Sheep Metabolic Diseases: Prevention and Welfare Management

Key Welfare Facts

Metabolic diseases including grass tetany, milk fever, and pregnancy toxaemia are major welfare issues in sheep.
Grass tetany (hypomagnesaemia) causes sudden neurological signs and can kill within hours without treatment.
Milk fever (hypocalcaemia) causes muscle weakness, collapse, and death if calcium supplementation is delayed.
Pregnancy toxaemia (twin lamb disease) results from energy deficit in late pregnancy, causing ketosis and death.
Preventing metabolic diseases requires attention to pre-lambing nutrition, mineral supplementation, and body condition.
Early recognition of affected sheep is critical as conditions deteriorate rapidly and become untreatable quickly.

Welfare Assessment

Metabolic diseases in sheep cause acute welfare emergencies that are largely preventable through good nutritional management. Working with a vet to develop pre-lambing nutrition plans and mineral supplementation strategies is the most effective welfare investment on any sheep farm.

What You Can Do

Develop pre-lambing nutrition and mineral supplementation plans with a ruminant vet
Monitor body condition scores throughout pregnancy and supplement as needed
Ensure stockpeople can recognise early signs of metabolic disease and respond promptly
Keep emergency treatment materials including calcium and magnesium solutions readily available