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Tuesday, July 7, 2009

By Department of Primary Industries - 1st July 2009 - Back to News

AVOID THE PITFALLS OF PREGNANCY TOXAEMIA

Pregnancy toxaemia, or twin lamb disease, usually occurs in pregnant and stressed ewes, often carrying twins or triplets, who receive insufficient feed in the last four to six weeks of pregnancy.

Pregnancy toxaemia can also be induced in late pregnancy by poor appetite in fat ewes, bad weather causing reduced grazing, disease such as footrot, foot abscess and handling, mustering and shearing resulting in time off feed.

Pregnancy toxaemia is caused by insufficient energy intake at the time of high energy demand due to pregnancy.

If the ewe is not offered enough quality feed to provide sufficient energy for herself and the unborn lamb, she will run short of glucose and will break down her own body tissues; resulting in accumulation of high levels of ketones and a loss of body condition. Sometimes, there is an underlying disease problem such as foot abscess that can reduce the ewe’s ability to graze.

Initial signs of pregnancy toxaemia include dullness and depression, loss of appetite, lack of coordination and weakness, progressing to blindness, fine muscle tremor and grinding of teeth. Later signs include recumbency, convulsions and coma.

These signs progress over a course of two to eight days. Death is very common unless treated very early in the course of the disease. If the ewe is in the later stages of the disease then humane destruction is recommended as treatment is not often successful.

For ewes showing early signs of pregnancy toxaemia, provide good shelter and nursing care and administer Glycerol or Propylene glycol orally twice daily as an energy source, as well as administering Calcium borogluconate under the skin. Repeat treatments with Glycerol or Propylene glycol twice daily until the ewe’s appetite returns.

If pregnancy toxaemia is occurring in the flock, it is usually a sign that the nutritional plane is inadequate. Other ewes may be affected, but not showing immediate outward signs of the disease.

The longer term impact may be low birth weight lambs, poor lactation in the ewes and lower lamb survival. Supplementary feeding of a sufficient quality and quantity of feed should be undertaken to avoid further losses.

For more information, 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.

FARMING DIARY

Bushfire Recovery Workshop

Topic: Trees, Shelter Belts and Native Vegetation

When: Saturday, July 11, 2009

Where: Labertouche Hall, Cnr Labertouche and Forest Road, Labertouche.

Time: 9:30 am to 12:30 pm.

This workshop focuses on property owners who want to learn more about planning of shelter belts, sourcing plants, planting and management, as well as funding support available.

It will be presented by Bridget McCallum from Western Port Landcare network, Rob Waddell from Lake Wellington Landcare network and Grand Ridge Propagation.

All landholders are welcome, in particular those whose properties have been fire affected.

For more information, contact Carolyn Ferguson on 5624 2409.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com