A few days ago, Mrs. X contacted me with a concern: her sheep had delivered a lamb, yet the mother repeatedly rejected and hit her newborn. Such situations require attention.

This behaviour may occur occasionally, particularly in inexperienced first-time mothers. Some ewes may initially show poor maternal bonding, neglecting their lambs or failing to recognize their responsibilities. Patience often helps.

I advised Mrs. X on practical management measures, including protecting the lamb, ensuring adequate colostrum intake, providing warmth, monitoring feeding, and encouraging maternal bonding under close supervision throughout the process.

She followed the advice consistently and monitored both ewe and lamb. With proper intervention, the situation improved, the lamb remained safe, and maternal acceptance gradually became stronger. Good management matters.

Today, we have a beautiful success story: a healthy lamb and a mother doing better. This experience reminds farmers that timely intervention can turn challenges into success. Never give up.

Best regards,

Abdullah Opeyemi Akande
B.Agric. (FUNAAB)
GAS (NIAS)
M.Sc. Animal Sci. (UI)
RAS (NIAS)
M.Sc. Int’l Business (UU, UK)
Ph.D. in view