Small Ruminant Nutrition: Sheep

Question 1

6 Urinary Calculli (UC) Preventions

Answer 1

1) Maintain Ca:P -> Ideally 2:1
2) Continuous supply of clean, cool water
3) Check for frozen pipes
4) Adequate water space for all animals
5) Addition of salt or trace mineral salt -> Enhance water intake
6) Addition of 0.5% ammonium chloride to the ration -> Acidify urine

Question 2

Enterotoxemia Prevention

Answer 2

Vaccination is possible

Question 3

4 Urinary Calculli (UC) Symptoms

Answer 3

1) Lambs are depressed
2) Off-feed
3) “Humped up” appearance
4) Abdomen is often distended, especially with bladder rupture

Question 4

3 Rectal Prolapse (RP) Preventions

Answer 4

1) Adequate genetics
2) Do not use prolapsed ewe lambs as replacements
3) Adequate feeding -> avoid risk factors

Question 5

What 2 vitamins are critical and may need supplementation?

Answer 5

Vitamin A and D

Question 6

What is the major practice in ram feeding?

Answer 6

Mature rams can be maintained on pasture

Supplement with grain/concentrate feeding 30-45 days prior to the breeding seasion

Question 7

Amount of protein is more critical than quality

True or False?

Answer 7

True

Question 8

5 Systems of Raising Sheep

Answer 8

1) Fall lambs
2) Early spring lambs
3) Late spring lambs
4) Accelerated lambing
5) Feeder lambs

Question 9

Recently weaned lambs need what type of nutritious supplement?

Answer 9

18 - 19% CP, high energy

Question 10

4 Rectal Prolapse (RP) Associations

Answer 10

1) Genetics
2) Feeding pelleted, high-roughage rations
3) Dustiness in the ration -> increased coughing and RP
4) Short docked tails

Question 11

5 Cobalt Deficiency Symptoms

Answer 11

1) Lethargy
2) Reduced appetite
3) Poor quality wool with an open fleece
4) Small size
5) Poor body condition

Question 12

3 major nutritional related problems in sheep

Answer 12

1) Enterotoxemia
2) Urinary Calculli
3) Rectal Prolapse

Question 13

What are 3 results from energy deficiency?

Answer 13

1) Reduced growth
2) Poor fertility
3) Decreased wool production

Question 14

Water intake _____ (decreases, increases) in DM, protein, mineral, lactation, and gestation

Answer 14

Increases

Question 15

4 Classes of Sheep breeds

Answer 15

1) Meat producing breeds
2) Dairy breeds
3) Meat and Wool
4) Wool

Question 16

3 Enterotoxemia Treatments

Answer 16

1) Administering C & D Antitoxin
2) Administering thiamin (vitamin B1) intramuscularly

3 Replacing fluids intravenoulsy or subcutaneously

Question 17

3 Advantages of Flushing

Answer 17

1) Increase BW prior to breeding
2) Increases Ovulation rate
3) Increases Lambing rate

Question 18

4 Mineral Deficiencies in Sheep

Answer 18

1) Cobalt deficiency
2) Copper deficiency
3) Copper poisoning
4) Selenium deficiency

Question 19

Placenta, Fetus, and Mammary Gland show highest growth rate during what part of gestation?

Answer 19

In the last 2 months

Question 20

Feeding the ewe during lactation needs special attention towards what?

Answer 20

To mineral supplementation -> use calcium blocks

Question 21

4 Copper Deficiency Symptoms

Answer 21

1) Hind leg weakness
2) Poor wool quality
3) Anemia
4) Poor bone mineralization

Question 22

What are 2 key components in the sheep diet?

Answer 22

Pasture and Forage

Question 23

Rectal Prolapse (RP) Treatment

Answer 23

Small surgery, very costly to the value of the animal

Question 24

BCS score range for sheep

Answer 24

Scores 1 (extremely emaciated) to 5 (extremely fat)

Question 25

3 Enterotoxemia Diagnosis

Answer 25

1) Clinical signs and history of sudden death
2) Confirmed by necropsy
3) Glucosuria (high levels of sugar in the urine)

Question 26

4 Selenium Deficiency Preventions

Answer 26

1) Feed medication
2) Periodic drenching
3) Selenium injection
4) Free-access licks/minerals

Question 27

Cause of Enterotoxemia

Answer 27

Clostridium perfringens type D

Question 28

What part of gestation is the most critical period where it is 70% fetal growth and critical on energy needs?

Answer 28

Last 6 weeks

Question 29

Where does Selenium and Vitamin E deficiency occur?

Answer 29

Pacific Northwest

Question 30

4 Enterotoxemia Common Signs

Answer 30

1) Sudden death
2) Loss of appetite
3) Abdominal discomfort, shown by kicking at the belly and arching the back
4) Profuse diarrhea

Question 31

When feeding young lambs, colostrum is important for what 2 reasons?

Answer 31

Nutrients and Passive Immune Transfer (PIT)

Question 32

2 Cobalt Deficiency Treatments

Answer 32

1) Combination of intramuscular injection of vitamin B12
2) Drenching with up to 1 mg/kg body weight of cobalt sulphate