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Metabolic Diseases

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Pregnancy toxaemia (twin lamb disease)

 

Pregnancy toxaemia typically occurs in the last 6 weeks of pregnancy. The increasing size of the foetus reduces rumen volume and decreases feed intake resulting in weight loss due to the short fall of dietary energy intake. This can cause the ewe to have problems synthesising enough glucose to meet foetal demand meaning she has to mobilise fat reserves which can cause a build-up of ketones.

 

Ewes that are over fat or in poor condition and/or with twin or multiple lambs are most at risk of pregnancy toxaemia. It is therefore vital that ewe nutrition is correct during late lactation.

 

Signs of pregnancy toxaemia are as follows:

 

• Thick yellow discharge from the nose
• Head pulled backwards or sideways
• Foetal death is common
• Star Gazing- bilateral blindness
• Drowsiness
• Muscle Tremors

 

NWF’s solution: The choice of feed is very important, as pregnancy progresses abdominal space becomes more limited and the rumen is compressed. The aim should be to provide a nutrient dense, high dry matter ration based on high quality forage and concentrates such as NWF Ewe rolls and nuts.

 

Urinary Calculi

 

Urinary calculi is a metabolic problem that affects wethers and rams. The disease occurs when calculi (stones) become lodged in the urinary tract and prevent urination causing abdominal pain, distension and rupture of the uretha or bladder. The most common causes are a lack of water combined with feeding diets that have excessive amounts of magnesium and/or have an imbalance of calcium and phosphorous.

 

NWF’s solution: It is vital that animals have an ample supply of clean, fresh water; this is of the highest importance. The ratio of calcium to phosphorous in the ration should be at least 2:1. NWF lamb rations include a specially formulated lamb mineral containing the correct balance of minerals for growth, development and health. Our lamb mineral also includes ammonium chloride which helps to acidify the urine and prevent the formation of calculi.