Sound flock management programs must be in place to reduce the incidence of rectal prolapse. Given the causative factors above, prevention of rectal prolapses should start by choosing the right genetics. Do not use rams that have shown signs of rectal prolapse and replace rams that sire a high percentage (greater than 10 percent) of prolapsing offspring.
Choose to dock lambs at the attachment of the caudal folds to the tail (that is, just below the webbing of the tail). When lambs are weaned, providing them with a ration that is free of dust and mold is important to reduce the incidence of coughing. Always use coccidiostats in the ration to reduce the incidence of diarrhea and intestinal irritation.
Manage replacement ewe lambs separately from feeder lambs, and use the body condition scoring technique to ensure that they do not become excessively fat (body condition score greater than 3). When possible, raise ewe lamb replacements on a pasture with less than 50 percent legumes and provide them with a supplement (about 1 to 2 pounds of concentrate). Never use ewe lambs that have prolapsed as replacements.