Lamb

[HFJL2020]

why do sheep farmers pull a lamb from a sheep why not let it happen normanly

[davebro]

cos they know what they are doing I suppose.

[calmck]

Each birth is different. Some need help some don't.

[davebro]

I don't suppose the farmer is present at every birth. It would seem better to get the lamb out of the birth sac and breathing asap or they could get more dead ones.

[davebro]

Maybe selective breeding for bigger lambs / multiple births has made the delivery more problematic.

[barry1010]

There is nothing very natural about sheep farming these days - the lambs are bred to be large and sometimes they get stuck in the birth canal.
The ewe can also get exhausted during a long labour and run out of energy to push the lamb out and/or tend to the lamb immediately after birth meaning its airways might not be sufficiently clear.

[lankeela]

The lamb could be born 'breech' which means it is the wrong way round and the legs get stuck and the lamb cannot be born naturally. The farmer will then attempt to turn the lamb inside the mother so it can then slide out easier.

[bhg481]

The same applies to humans but instead of tying a rope around the baby they use forceps to grip the baby's head.

[lankeela]

http://www.sheep101.info/201/lambingprocess.html

[Maydup]

The lambs are their livelihood so they want to make sure as many as possible survive and if that means giving them a hand then so be it.

The same with all births I guess, sone need intervention to save mother and baby.

[sandra4444]

Because the oven is up to temperature and they still have the mint sauce and roasters to do.

[Hopkirk]

I bet they let them be born naturally when they can.

[Atheist]

I suppose because a stillborn lamb is worthless, whereas a live lamb can grow a bit before slaughter and the farmer can then make money out of it.

[HFJL2020]

ta for brill info