Prolapse harness for sheep

Details

Prolapse in a late-pregnancy ewe is a situation nobody wants and most flocks meet eventually. A harness is one of the items a veterinarian may direct you to use as part of managing it, and having one already in the cupboard is a good deal better than trying to source one on a Sunday afternoon. The harness is built from polyamide webbing with a clip closure and soft leather inserts at the points where it bears against the ewe. Polyamide is rot-proof, so it survives a wet pen and repeated washing rather than going stiff and rotten the way a natural fibre strap does, and the whole thing can be washed between animals. It is red, which keeps it visible against a fleece and easy to find in a bedded pen. Fitting and adjustment should be done by someone who has been properly shown how, and the decision to use one at all belongs with your veterinarian. Once fitted, the ewe needs checking regularly, since a harness is a management aid and not a substitute for supervision through lambing. Wash it, dry it and store it flat between seasons so the webbing and the clip are ready the next time you need them.