearance of waterbags
Stage 2
Expulsion of lamb(s)
- Abdominal contraction leads to rupture of waterbags
- Lambs should be delivered within 1 hour of rupture
- Normal presentation is nose/toes
- 30-30-30 rule of thumb
- Check after 30 minutes of straining. If all is well, wait an additional 30 minutes before the next lamb is born
Stage 3
Expulsion of Membranes
- Within 2-3 hours
- If the ewe has not expelled the placenta within 12 hours, it is considered retained and requires further action
- Do not allow ewe to eat
Difficult Births
Keep the following information handy in case of a challenging birth. This information can be downloaded here as well.
Manual of Lambing Techniques. (detailed lambing guide from The Farming Press, pdf)
Caring For Hypothermic Lambs
Lambs can quickly become hypothermic in cold lambing environments. The normal temperature of a new lamb is 102 – 103℉. Lambs with a temperature below 100℉ are considered hypothermic. Use the following chart to help determine if you need to take action.
Ways to Avoid Hypothermic Lambs
Warming a cold lamb can include simple measures such as placing the lamb in a warming box to administer an intraperitoneal injection of glucose. See the information below for further information.
- Hypothermia – using your thermometer – handout from Dr. Wenger’s presentation
- Intraperitoneal injection of glucose – handout from Dr. Wenger presentation
- Hypothermia and Interperitoneal Injections (ALP factsheet)
- Hypothermia and Stomach Tubing (ALP factsheet)
Neonatal Lamb Post-Mortem Resources
Lambs will inevitably die and conducting a post-mortem examination can give great insight into the cause of death. ALP has developed various resources to help with this process and diagnosis.
- ALP Examination Guide Detailed information on performing post-mortem exams
- ALP Examination Checklist Two page checklist for use during a post-mortem exam
- ALP Examination Record Sheet This can be useful for recording results of individual examinations.
- Lamb Post-Mortem Protocol for Use on Farm A research article on diagnosing the primary cause of lamb deaths from birth to three days of age.
- Lamb Autopsy This article includes notes on procedures for determining cause of death.
Other Resources
Mastitis
Mastitis is one of the more common health problems affecting sheep. Severe cases can result in death of the ewe, but more often it takes its toll in the form of treatment costs, premature culling, and reduced performance of lambs.
Mastitis is an inflammation of the mammary gland (udder). It can be caused by physical injury or stress or by bacteria which invade the mammary gland.
Mastitis is usually observed shortly after lambing until the post-weaning period. It can take on several forms. Clinical mastitis (chronic or acute) involves physical changes in the udder. The udder becomes swollen and warm, sometimes painful to the touch.
In severe cases, blood supply to the udder is affected and a blue discoloration may result, hence the name “blue bag.” Ewes affected with mastitis become feverish, go off feed and become depressed. They may hold their rear foot up, as if they are lame, and refuse to allow their lambs to nurse.
Ewes with sub-clinical mastitis usually appear quite healthy, but there is a reduction in their milk supply and development of lumps (scar tissue) in their udders, hence the name “hard bag.” This is probably the most serious form of mastitis to a producer, since it often goes undetected. Keen observation is necessary to pick out these cases and prevent the potential damage.
Mastitis can be controlled with good management and sanitation. Bedding in drop pens, mixing pens and lambing jugs should be clean and dry. There should be good drainage around the barn and lots. Animals should not be overcrowded. The incidence of mastitis is greater in closely confined flocks.
Learn With Videos
Videos on ALP’s YouTube channel, Sheep Central Alberta
Part Of The Shepherding 101 Series
Neonatal Management’ Webinar With Dr.Lynn Tait
Orphan Lambs
Various circumstances can result in a lamb being orphaned and relying on the producer to provide for it. The first issue is often ensuring the lamb is consuming enough colostrum. Be sure to monitor feeding off the ewe, or supplement accordingly.
After 24 hours, the lamb will no longer benefit from colostrum and can be switched to lamb milk replacer. Be sure to use lamb milk replacer (not calf) to ensure you are meeting the nutritional needs of the lamb. From this point, determine if you will be feeding by bottle or offering a bucket.
Regardless of how you decide to feed, when providing milk replacer for your orphan lamb it is very important to follow the milk replacer label instructions. Be sure to keep all equipment as clean as possible, and feed the milk chilled to prevent losses from bloat. All containers, bottles, pails and nipples must be kept clean to reduce the growth of bacteria, which is the major cause of bloat and death. Follow the feeding instructions on the bag of milk replacer for best success.
Processing and Caring for Lambs
Castration and Tail Docking
Castration and tail docking are both common procedures done shortly after birth. Animal welfare is an important consideration as both procedures are painful processes for lambs.
Castration
Ram lambs are normally castrated for management reasons. When male and female lambs are reared together there is a risk of unwanted reproduction. There is a traditional perception that some consumers find meat from rams less acceptable than meat from wethers due to taint. However, there is a growing population of Canadian consumers that prefer meat from intact rams.
Producers should consider carefully whether castration is necessary within any given flock. Castration is unlikely to be necessary where lambs will be finished and sent to slaughter before reaching puberty. The procedure should only be carried out where lambs are not likely to be slaughtered before puberty and where it is necessary to avoid welfare problems associated with intact males. If lambs are likely to be finished in a feedlot they should be castrated at a young age.
When castrating, it is important to consider the age of the lamb and the method to be used.
| Method | Age range |
|---|---|
| Rubber ring (confinement and semi-confinement systems) | 24 hours – 10 days |
| Rubber ring (pasture lambing system) | 24 hours – 6 weeks |
| Surgical | 24 hours – 4 weeks |
| Burdizzo (clamp) | 1 week – 6 weeks |
| Surgical | Older than 4 weeks, anesthesia and analgesia required |
| Burdizzo (clamp) | Older than 6 weeks, anesthesia and analgesia required |
Information from the Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Sheep
Tail Docking
Tail docking in sheep is done for health and hygiene reasons. Some studies have shown that tail docking can reduce the risk of fly-strike, which is of concern in most parts of Canada. Docking tails also helps to address food safety concerns, as there is generally a decrease in manure build up on a docked animal, helping to avoid contact of the meat with bacteria at processing. The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association recommends tails should never be docked shorter than the distal end of the caudal fold.
Tails should not be docked any shorter than shown in this photo. Especially important for the 4-H program, is the males anus and females vulva must be covered by the tail to be eligible to show in Alberta.
- Animal Welfare Considerations for Castration and Tail Docking (ALP fact sheet)
- For ‘how-to’ guides for castration and tail docking
- Early Weaning: Early Weaning Protocol (ALP fact sheet)
On-Farm Euthanasia
All livestock producers will eventually face a situation when euthanizing a compromised animal is the most humane option. Effectively and safely performing euthanasia on-farm when needed decreases animal suffering and helps maintain a high level of animal welfare.
Based on the Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Sheep, the ALP On-Farm Euthanasia manual provides information regarding:
- Guidelines on making the decision to perform on-farm euthanasia.Approved methods of euthanasia for different ages of sheep
- Handling of deadstock.
Emergency Preparedness and Farm Safety
Whether it’s a fire or another natural disaster, having an emergency plan in place is essential for every operation. The following resources offer a helpful starting point for producers to prepare and respond effectively.
- AgSafe Alberta
- Alberta Emergency Management Agency – AEMA website
- ReadyAg Workbook: Disaster and Defense Preparedness for Production Agriculture – PennState website
- Planning for and Responding to Disasters in Canada – extensive guide developed by Canadian Farm Business Management Council and the Canadian Federation of Agriculture – pdf.
Predation Control
In most regions of Alberta, managing predators is a critical aspect of sheep production. Predators can pose a serious threat to flock health and profitability, making preventative measures essential to minimize risks before they arise. In Alberta, lamb producers face predation from a variety of animals, with coyotes being the leading cause of losses. Other predators, such as bears, cougars, wolves, eagles, ravens, and magpies also contribute to sheep mortality, though to a much lesser extent. While overall industry losses may appear minimal, the impact on individual producers can be significant when predation occurs.
ALP’s Management Module on Predation Management is a valuable resource providing practical predation management options, along with pertinent background information on the primary predator species sheep producers in Alberta encounter.
- Predator Control (ALP fact sheet)
Working Dogs
Guardian animals are often regarded as an essential preventative measure. ALP is currently working towards the possibility of establishing a rebate program to assist with the cost of obtaining appropriate livestock guardian dogs for sheep farmers in Alberta.
Stay tuned for more information.
- Guardian Animals for Alberta (ALP fact sheet)
- Care and Management of Guardian Dogs Care and management | Livestock guardian dogs | ontario.ca
Stock Dogs
Stock dogs are often a shepherd’s best friend and an invaluable tool for moving sheep.
Coyote Control
Coyotes are often the biggest predator to sheep in Alberta. Careful consideration is required when placing poisons or control devices for the use of coyote control. Because of this, Agriculture and Forestry has instituted a Coyote Predation Control Manual and Study Guide (revised March 2016) to cover predation control in Alberta.
In Alberta, coyotes are classified as a ‘nuisance’ species. Permits are required to implement many aspects of their control. Visit the Alberta government website for more information about obtaining permits.
Pest and Nuisance Control Regulation
Your County or Municipal District often has Agriculture Field Staff with the knowledge and expertise to advise producers on the proper use of devices and poisons.
Information on the Wildlife Predator Compensation Program
This program only provides compensation for attacks by wolves, grizzly bears, black bears, cougars and eagles.
Wild Boar in Alberta
When not raised as livestock, wild boar are considered ‘at large’ and classified as a provincially regulated invasive pest. Learn about their biology, how to recognize signs of wild boar, what the Government of Alberta is doing to address the issue, and how to report sightings.
Visit the AISC website to see more content on wild boar. Education and outreach for wild boar is being led by the AISC through the Squeal on Pigs! campaign.
Quick Facts About Wild Boar:
Learn With Videos
Video on ALP’s YouTube channel, Sheep Central Alberta
Shepherding 101: Predation