Watch for pregnancy toxemia
Multiparous ewes may be prone to pregnancy toxemia if they have difficulty meeting the needs of their fetuses. Body condition and feed quality should be monitored to prevent this disease.
It is a metabolic disease of small ruminants in late pregnancy which is characterized by a inability of the expectant mother to meet the energy and glucose needs of the fetuses. Pregnancy toxemia can occur in thin and undernourished animals but also in animals that are too fat whose liver is not functioning well. The multiple pregnancies (twins or triplets) are the most at risk. In southeastern France, the most critical period is the end of winter in the sheepfold with roughage or nutrient-deficient forage.
An imbalance between requirements and intake
The mechanism behind this condition is related, on the one hand, to the increasing needs of the fetuses in the final month of gestation, which excessively deplete the mother’s reserves, and on the other hand, to the intake capacity which decreases. The cause: the development of the uterus, which leaves less and less room for rumen filling. To compensate for this phenomenon, the ewe mobilizes its fat, which is converted into large quantities of ketone bodies and fatty acids. These metabolites accumulate in the body and saturate the liver, leading to increasing fatigue.
The symptoms then appear as a decrease in appetite, un rapid weight loss and difficulty moving, without fever. Then the condition worsens with the onset of nervous disorders and an inability to get back up. The progression is fatal if the giving birth does not occur quickly.
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Monitor multiparous women
The late treatment is often disappointing, it involves a hypertonic glucose infusion combined with glucose precursors (propylene glycol) taken orally. Calcium can also be added to this, calcium and liver function support (sorbitol and amino acids).
It is better to focus efforts on prevention by monitoring the body condition of multiparous animals in the month before farrowing and by supplementing the expectant mothers early enough to compensate for the loss of intake capacity. The early ultrasound scan with counting is then very useful for grouping ewes into uniform batches. The objective is to have a BCS of 3 at lambing.
The quality of the hay must also be assessed to avoid misjudgments in winter rationing. For ewes that are too fat, care must be taken to ensure a good dietary transition, particularly for flocks transitioning from rich pasture to an indoor forage ration.
