September 9, 2026 • 6 mins
Donna Hamilton talks about why lamb post-mortems are being done on farm more.
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
The musters animal health segment with NS Vets. Adding value
through practical advice and service.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
No gimmicks, no potions, total vet care.
Speaker 3 (00:11):
In the beef and lamb slot this afternoon is Donna Hamilton.
Speaker 1 (00:16):
We're talking about... So autopsies on lambs and the likes.
Speaker 3 (00:20):
I mean, the reality is at this time of year,
livestock can equate to dead stock as well.
Speaker 1 (00:25):
But just why are some of these lambs dying?
Speaker 3 (00:27):
I mean, yes, the weather isn't flash, but every now
and then you sit there and ponder why a lamb
just keels over for no apparent reason. So Donna's going
to give us a bit of an understanding about autopsies
on lambs and what actually we're trying to delve into
with information.
Speaker 1 (00:42):
Good afternoon, Donna. Thanks for joining us again.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
Hi, Andy. Good to be back.
Speaker 1 (00:47):
Lamb post-mortems, it's.
Speaker 3 (00:50):
Well, you know, when lambs die, you sit there and
do ponders sometimes thinking, you silly bugger, you were full
last night, what's the go?
Speaker 2 (00:57):
That's right. And sometimes, you know, you do just come
away shaking your head thinking, I don't know why you died.
But sometimes you can gain some really good information by
having a look at those lambs and seeing what's going
on in there. So we have done a recent With
Beef and Lamb workshop at Geoff Farm the other day,
a couple of weeks ago, and there was a great
(01:20):
number of farmers turn out to find out how they
can do the postmortems themselves or see what can be
gained from doing postmortems. So yeah, there is lots to
be gained by looking at some dead lambs. So you
can do a couple of different things with, working out
which ones you're going to post-mortem. And it's worth having
(01:41):
a chat to your vet to work out what's going
to give you the best information, but also what's actually
practical for you to do. And it might just be
doing a bunch one day and then going from there.
But it certainly is worthwhile having a look in 20
to 30 lambs or more to see why they've died
and at what stage they've died. And we can gain
(02:03):
a bit of that information from that. getting a scalpel
or a knife out and some scales and having a
look at them.
Speaker 3 (02:09):
Doing a post-mortem on a lamb yourself, it's just a
big lesson in biology, I'd imagine.
Speaker 2 (02:16):
It is, yes, absolutely. And our farmers don't generally look
at animals like this, but they are used to doing
dog tuckers and killing the odd animal and having a
look inside them. So there might be a bit of
interest sparked then or have some kids keen to have
a look. But yes, you can have a wee look. Well,
(02:38):
we start with what's happening on the outside for a start.
So initially, first thing is that we weigh them, get
a weight on them. And you can use like the
old dial kitchen scales with the dial on them. They're
really handy. But you could use like a fish weight
weighing scale or a luggage set of scales. So we
(02:58):
get a weight on them. So recording just weights. If
that was the only thing you did, you'd actually still
gain some really useful information. So getting a weight's helpful.
Then have a look at their feet. If they've got
little slippers on, so the little membrane across their feet
comes out like a little padding over the feet. And
once they stand up, that comes off. So that's an
(03:20):
indication as to whether they've stood or not. you'd be
able to have a check for them to see if
they've got any swelling or if they've got any yellow discolouration,
which can indicate that they've taken a little bit of
time to get born, but too long, possibly. And you
can feel what's happening with their navel cord.
Speaker 3 (03:37):
A lot of hot boxes going at the moment as
people try and look after those cold lambs, hypothermic lambs,
and give them that boost to keep them alive. What's
some good things to remember around this?
Speaker 2 (03:48):
Yeah, these cold lambs, the first thing they need to
do is have some energy so that they can warm up.
And so you could be actively warming them up, but
by doing that, you're just potentially using the last of
the energy. And so we would encourage people to consider
using a dextrose injection into the abdomen before they get
(04:10):
into the warming up room or into the truck, however
you like to warm them up. So giving them that
energy source before you warm them is really important. So
we did this as a demonstration at Jeff Farm last week,
and the farmers who, you know, some farmers said to me, oh,
that looks heaps easier than I thought it would be,
and somebody else said, oh, that's amazing stuff. It just
(04:33):
about brings them back from dead. So it's a form
of basically sugar into the abdomen in a form that
they can use, and you don't have to be, too
precise on how you do it you just inject it
just above the navel and yeah you can you can
really bring these animals back to life by giving them
(04:56):
some energy and then warming them up and then give
them a feed of milk but you can also use
it on a cold afternoon or an evening where you
think oh gosh that little guy come out bad timing
mate because it's some horrible weather coming just pop some
in and then leave mum to look after them. And,
you know, sometimes they can result in, you know, much
(05:18):
better paddock survival when they come out the next day. So, yeah,
there's some fact sheets on Beef and Land website and
most of your clinics will have some sheets around how
to do it and sell the dextrose, which does actually
need to be diluted, but that's included in your instructions there.
Speaker 1 (05:38):
So a lot of people tube lambs. Do you recommend injecting?
Speaker 2 (05:42):
Yeah, I would give that injection initially because the tubing
is providing a food source, but the lamb's actually got
to process that, and the dextrose injection around the gut
is readily available for them to use. So you would
give the dextrose, warm them up, and then give them
(06:03):
a feed. and you can tube them if you need to, or,
you know, hopefully they might have perked up enough to
have a suckle.
Speaker 3 (06:10):
Here's hoping the weather settles down, Donna, and we can
go back to having a bit of big yellow in
the sky.
Speaker 1 (06:14):
Thanks for your time, as always.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
Wouldn't that be great?
Speaker 3 (06:17):
Yep.
Speaker 2 (06:18):
Good luck to everybody out there.
Speaker 1 (06:19):
Thanks, Andy. Donna Hamilton in the Beef and Lamb slot.
Speaker 3 (06:23):
Click beeflamnz.com slash events to get the e-diary into your
inbox every Friday morning.
Speaker 1 (06:29):
Daniel O'Regan's up next, and before the end of the hour,
Nathan Burden.
Speaker 3 (06:34):
I'll be.
The musters animal health segment with NS Vets. Adding value
through practical advice and service.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
No gimmicks, no potions, total vet care.
Speaker 3 (00:11):
In the beef and lamb slot this afternoon is Donna Hamilton.
Speaker 1 (00:16):
We're talking about... So autopsies on lambs and the likes.
Speaker 3 (00:20):
I mean, the reality is at this time of year,
livestock can equate to dead stock as well.
Speaker 1 (00:25):
But just why are some of these lambs dying?
Speaker 3 (00:27):
I mean, yes, the weather isn't flash, but every now
and then you sit there and ponder why a lamb
just keels over for no apparent reason. So Donna's going
to give us a bit of an understanding about autopsies
on lambs and what actually we're trying to delve into
with information.
Speaker 1 (00:42):
Good afternoon, Donna. Thanks for joining us again.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
Hi, Andy. Good to be back.
Speaker 1 (00:47):
Lamb post-mortems, it's.
Speaker 3 (00:50):
Well, you know, when lambs die, you sit there and
do ponders sometimes thinking, you silly bugger, you were full
last night, what's the go?
Speaker 2 (00:57):
That's right. And sometimes, you know, you do just come
away shaking your head thinking, I don't know why you died.
But sometimes you can gain some really good information by
having a look at those lambs and seeing what's going
on in there. So we have done a recent With
Beef and Lamb workshop at Geoff Farm the other day,
a couple of weeks ago, and there was a great
(01:20):
number of farmers turn out to find out how they
can do the postmortems themselves or see what can be
gained from doing postmortems. So yeah, there is lots to
be gained by looking at some dead lambs. So you
can do a couple of different things with, working out
which ones you're going to post-mortem. And it's worth having
(01:41):
a chat to your vet to work out what's going
to give you the best information, but also what's actually
practical for you to do. And it might just be
doing a bunch one day and then going from there.
But it certainly is worthwhile having a look in 20
to 30 lambs or more to see why they've died
and at what stage they've died. And we can gain
(02:03):
a bit of that information from that. getting a scalpel
or a knife out and some scales and having a
look at them.
Speaker 3 (02:09):
Doing a post-mortem on a lamb yourself, it's just a
big lesson in biology, I'd imagine.
Speaker 2 (02:16):
It is, yes, absolutely. And our farmers don't generally look
at animals like this, but they are used to doing
dog tuckers and killing the odd animal and having a
look inside them. So there might be a bit of
interest sparked then or have some kids keen to have
a look. But yes, you can have a wee look. Well,
(02:38):
we start with what's happening on the outside for a start.
So initially, first thing is that we weigh them, get
a weight on them. And you can use like the
old dial kitchen scales with the dial on them. They're
really handy. But you could use like a fish weight
weighing scale or a luggage set of scales. So we
(02:58):
get a weight on them. So recording just weights. If
that was the only thing you did, you'd actually still
gain some really useful information. So getting a weight's helpful.
Then have a look at their feet. If they've got
little slippers on, so the little membrane across their feet
comes out like a little padding over the feet. And
once they stand up, that comes off. So that's an
(03:20):
indication as to whether they've stood or not. you'd be
able to have a check for them to see if
they've got any swelling or if they've got any yellow discolouration,
which can indicate that they've taken a little bit of
time to get born, but too long, possibly. And you
can feel what's happening with their navel cord.
Speaker 3 (03:37):
A lot of hot boxes going at the moment as
people try and look after those cold lambs, hypothermic lambs,
and give them that boost to keep them alive. What's
some good things to remember around this?
Speaker 2 (03:48):
Yeah, these cold lambs, the first thing they need to
do is have some energy so that they can warm up.
And so you could be actively warming them up, but
by doing that, you're just potentially using the last of
the energy. And so we would encourage people to consider
using a dextrose injection into the abdomen before they get
(04:10):
into the warming up room or into the truck, however
you like to warm them up. So giving them that
energy source before you warm them is really important. So
we did this as a demonstration at Jeff Farm last week,
and the farmers who, you know, some farmers said to me, oh,
that looks heaps easier than I thought it would be,
and somebody else said, oh, that's amazing stuff. It just
(04:33):
about brings them back from dead. So it's a form
of basically sugar into the abdomen in a form that
they can use, and you don't have to be, too
precise on how you do it you just inject it
just above the navel and yeah you can you can
really bring these animals back to life by giving them
(04:56):
some energy and then warming them up and then give
them a feed of milk but you can also use
it on a cold afternoon or an evening where you
think oh gosh that little guy come out bad timing
mate because it's some horrible weather coming just pop some
in and then leave mum to look after them. And,
you know, sometimes they can result in, you know, much
(05:18):
better paddock survival when they come out the next day. So, yeah,
there's some fact sheets on Beef and Land website and
most of your clinics will have some sheets around how
to do it and sell the dextrose, which does actually
need to be diluted, but that's included in your instructions there.
Speaker 1 (05:38):
So a lot of people tube lambs. Do you recommend injecting?
Speaker 2 (05:42):
Yeah, I would give that injection initially because the tubing
is providing a food source, but the lamb's actually got
to process that, and the dextrose injection around the gut
is readily available for them to use. So you would
give the dextrose, warm them up, and then give them
(06:03):
a feed. and you can tube them if you need to, or,
you know, hopefully they might have perked up enough to
have a suckle.
Speaker 3 (06:10):
Here's hoping the weather settles down, Donna, and we can
go back to having a bit of big yellow in
the sky.
Speaker 1 (06:14):
Thanks for your time, as always.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
Wouldn't that be great?
Speaker 3 (06:17):
Yep.
Speaker 2 (06:18):
Good luck to everybody out there.
Speaker 1 (06:19):
Thanks, Andy. Donna Hamilton in the Beef and Lamb slot.
Speaker 3 (06:23):
Click beeflamnz.com slash events to get the e-diary into your
inbox every Friday morning.
Speaker 1 (06:29):
Daniel O'Regan's up next, and before the end of the hour,
Nathan Burden.
Speaker 3 (06:34):
I'll be.
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