Nutritional/Metabolic Problems in Sheep Dr. Dan Morrical Iowa State University

Young Lambs Enterotoxemia u Clostridium perfringens type C Symptoms u Sudden death in 7-21 day old lambs

Young Lambs.... continued Prevention u Booster dams in late gestation u Vaccinate lambs at 21 days and weaning u Orphan vaccination u Maximum colostrum intake Misdiagnosed-selenium/Vit. E deficiency

White Muscle/Stiff Lamb Disease Symptoms u Stiff rear legs and arched back u Sudden death u Aspiration Pneumonia u Poor suckling reflex

White Muscle/Stiff Lamb Disease... continued Cause u Deficiency of Vit. E and/or Selenium Note: Selenium is toxic but Vitamin E is not it is also cheap High grain rations reduce Vit. E Newborns only source of E is milk

Results - Serum E ewes ConE-GE-LE-GL Pretreatment Pre-lambing1.51 a 1.91 b Post-lambing a.93 a 1.13 b Mid-lactation.97 a.95 a 1.28 b 1.37 b Milk E at 3 days a,b Row means with different superscripts differ (p<.05).

Results - Serum E lambs ConE-GE-LE-GL 3d d

GoiterGoiter Symptoms u Enlarged thyroid u Poor wool coat at birth u Low vigor/survival

Goiter..... continued Prevention u Iodized salt u Compensate for goitergens (kale, brassicas, etc.)

Finishing Lambs Enterotoxemia/OvereatingSymptoms u Best doing lambs u Uncoordinated movement u Rapid death

Finishing Lambs... continued Prevention u Vaccination - toxoid u Bunk management u Gradual ration changes u Antibiotics Misdiagnosed-polio and Vit. E/Se deficiency, pneumonia

Urinary Calculi Wether lambs and stud rams Several types-phosphate, calcium, silica Problem-concentrates are low in calcium and high in phosphorous

Urinary Calculi... continued Prevention u Water intake u Salt u Ammonium chloride or sulfate u Add calcium to achieve 1.5:1 ratio to phosphorous u Never add phosphorous

Polioencephalomacia (brainers) Thiamine deficiency Prevention u Maintain rumen health u Gradual ration changes u Feed some long fiber u Sulfur intake

Copper Toxicosis Breed Susceptibility Mineral interactions-Mo & Su, along with high Zn & Ca along with high Zn & Ca Normal copper, low molybdenum

Copper Toxicosis... continued Prevention u Sheep specific feeds u No additional copper u Feed some Mo Copper & Molybdenum are both toxic

Pregnancy Toxemia Cause - Excess fat catabolism and ketone accumulation Prevention u Over conditioned ewes u Increased conc. feeding LG u Fetal scans u Pre-lambing shearing

Pregnancy Toxemia... continued Treatment u Propylene glycol u Induced parturition Severe cases usually do not recover

Grass Tetany Hypomagnesia Cause: excess potassium Lactating ewes on lush, spring pasture N fertilization increases risks

Grass Tetany... continued Magnesium oxide in mineral poor palatibility. Sudden death-confirmation by necropsy Stress induced

Milk Fever Ewes vs. Dairy Cows Cause u Calcium deficiency ?? u Stress induced

Milk Fever... continued Late gestation ewes carrying triplets Symptoms u Depressed, lethargic, recumbent Treatment u Calcium gluconate u Rapid response

Wool Pulling Cause u Inadequate dry matter intake u Small particle size, effective fiber u Low phosphorous intake

Wool Pulling... continued Prevention u Maximum 50% concentration ration u Improved feeding technique u Offer some low quality, long forage u Evaluate phosphorous level

Vaginal Prolapses Causes u Overfeeding roughage u Genetics u Short docks u Fat ewes

Vaginal Prolapses... continued Prevention u Feed higher quality roughage in LG u Restrict roughage in ration esp. for ewe lambs u Adequate bunk space u Prevent obesity in ewes

SummarySummary Common sense eliminates most disorders Shepherd mistakes creates a lot of the disorders Seek advice if not sure of what you are doing