DOPINESS IN EWES

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24624, 21 July 1945, Page 3

DOPINESS IN EWES

AFTER EFFECTS OF SNOWSTORM

LINCOLN COLLEGE ADVICE Many inquiries have been received by Lincoln College dyring the last few days from farmers experiencing losses in their ewe flocks. Most of these losses are due to pregnancy'toxaemia (antipartum paralysis or dopiness). The disease is accompanied by the usual symptoms; the ewes gradually become dull, listless, lose- their appetite, develop varying degrees of blindness, and ultimately die in 3-6 days. The incidence in most outbreaks has varied from 3-10 per cent Some cases have shown symptoms of excitement, twitching of the muscles, and slight frothing at the mouth, signs commonly associated with milk fever, but so far as investigations have gone, the condition is not one of true milk fever and there is little or no response to injections of calcium boro-gluconate. Losses have occurred in ewes that are not due to lamb until the end of August or the beginning of September, but the incidence has been highest in the early lambing flocks. Generally, the season has been conducive to heayy losses from this disease. After an excellent tupping season, the proportion of ewes carrying twins is high, and the condition of the ewes in the autumn was, if anything, too good. Some have lost condition during the last month, making them susceptible to pregnancy toxaemia, which has been precipitated by the check associated with the snowstorm. In general, farmers can do little with the sheep already affected. It may be possible to save some of the ewes if they are drenched in the early stages with 21b of molasses and two ounces of Epsom salts. This will frequently cause them to slip their lambs within 24-36 hours, after which many recover. Prevention But the farmer’s chief concern is to prevent any more of the sheep from developing the trouble; and the main factor in prevention is good feeding. To provide a complete ration at this time, ewes require a day 3-41b of good hay plus J-Jlb of some grain mixture, or its equivalent, plus a little extra to keep out the cold. But the only real guide as to how much to feed out is the quantity that the sheep will actually eat. Hay, either lucerne or meadow, oat sheaf chaff, or oat sheaves usually provide the basis of the ration. This may be supplemented with advantage with a little oats, other grain, linseed, or moose nuts; l-2oz of meat meal introduced gradually into the ration is beneficial Where only medium or poor quality hay or oat sheaf chaff is available, molasses is a valuable addition—mixed with hot water and sprayed over the feed in racks or troughs. Silage is an excellent feed. A slightly laxative effect may also be produced by feeding 3-41b of mangels; but care should be exercised lest excessive quantities induce slipping or abortion. If adequate food is not available to provide for the whole flock, it may be possible to separate out the early lambers and the twin bearers from the rest and provide them only with extra feed. This may be done by clearing a track' in the paddock and driving the flock round a time or two and cutting off the weaker ewes. In any case, a small amount of exercise may be beneficial.'s From the point of view of the organisation of the available feed over the next month or two. each farmer must decide for himself how much he can feed now and how much he should save for later—but the important thing is that, if losses are occurring now, the best use to which the food can be put is in reducing these losses to a minimum and that means in effect feeding what is available now. \ *