LOSSES AMONG EWES

Kaikoura Star, Volume LVI, Issue 95, 3 December 1936, Page 3

LOSSES AMONG EWES

MILK FEVER AND SORREL POISONING IN SHEEP The grouping of milk fever and sorrel poisoning together will, n< doubt, appear to be a confusion ol ideas. In this article, however, a dis cussion of the similarity in the synip tons of the two diseases, the method of treatment, and the rapidity and sureness of the cure in both rases win explain why the two troubles have been discussed together. At Lincoln, the Veterinary and Chemistry Departments of Canterbury Agricultural College have carried out a considerable amount of investigational work on these problems. fluwork is still in progress and will require to be pursued further, both in the field and in the laboratory, before the factors underlying these troubles are fully understood. In view, however, of the large number of cases of milk fever and of sorrel poisoning in Canterbury and elsewhere it is desirable that the information already collected regarding symptons, causes, and treatment should be made available to farmers. Milk fever is known to some sheep owners as lambing sickness or dopiness. It m«,y occur any time from one month before lambing up till six or eight weeks after lambing, or sometimes everlonger. Both ewes in high condition on good feed ami ewes in poor condi tion are subject to the trouble. Numerous cases are recorded anti treated every season, but it is certain that many more ewes die because farmers do not recognise the condition, or do not know that a large number of affected ewes can be effectively and easilv treated at a small cost. SYMPTONS OF MILK FEVER— In mild eases, or at the beginning of an outbreak, ewes may stagger on their feet when disturbed. Tn more serious cases, or later on in the staggering stage, ewes go down and in most cases cannot get up. Tetanic symptons (muscular spasms) are common. The animal is dull and finally becomes comatose (unconscious). It may remain in this stage for from 12 to 24 hours before death and frequently there is a discharge from the nostrils and the breathing is always abnormal. TREATMENT — Even animals which have been in a comatose condition for long periods re spond to treatment, the recovery frequently being spectacular. If no other means is available, the udder may be inflated with air even though the ewe has not lambed. This treatment is not always sure and it commonly results in injury to the quarters should the aid be dirty. A more effective and safe treatment is the injection of Calcium Gluconate solution under the skin. This solution may be made by heating 20oz of Calcium Gluconate, soz. of boric acid, and 100 oz. of water, or smaller quantities of these substances in the above proportions, bringing to the boil and then cooling before use. A nickel syringe holding 100 c.e. or about 3oz. and a hollow needle attached to the syringe with rubber tubing are necessary. The cost of such a syringe should not exceed 15/- to £l. The is fille«l with the solution, the ewe is put on her back, and the needle is inserted under the loose skin between a fore-leg and the body, where there is no wool. The solution is injected slowly. About five minutes should be taken to inject about 3oz. of solution. The needle is then withdrawn and the seat of injection rubbed softly with the fingers. Th- 1 swelling will go down in a few hours and the treatment is such that no animal can be harmed by the injection. It is common for ewes to recover completely within a few minutes, although in some cases it may be half an hour or longer before they are normal again, the time of recovery depending to a large extent on how long the ewe has been down. Ono injection is usually sufficient. The injection of Calcium Gluconate or Calcium Chloride into the jugular vein are sometimes used, but this is best done by an experienced person Extreme care has to be taken, and the treatment is no better than the subcutaneous injection, although comewhat more rapid in action. CAUSES OF MILK FEVER— While the factors actually causing milk fever are still being investigated, biochemical researches have shown that the condition is invariably associate.! with a decrease in the lime content of the blood. It is certain, however, that this need not result from a diet deficient in lime. During late pregnancy or during milk production a ewe is in a very senstive condition and any factor which gives the ewe a check may result- in a failure of the nervous and endocrine glandular systems. The system is unable to maintain the normal amount of calcium in the blood. This drops and the symptons induced are those of milk fever. The injection of Calcium Gluconate restores the blood ealciuni to normal and also restarts the normal functioning of the regulatory niec ha m isms. SORREL POISONING— Korrel poisqningis very common in Canterbury and sheep are affected from spring until late autumn. Ewes, lambs, and dry sheep may be affected The symptons and treatment are identical with those of milk fever. Sorrel leaves ami stems contain a substance, oxalic acid, which results in a lowering of the amount of calcium in the blood. The actual niecahnism has still to be investigated, but the eoßdition is identical with that outlined above. PREVENTION— It has been found that sheep running in paddocks red with sorrel may not go down, whereas others in a paddock without much sorrel may be badly affected. This may be the result of several factors which are being inves tigated. The first is that the oxalic acid content of sorrel may vary at different stages of growth and at different times of the year. The second if that the palatability of the sorrel prob varies and the sheep cat more ai *bnff stage of growth than at another. If sheep have to be run on sorre.

cases of sorrel poisoning should bt watched for. If an outbreak occur: the sheep should be removed to an other paddock. Pine needles also contain oxalic aci< and cases where these have causer deaths in sheep are known and have probably been due to the effect of the oxalic acid on the lime content of tlie blood. There is still much work to be done on prevention, treatment, and underly ing causes of the conditions outlined A wider knowledge of the facts at present definitely known, and of the utility of the treatment advocated would result in the saving of many ewes by farmers themselves in those instances where outside assistance i> impossible. Especially is this the case since the condition is one? which should be -treated as soon as it. is observed. During this season the College stall have been called upon to treat many cases of milk fever and of sorrel poison ing. Several hundred ewes have been treated successfully using the method advocated in this article. Recoveries as a result of it have been about 9- = per cent. It would be interesting tc know how many ewes have died ir Canterbury through failure to obtair advice where outbreaks have occurred and through failure to apply suitable remedial treatment in all cases where losses have been high.