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Tuesday, 2 September 2008

PRODUCERS WARNED TO WATCH FOR MILK FEVER

By Department of Primary Industries - 8th September 2008 - Back to News

The Department of Primary Industries (DPI) is warning sheep producers of the condition hypocalcaemia, commonly known as milk fever, caused by a deficiency of calcium in the blood.

DPI Acting Senior Veterinary Officer, Liz Parker, said the condition usually occurred in mature, fat ewes during the last six weeks of pregnancy or the first 10 days after lambing, although other classes of sheep may also be affected.

"Hypocalcaemia can often follow a stressful event such as shearing, crutching, transportation, yarding, fasting or inclement weather," Dr Parker said.

"Sheep can also develop hypocalcaemia when grazing short lush green feed or high oxalate plants such as sorrel or soursob.

"An affected sheep will initially stagger and have muscle tremors, after which it will become weak, slip into a coma and die. This may all occur within four to six hours.

"Case of hypocalcaemia can be confused with pregnancy toxaemia or twin lamb disease."

Some notable differences between the two conditions are:

• hypocalcaemia has a rapid onset;
• hypocalcaemia affected sheep remain alert;
• death of hypocalcaemia sheep occurs quickly;
• cases occur on lush feed rather than lack of feed; and
• a good response to the appropriate treatment for hypocalcaemia is seen.

"Sheep affected with hypocalcaemia should be treated as a matter of urgency with a calcium/magnesium solution, readily available from a veterinary practice or rural supplier," Dr Parker said.

"Cases may be prevented by adding calcium supplement if feeding grain, or by giving dry roughage to sheep on lush feed."

For further information or advice, please contact your nearest Animal Health Officer at DPI Ellinbank on 5624 2222, DPI Leongatha on 5662 9900, DPI Maffra on 5147 0800 or DPI Bairnsdale on 5152 0600.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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