Sheep Pregnancy Toxaemia: Welfare and Prevention

Pregnancy toxaemia (twin lamb disease) is one of the most preventable but common welfare emergencies in sheep farming. Understanding its causes and prevention protects ewe welfare in late pregnancy.

Key Facts

Pregnancy toxaemia primarily affects ewes carrying twins or triplets in the last 4-6 weeks of pregnancy
The condition results from negative energy balance when fetal requirements exceed the ewe's energy intake
Clinical signs include isolation, depression, apparent blindness and eventually recumbency
Treatment success rate is poor once clinical signs are established, making prevention essential
Body condition score at mating and supplementary feeding in late pregnancy are the primary preventive measures

Welfare Considerations

Ewes with pregnancy toxaemia experience profound systemic illness characterised by metabolic acidosis, liver failure and neurological signs. The progressive deterioration from early signs to recumbency typically occurs over 2-5 days without treatment. Ewes that become recumbent before lambing have very poor survival prospects even with intensive treatment. The condition is painful, disorienting and ultimately fatal in most untreated cases. Its preventability makes it a particularly avoidable welfare failure. Body condition score monitoring throughout pregnancy and targeted supplementary feeding of at-risk ewes carrying multiple lambs can virtually eliminate pregnancy toxaemia on well-managed farms.

What You Can Do

Implement body condition scoring at key points in the breeding cycle including mating, scanning and housing
Provide targeted supplementary feeding to thin ewes and those carrying multiple fetuses in late pregnancy
Train stockpeople to recognise early clinical signs of pregnancy toxaemia for prompt intervention
Maintain adequate trough space for supplementary feeding to prevent thin ewes being excluded
Support sheep welfare educational programmes that include pregnancy toxaemia prevention as a priority topic