Subclinical and clinical ketosis in high-producing dairy ewes causes welfare harm and production losses. Nutritional management is central to prevention.
Clinical ketosis causes significant welfare harm — affected ewes show neurological signs (circling, apparent blindness), recumbency, and rapid deterioration. Subclinical ketosis, while less dramatic, causes chronic reduction in welfare through reduced feed intake, milk production pressure, and immune suppression that allows other conditions to establish. Prevention through appropriate body condition management and supplementary energy feeding in early lactation protects both welfare and production. Prompt treatment of clinical cases with propylene glycol and veterinary support reduces duration of suffering.