We were all devastated by the deaths of three of this year’s rescued lambs.  Within days we lost Alfie, Harry, and Libby.  They all deteriorated so fast we were unable to get them to the vet in time.  It was a tragic mystery but has, with investigation, since been attributed to clostridium infection. 
This bacteria is normally present in the gut of sheep and lambs.  Under certain conditions however it becomes rife and is an instant killer.  It can manifest itself due to a combination of substitute milk feed and dry food.  It occurs in orphan lambs and usually in those who appear to be the healthiest and is always almost fatal. Libby was vaccinated within 24 hours of our learning this but even that did not save her.  Happily Bridget, Kazzy and Danny, who were vaccinated at the same time as Libby, seem very well and should by now be out of the danger period.
We spoke to homeopathic vet Chris Day about our feeding methods for the lambs and adult sheep.  As a result we have now changed our feeding regime. Future orphan lambs will be fed only on goat’s milk and we have two milking goats coming to live permanently at the Sanctuary in the autumn.  Instead of using premixed commercial sheep feed we are now making a simple mix ourselves with no additives.
Our pensioner sheep are already on this new mixture and they love it. They don’t pick out the bits they like and leave the rest any more.