Mutant 'octolamb' with eight legs, two bodies and one head delivered by Mr U Tjiraso alondside Dr TP Kapimbua at Opuwo State Vet on Monday 22 August 2022

 A defect lamb with eight legs, two bodies and just one head has been delivered by Tjiraso at  Opuwo Veterinary office, Namibia.




The farmer brought the ewe from his home on the outskirt of Opuwo Kaokoland, to the Opuwo state veterinary thinking it was just mere dystocia. He said: " I bought the expecting sheep from the local livestock market". 

We pulled the lamb and found the conjoined twin which shocked a lot of farmers that were present after we presented the lamb to them, which was already dead by then. Many were shocked, they were so superstitious, some saying that: "its a sign of riches".

Conjoined twins are the result of a single egg failing to fully divide into identical twins.  After 8-12 days, embryonic layers that split to form monozygotic twins start to develop into organs and structures. It is thought that if the embryo does not split 8-12 days after conception, the separation stops before completion of the process which results into conjoined twins. Another theory suggests that two separate embryos may fuse together during early development.

They can only be split after birth if they don't share vital part.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Who is Uazundaiye Tjiraso?

Image
  My name is Tjiraso Uazundaiye, and I have always loved farming and I always wanted to study something that has to do with nature. After completing my high school, my sister (Mis.  Tjiraso) encouraged me to enroll for an agricultural course at the  University of Namibia (UNAM) ,  at which I did Bsc Agriculture (Animal Science) Hons. During my course of study at UNAM, I was exposed to different types of farms and farming methods through practical excursions, field attachments. I knew right away that farming is a profession with lots of potential and hope in Namibia. I did a research project on alternative source of protein, whereby I was looking at the chemical composition and in vitro digestibility of four leguminous forages.  In March 2022, Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) offered me an internship for 3 months, which I applied for. It was a unique experience to work at CCF in the field of my interest. I worked with livestock guarding dogs and small stock. Unfor...
Read more

Atresia ani (Anorectal malformation) in goats-by Mr. U Tjiraso and Dr. TP Kapimbua

Atresia ani (flawless butt) is the failure of the anal canal layers to separate. This falls under the classification of inborn/congenital abnormalities which has been detailed in every livestock. affected animal may live for as long as 10 days and can be recognized by their wretchedness, anorexia, colic, stamped stomach distension and absence of excrement, defecation being supplanted by thick white bodily fluid, Radostitis et al 2000. A 3-day old female non-descript kid was presented at Opuwo State veterinary office, with a history of inability to defaecate and urinate due to absence of anal and vaginal openings. The kid was subjected to detailed clinical examination which revealed a total non-opening of the vaginal and anal region upon straining (suggestive of atresia ani). The kid had not voided urine since last 3 days and revealed a very tense urinary bladder. The case was tentatively diagnosed as atresia ani. The perineal reconstruction was undertaken surgically under local ana...
Read more