Sheep Grieve The Loss Of A Lamb

Sheep grieve the loss of a lamb just like shepherds do. Giving mum time and space to mourn helps her accept her loss. Grieving can not be rushed. It happens at its own pace. If you remove the dead lamb soon after death, the ewe frantically looks for it and calls for them. Allowing mum to come to terms with the death calms her and allows her to process the loss and bring closure.

Shepherds can help the grieving process in several ways:

• Leave the dead lamb near mum. Give her time to be with her lamb. Most ewes will stay by their side, nudging them and talking to them. Eventually, she will stop calling to the lamb and will rejoin the flock rather than stand over her dead lamb.
• Understanding the signs and stages of grieving helps the shepherd make decisions about when to remove the lost lamb. A grieving ewe will stand by her dead lamb. She will nudge it and talk to it trying to get it to respond. If you remove the lamb too soon, she will become frantic, running around trying to find it. She will often go back to the exact place where the lamb died, bleating loudly, sniffing and looking for it. By allowing her to stay with her lamb she will remain calm and with time, accept its death.
• Provide food and water for the ewe near her dead lamb so she stays hydrated and nourished. Allow her flock mates to eat alongside of her to encourage her to continue eating.
• Sheep are flock animals and find comfort in being a part of a group. Allowing flock mates to be a part of the grieving process helps the ewe feel safe and supported.
• Whether the lamb dies at birth or a few weeks after birth, the ewe’s udder will continue to produce milk. Monitor her udder for possible mastitis. Symptoms such as, excessive redness, swelling, discomfort, or heat can be a sign that mastitis is developing.
• If the lamb died at birth, watch closely for any other signs of infection in the ewe such as a high fever, lethargy, and not eating or drinking. Communicate with your vet if any of these other signs arise.

Sheep are social animals. They bond with one another and feel intense mothering instincts towards their young. When a ewe loses a lamb whether at birth or weeks later, she feels the loss. The best thing a shepherd can do for a mourning ewe is to allow her to grieve her loss.

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