Intensive Farming

Livestock Pregnancy Toxemia Welfare

Pregnancy toxemia in sheep and goats causes preventable suffering through metabolic disease in the final weeks before birth.

Key Facts

Pregnancy toxemia occurs when energy demands of late pregnancy exceed dietary intake
Twin-bearing ewes are at highest risk due to rumen space restriction
It causes progressive neurological symptoms, recumbency, and death without treatment
Dietary management in late pregnancy prevents most cases

Welfare Considerations

Ewes or does with pregnancy toxemia experience neurological deterioration including star-gazing, incoordination, and recumbency. The condition is painful and distressing, causing progressive debilitation before death without treatment. It is almost entirely preventable through appropriate late pregnancy nutrition. Farmer recognition of body condition scoring and supplementary feeding protocols prevents most cases.

What You Can Do

Support farmer education programs in late pregnancy nutritional management
Advocate for veterinary welfare audit programs including metabolic disease prevention
Learn to body condition score sheep and goats if keeping livestock
Support research into prevention protocols for pregnancy toxemia