Work Protocol – Retained Placenta in Sheep and Goats 1. Definition Retained placenta is a condition in which the placenta is not completely expelled from the uterus after lambing/kidding beyond the expected time frame. This condition significantly increases the risk of uterine infections, impaired fertility, and systemic complications. 2. Normal Timeframe for Placental Expulsion Normal expulsion: from several minutes up to a few hours after parturition Sheep: Point of concern: after 12 hours Int

Spring means lambing season on the farm... it’s the best time to birth babies because it’s when new grasses are coming in that support our pregnant ewes. Sheep carry 1-3 babies in their bellies for 4.5 months, and as they approach their due dates, we graze them through our best lemon orchard, where they munch on cover crops (a diverse blend of 40 forbes, grasses, and legumes) and nibble on the lower leaves of the trees (a natural dewormer). The land supplies them with an abundance of essential n