Pre partum ewe

Question 1

Late pregnancy/lambing goals!!

Answer 1

Meet energy and protein requirements, Meet mineral and vitamin requirements, Maintain mid pregnancy BCS, Have ewes which survive pregnancy, Avoid metabolic diseases, Avoid prolapse, Produce ‘good sized lambs’, Minimise lamb mortality, Timely production of sufficient colostrum, Have ewes which milk well afterwards, Good lamb growth rates

Question 2

• Essential Needs:

Answer 2

air, water, energy, protein, minerals, and vitamins for optimal health and foetal development. * Nutrition requirments change in last two months

Question 3

• Energy Importance:

Answer 3

Energy is crucial, needed for ewe maintenance and foetal growth, especially during the last 6 weeks of pregnancy when ~50% of foetal growth occurs.

Question 4

• Bcs and Weight:

Answer 4

desired bcs of 3.5 at lambing.

Question 5

• Dry matter Intake:

Answer 5

Dry matter intake reduces in the final 2 months of gestation due to restricted abdominal space from uterine pressure. More lambs greater the reduction in intake. Triplet bearing intake of silage is 85% that of single bearing. 150g undegradable protein required a day for twin bearing ewe.

Question 6

• Protein requirements:

Answer 6

Protein requirement rises in the final 2/3 weeks, ideally provided at 16-18% crude protein. Not available in forage, concentrates required. Additional undegradable protein that can be utilised required e.g soybean meal. Important for maintenance, pregnancy and colostrum/milk

Question 7

• Energy requirement

Answer 7

A 70 kg ewe requires 10 MJ/day and for each 10 kg change in weight, there is a 1 MJ change in energy required. A twin-bearing ewe requires 18-20 MJ/day

Question 8

• Fat/oils

Answer 8

2% added fat is acceptable

Question 9

• DMI;

Answer 9

Go’s from 1.7 to 1.3 kg. High plain of nutrition re quired

Question 10

• Twin Pregnancy Consideration:

Answer 10

Scanning for twin pregnancy simplifies feeding, with twin-bearing ewes requiring 18-20 MJ/day, often needing concentrate supplementation.

Question 11

• Silage Quality and Supplementation

Answer 11

Silage quality of 70 DMD necessitates supplementation from 6 weeks before lambing, with poorer quality silages requiring earlier supplementation. Quality of silage and wheather its chopped also affects silage intake. Important to test silage quality.

Question 12

• Concentrate Feeding Benefits:

Answer 12

Feeding concentrates twice a day increases dry matter intake response by up to 28% and improves overall metabolic status. The poorer silage dmd is the higher the % of concentrates required

Question 13

• Head space

Answer 13

Large ewes 20 inches.

Question 14

• Steaming Up

Answer 14

Steaming up during the final 2 months of gestation by increasing forage and concentrates prevents negative energy balances, twin lamb disease, produce strong healthy lambs, optimise ewe milk yields/quality so lambs have high growth rates.

Question 15

• Ewe condition (BCS):

Answer 15

Aim should be to have a bcs of 3.5 at lambing.

Question 16

• Energy requirements vs DMI (6wk to )

Answer 16

12mj/day to 16/18 mj/day vs 1.7 to 1.

Question 17

• Feeding Protocol:

Answer 17

Twin-bearing ewes should be fed silage with a minimum quality of 70 DMD, supplemented with concentrates, accounting for intake variations based on silage quality.

Question 18

• Forage Quality Analysis:

Answer 18

Forage quality analysis (€35-40) aids in accurate feeding management, avoiding overestimation of nutritional requirements.

Question 19

• Supplementation:

Answer 19

: Selenium and vitamin E supplementation in late pregnancy prevents lambs being born with stiff joints or wasted muscles.

Question 20

• Concentrate only strategy:

Answer 20

This is where house ewes are fed concentrates only. Important not be on straw bedding or have access to any other nutrition. At week 6, 1.2 kg fed this is increased to 1.6kg . 18% protein required final 4 weeks. Will need to be altered for twins. Can be very expensive. Intake is tracked.

Question 21

• Metabolic Disorders:

Answer 21

Metabolic disorders include pregnancy toxaemia, hypocalcaemia, and acidosis, with ewe mortality rates <2% achievable through good nutrition management.

Question 22

• Hyocalcaemia:

Answer 22

Twin lamb disease energy imbalance due to poor plain of nutrition interlinked with ketosis and acitosis. Uses up fat stores which are converted to ketones and deposited in the liver. This can lead to death

Question 23

• Listeriosis

Answer 23

Bacterial infection in Brain caused by bacteria found in spoilt silage or if soil is present in silage.

Question 24

• Consequences of inferior Diet:

Answer 24

Weaker lambs born, higher mortality, poor milk supply, slow lamb growth rates, poor mothering , increase in prolapses.

Question 25

• Consequences of Deficiency

Answer 25

Failure to meet ewes’ nutritional requirements during the final six weeks of gestation results in energy, protein, and mineral deficiencies.

Question 26

• Energy Deficiency:

Answer 26

Energy deficiency leads to pregnancy toxaemia, poor milk yields, lower birth weights, and susceptibility to metabolic disorders.

Question 27

• Protein Deficiency:

Answer 27

Protein deficiency results in reduced feed intake, poor milk production, weaker lambs, and increased lamb mortality.

Question 28

• Mineral Deficiencies

Answer 28

Calcium and magnesium deficiencies can cause hypocalcaemia and grass tetany, posing health risks to ewes and lambs. Selenium and Cobalt= reduced lamb vigour

Question 29

• Overfeeding Risks:

Answer 29

Overfeeding leads to excess energy stored in the liver (fatty liver syndrome), increasing the risk of prolapse and necessitating culling.

Question 29

Mineral Supplementation
* Correct Levels:

Answer 29

Minerals should be provided at correct levels to avoid toxicity, with calcium and magnesium increased during late pregnancy to support ewe and lamb health. Ca= 8.9 g mg= 2g milk fever grass tetany

Question 30

• Essential Trace Elements:

Answer 30

Essential trace elements like cobalt, copper, and iodine should be supplemented to prevent deficiencies associated with wool quality, lamb health, and thyroid function. Iodine deffecieny affects lambs ability to absorb immunoglobin in colostrum.

Question 31

Ucd concentrates 1kg

Answer 31

350 kg Whole Barley 325 kg Sugar Beet Pulp 25kg Minerals/Vitamins
150 kg Ground Barley 150 kg Soya Bean Meal