Farm Animals

Farmed Sheep Pregnancy Toxaemia Welfare

Pregnancy toxaemia (twin lamb disease) causes severe metabolic distress in late-pregnant ewes and is one of the leading causes of ewe death.

Key Facts

Pregnancy toxaemia occurs in late pregnancy when energy demand exceeds intake
Twin and triplet-bearing ewes are most susceptible
Affected ewes show progressive weakness, apparent blindness, and seizures
Treatment requires energy supplementation and is most effective if started early
Prevention through adequate late-pregnancy nutrition is highly effective

Welfare Considerations

Ewes suffering from pregnancy toxaemia experience severe metabolic distress that progresses to recumbency, seizures, and death. This is a highly preventable condition through careful late-pregnancy nutritional management and body condition scoring. Prevention is more welfare-positive than treating established disease.

What You Can Do

Support welfare standards requiring body condition scoring in late pregnancy
Advocate for sheep nutrition guidance as a welfare code requirement
Choose lamb products from farms with documented ewe health monitoring