Diseases of the Peri-parturient Ewe I Flashcards
Name 3 metabolic diseases linked to nutrition around lambing time
- Pregnancy toxaemia or twin lamb disease
- Hypocalcaemia
- Hypomagnesaemia
Name 3 problems that can affect around lambing time
- Mastitis
- Dystocia (over feeding)
- Maternal behaviour
Name 3 possible causes of lamb mortality/morbidity
- Low lamb birth weight
- Poor colostrum
- Poor milk production
What are the weaning and tupping BCS of ewes?
Weaning = 2-2.5
Tupping = 3-3.5
What is flushing?
If you increase feed to ewes before mating and increase BCS by 0.5 you will improve number eggs produce
What are the feeding principles of ewes during early to mid pregnancy?
- Early pregnancy embryo implants and early development- no sudden changes
- Mid Pregnancy - placenta develops maintain BCS or lose 0.5 units
What happens if ewes are underfed in early to mid pregnancy?
Small placenta - low lamb birth weights
Why is nutrition in the last 6 weeks of gestation so important?
70 percent of fetal growth is occurring
The mammary system is developing
What are some aims of feeding in late pregnancy?
- Support foetal growth
- Support mammary tissue development and colostrum production
- Maintain ewe health- prevent pregnancy toxemia (ketosis).
- Ensure the birth of strong, healthy, lambs of proper birth weight
Give some examples of different feeding groups ewes may be placed in
- Scan ewes singles, twins, triplets
- Body condition score
- Lambing dates
Young ewes separate
Pen size/ stocking rates
Describe the feed ration of a ewe in late pregnancy
- Good quality forage (hay or silage) ad lib
- Concentrate requirements calculated based on that
- Maximum 1kg per day and 0.5kg per feed (Too much then risk of SARA)
Describe why trough space is important to consider in ewe nutrition?
- Fat get fatter thin get thinner
- Forage adlib 15-20 cm per ewe
- But sheep different sizes so actually what is important is concentrates all sheep feed at once
- Forage (ad lib) 1/3 sheep feed at once
Name some ways of monitoring ewe nutrition in late pregnancy
- Body Condition Score
- Ewe Health
- Metabolic Profiles
- Monitor BOHB, albumin, urea, in bloods 3 weeks before lambing
At what age do lambs start to eat grass and at what age are they weaned?
- Lambs start eating grass 6 weeks age
- Weaned about 12-16 weeks old
What are some causes of thin ewes?
- Poor nutrition
- Teeth
- Age
- Concurrent disease e.g worms, fluke. lameness
Name some features that could affect the quality of forage
- Wet, acidic, Spoiled, Mouldy, Low feed value (stalky)
- Inadequate quantity
What are some issues surrounding fat ewes?
- More prone to pregnancy toxaemia
- More likely to have dystocia
- More likely to prolapse
- Oversized lambs have a higher mortality
- Fat is expensive to put on
What is pregnancy toxaemia?
Energy deficiency
Hypoglycaemia (low blood glucose)
Hyperketonaemia (high blood ketones – due to mobilisation of body reserves in excess)
Name some of the risk factors for pregnancy toxaemia
Late Pregnancy (last 6 weeks)
Thin ewes (<BCS 2.0)
Fat ewes (>BCS 4.0)
Stress
Broken mouth
Concurrent disease (fluke, worms)
Multiple fetuses
Inadequate diet
Change in diet
What are some clinical signs of pregnancy toxaemia?
- Separate from group – dull, depressed
- Inappetant
- Central blindness (Positive PLR negative menace)
- Tremors face and ears
- Hyperaesthesia: twitchy when touched
- Other neuro disturbances (head pressing, star gazing, persistent drinking)
- Progress to recumbency
- Death 0-10 days
How can pregnancy toxaemia be diagnosed?
Clinical signs
Beta-Hydroxybutyrate blood test
- BOHB >1.1 mmol/l abnormal/subclinical
- BOHB >3 mmol/l clinical signs
How can pregnancy toxaemia be treated?
- Early if hope of recovery hypoglycaemia brain damage
- Separate, provide highly palatable feed
- i.v glucose 50-100ml 40% dextrose
- Calcium supplementation (i.v or s.c as per hypocalcaemia)
- NSAIDs (meloxicam)
What are some considerations if you have a ewe with pregnancy toxaemia that isn’t improving?
- Consider stage of pregnancy, viability of lambs welfare of ewe
- Abort ewe/Induce labour after 135 days pregnancy with 16mg dexamethasone
- Caesarean
- PTS
What flock management needs to occur when ewes have pregnancy toxaemia?
- Review nutrition urgently
- Separate out thin or older ewes (susceptible ewes supplementary feeding)
- Ad lib treacle/molasses
How can pregnancy toxaemia be prevented?
- Ensure adequate feeding
- Feed according to number of foetuses
- Body condition score
- Avoid sudden changes/ stress last 6 weeks pregnancy
- Monitor for ketone body levels in blood (Beta hydroxy butyrate) 2-3 weeks before lambing.
- Don’t keep old broken mouth ewes
- Manage concurrent disease (fluke, parasites, lameness etc….)
Describe the pathogenesis of hypocalcaemia in ewes
- Increased demand of foetus and colostrum production for calcium
- Ability to absorb calcium for gut and kidneys,
- Mobilise calcium from bones
- Mediated by Parathyriod Hormone and 1,25 hydroxy vitamin D
How might hypocalcaemia be stress induced?
- Handling, gathering for vaccinations etc.
- Change in diet pasture, snow, water deprivation
Name 3 other non-stress risk factors for hypocalcaemia
- Acidosis cereal diet
- Older ewes
- Rapid growing lush pasture
What are the clinical signs of hypocalcaemia in ewes?
- Initial Weakness and excitement
- Progress to recumbent
- Dilated pupils, constipated, bloated, comatose, death
How can hypocalcaemia diagnosis be confirmed?
Pre-treatment blood sample for calcium, response to treatment
How is hypocalcaemia treated?
- Slow i.v 40- 80ml 20% (20-40ml of 40%) Calcium borogluconate = Rapid response
- Sub cut 1ml/kg 20%CaBG (50-100ml) warm = Slow response
‘Staggers’ is also known as?
Hypomagnesaemia
Describe the history of a ewe with Hypomagnesaemia
- Post lambing, peak lactation
- Lush grass or bare pastures
What are the clinical signs of hypomagnesaemia?
- Rapid onset, neurological symptoms
- Excitable, tremors, convulsions death
- Found Dead
Describe the treatment for hypomagnesaemia
- 40ml-80ml 20% calcium i.v
- 20ml -40ml 25% Mg So4 s.c
Describe the treatment for hypomagnesaemia
- 40ml-80ml 20% calcium i.v
- 20ml -40ml 25% Mg So4 s.c
Name some differential diagnosis of Sick/Recumbent ewe at lambing time
Hypocalcaemia
Pregnancy toxaemia
Hypomagnesaemia
Listeria
Mastitis
Metritis
Bloat
Pasturellosis
Poisoining
Acidosis
Name the disease being described
- Central blindness
- Seen in late pregnancy only
- Normothermic
- Ewe separate from group
Pregnancy toxaemia
Name the disease being described
- Vision intact, PLRs slow
- Constipation
- Hypothermic
- Usually seen in late pregnancy
- sternal recumbency with neck stretched out
Hypocalcaemia
Name the disease being described
- Vision intact, hyperesponsive
- Horizontal nystagmus
- Hyperthermic
- No constipation
- Twitchy, hypermetric gait
Hypomagnesaemia
Ketones in breath, urine and blood correlates to which disease?
Pregnancy toxaemia
