Hair loss in Katahdin lamb?
I have a pure katahdin ewe that gave birth to triplets about three weeks ago. Two ram lambs, and one ewe lamb (also pure katahdins).
They were born out on a 40 acre pasture. The mother is extremely attentive and very good with her triplets. She is producing large amount of milk for her lambs.
She has access to salt (iodized), minerals, and fresh water at all times. No feed other than pasture.
The ram lambs are brown. The ewe lamb is white, like her mother.
The ewe lamb is loosing her hair. Over her whole body. She does not itch on anything. No other sheep in the flock have this problem.
She has no scabs, no ringworm, and she is the only one with this problem.
Any ideas as to what could cause this problem in a three week old hair sheep lamb?
The lamb appears healthy in every other way. I worked for a dermatologist for years, so learned a great deal about fungus infections...she appears to have no fungus, no mites, no mange/scabies, no keds.
Just uniform hair loss over her whole body (except face), making her appear quiet pink as her skin on body, legs, and neck become more exposed. I suspect she's getting sunburned now as well.
The lamb has never been off the farm. There has not been a new sheep or goat introduced to the farm and/or herd in more than 6 months.
Out of more than 100 goats, sheep, horses and dogs she is the only animal showing this problem.
If your lambs were born with no hair, you need to look at the iodine your ewes might be needing. Lack of hair, and goiters (swollen under jaw) are usually a sign of lack of iodine.
Give your ewes iodized salt and the problem should go away.
That's why I stated this little lambs mother has iodized salt.