Nutritional/Metabolic Nutritional/Metabolic Problems in SheepProblems in Sheep

Nutritional/Metabolic Nutritional/Metabolic Problems in SheepProblems in Sheep

Dr. Dan MorricalDr. Dan Morrical

Iowa State UniversityIowa State University

Young LambsYoung LambsYoung LambsYoung Lambs

EnterotoxemiaEnterotoxemia Clostridium perfringens type CClostridium perfringens type C

SymptomsSymptoms Sudden death in 7-21 day old Sudden death in 7-21 day old

lambslambs

Young Lambs....Young Lambs....continuedcontinuedYoung Lambs....Young Lambs....continuedcontinued

PreventionPrevention Booster dams in late gestationBooster dams in late gestation Vaccinate lambs at 21 days and Vaccinate lambs at 21 days and

weaningweaning Orphan vaccinationOrphan vaccination Maximum colostrum intakeMaximum colostrum intake

Misdiagnosed-selenium/Vit. E Misdiagnosed-selenium/Vit. E deficiencydeficiency

GoiterGoiterGoiterGoiter

SymptomsSymptoms Enlarged thyroidEnlarged thyroid Poor wool coat at birthPoor wool coat at birth Low vigor/survivalLow vigor/survival

Goiter.....Goiter.....continuedcontinuedGoiter.....Goiter.....continuedcontinued

PreventionPrevention Iodized saltIodized salt Compensate for goitergens (kale, Compensate for goitergens (kale,

brassicas, etc.)brassicas, etc.)

Finishing LambsFinishing LambsFinishing LambsFinishing Lambs

Enterotoxemia/OvereatingEnterotoxemia/Overeating

SymptomsSymptoms Best doing lambsBest doing lambs Uncoordinated movementUncoordinated movement Rapid deathRapid death

Finishing Lambs...Finishing Lambs...continuedcontinuedFinishing Lambs...Finishing Lambs...continuedcontinued

PreventionPrevention Vaccination - toxoidVaccination - toxoid Bunk managementBunk management Gradual ration changesGradual ration changes AntibioticsAntibiotics

Misdiagnosed-polio and Misdiagnosed-polio and

Vit. E/Se deficiency, pneumoniaVit. E/Se deficiency, pneumonia

Urinary CalculiUrinary CalculiUrinary CalculiUrinary Calculi

••Wether lambs and stud ramsWether lambs and stud rams

••Several types-phosphate, Several types-phosphate, calcium, silicacalcium, silica

••Problem-concentrates are low in Problem-concentrates are low in calcium and high calcium and high

in phosphorousin phosphorous

Urinary Calculi...Urinary Calculi...continuedcontinuedUrinary Calculi...Urinary Calculi...continuedcontinued

••PreventionPrevention Water intakeWater intake SaltSalt Ammonium chloride or sulfateAmmonium chloride or sulfate Add calcium to achieve 1.5:1 Add calcium to achieve 1.5:1

ratio to phosphorous ratio to phosphorous Never add phosphorousNever add phosphorous

White Muscle/Stiff Lamb White Muscle/Stiff Lamb DiseaseDiseaseWhite Muscle/Stiff Lamb White Muscle/Stiff Lamb DiseaseDiseaseSymptomsSymptoms

Stiff rear legs and arched backStiff rear legs and arched back Sudden deathSudden death Aspiration PneumoniaAspiration Pneumonia Poor suckling reflexPoor suckling reflex

White Muscle/Stiff Lamb White Muscle/Stiff Lamb Disease...Disease...continuedcontinued

White Muscle/Stiff Lamb White Muscle/Stiff Lamb Disease...Disease...continuedcontinued

CauseCause Deficiency of Vit. E and/or Deficiency of Vit. E and/or

SeleniumSeleniumNoteNote: Selenium is toxic but Vitamin E is not: Selenium is toxic but Vitamin E is not

it is also cheapit is also cheap

High grain rations reduce Vit. E High grain rations reduce Vit. E

Newborns only source of E is milkNewborns only source of E is milk

Results - Serum E ewesResults - Serum E ewes

ConCon E-GE-G E-LE-L E-GLE-GL

PretreatmentPretreatment 1.271.27 1.261.26

Pre-lambingPre-lambing 1.511.51aa 1.911.91bb

Post-lambingPost-lambingaa .93 .93aa 1.131.13bb

Mid-lactationMid-lactation .97.97aa .95.95aa 1.281.28bb 1.371.37bb

Milk E at 3 daysMilk E at 3 days 10.810.8 15.115.1a,b Row means with different superscripts differ (p<.05).a,b Row means with different superscripts differ (p<.05).

Results - Serum E lambsResults - Serum E lambs

ConCon E-GE-G E-LE-L E-E-GLGL

3d3d 1.081.08 1.081.08

28d28d .41.41 .38.38 1.331.33 1.331.33

PolioencephalomaciaPolioencephalomacia((brainersbrainers))

PolioencephalomaciaPolioencephalomacia((brainersbrainers))

Thiamine deficiency Thiamine deficiency

PreventionPrevention Maintain rumen healthMaintain rumen health Gradual ration changesGradual ration changes Feed some long fiberFeed some long fiber Sulfur intakeSulfur intake

Copper ToxicosisCopper ToxicosisCopper ToxicosisCopper Toxicosis

Breed SusceptibilityBreed Susceptibility

Mineral interactions-Mo & Su,Mineral interactions-Mo & Su,

along with high Zn & Caalong with high Zn & Ca

Normal copper, low molybdenumNormal copper, low molybdenum

Copper Toxicosis...Copper Toxicosis...continuedcontinuedCopper Toxicosis...Copper Toxicosis...continuedcontinued

PreventionPrevention Sheep specific feedsSheep specific feeds No additional copperNo additional copper Feed some MoFeed some Mo

Copper & Molybdenum Copper & Molybdenum

are both toxicare both toxic

Pregnancy ToxemiaPregnancy ToxemiaPregnancy ToxemiaPregnancy Toxemia

Cause - Excess fat catabolism and Cause - Excess fat catabolism and ketone accumulationketone accumulation

PreventionPrevention Over conditioned ewesOver conditioned ewes Increased conc. feeding LGIncreased conc. feeding LG Fetal scansFetal scans Pre-lambing shearingPre-lambing shearing

Pregnancy Toxemia...Pregnancy Toxemia...continuedcontinuedPregnancy Toxemia...Pregnancy Toxemia...continuedcontinued

TreatmentTreatment Propylene glycolPropylene glycol Induced parturitionInduced parturition

Severe cases usually do not recoverSevere cases usually do not recover

Grass TetanyGrass TetanyGrass TetanyGrass Tetany

HypomagnesiaHypomagnesia

Cause: excess potassiumCause: excess potassium

Lactating ewes on lush, spring Lactating ewes on lush, spring pasture pasture

N fertilization increases risksN fertilization increases risks

Grass Tetany...Grass Tetany...continuedcontinuedGrass Tetany...Grass Tetany...continuedcontinued

Magnesium oxide in mineral Magnesium oxide in mineral

poor palatibility.poor palatibility.

Sudden death-confirmation by Sudden death-confirmation by necropsynecropsy

Stress inducedStress induced

Milk FeverMilk FeverMilk FeverMilk Fever

Ewes vs. Dairy CowsEwes vs. Dairy Cows

CauseCause Calcium deficiency ??Calcium deficiency ?? Stress inducedStress induced

Milk Fever...Milk Fever...continuedcontinuedMilk Fever...Milk Fever...continuedcontinued

Late gestation ewes carrying tripletsLate gestation ewes carrying triplets

SymptomsSymptoms Depressed, lethargic, recumbentDepressed, lethargic, recumbent

TreatmentTreatment Calcium gluconateCalcium gluconate Rapid responseRapid response

Wool PullingWool PullingWool PullingWool Pulling

CauseCause Inadequate dry matter intakeInadequate dry matter intake Small particle size, effective fiberSmall particle size, effective fiber Low phosphorous intakeLow phosphorous intake

Wool Pulling...Wool Pulling...continuedcontinuedWool Pulling...Wool Pulling...continuedcontinued

PreventionPrevention Maximum 50% concentration rationMaximum 50% concentration ration Improved feeding techniqueImproved feeding technique Offer some low quality, long forageOffer some low quality, long forage Evaluate phosphorous levelEvaluate phosphorous level

Vaginal ProlapsesVaginal ProlapsesVaginal ProlapsesVaginal Prolapses

CausesCauses Overfeeding roughageOverfeeding roughage GeneticsGenetics Short docksShort docks Fat ewesFat ewes

Vaginal Prolapses...Vaginal Prolapses...continuedcontinuedVaginal Prolapses...Vaginal Prolapses...continuedcontinued

PreventionPrevention Feed higher quality roughage in LGFeed higher quality roughage in LG Restrict roughage in rationRestrict roughage in ration

esp. for ewe lambs esp. for ewe lambs Adequate bunk spaceAdequate bunk space Prevent obesity in ewesPrevent obesity in ewes

SummarySummarySummarySummary

Common sense eliminates most disorders

Shepherd mistakes creates a lot of the disorders

Seek advice if not sure of what you are doing