Pregnancy toxemia (twin lamb disease) is a common and serious welfare problem in ewes carrying multiple lambs, causing suffering and death that is largely preventable through nutrition management.
Ewes with pregnancy toxemia experience progressive metabolic failure accompanied by weakness, disorientation, and pain from muscle wasting and hypoglycemia. Without early treatment, the condition is fatal within days. The welfare significance is compounded by the fact that prevention through proper nutrition monitoring and supplementary feeding in late pregnancy is highly effective and relatively inexpensive. Body condition scoring programs that identify at-risk ewes before clinical signs appear represent the most impactful welfare intervention for this common sheep welfare problem.