Sheep Metabolic Disease Welfare in Late Pregnancy

Pregnancy toxaemia and hypocalcaemia cause severe welfare compromise in ewes during late pregnancy, with prevention through nutrition management significantly reducing incidence.

Key Facts

Pregnancy toxaemia affects ewes carrying multiple lambs when energy demand exceeds supply
Signs include depression, tooth grinding, recumbency, and progressive neurological deterioration
Hypocalcaemia causes sudden muscle paralysis and is rapidly fatal without treatment
Both conditions are largely preventable through appropriate late-pregnancy nutrition management
Ewe body condition scoring at tupping and throughout pregnancy allows targeted supplementation

Welfare Considerations

Metabolic diseases in late-pregnancy ewes cause intense suffering that progresses rapidly to death without treatment. Pregnancy toxaemia involves accumulation of ketone bodies causing neurological depression, apparent blindness, and seizures before death. Hypocalcaemia causes sudden flaccid paralysis and inability to rise, leaving ewes exposed to weather and predation. Both conditions are highly preventable through body condition management and appropriate mineral supplementation, making their occurrence a welfare indicator of inadequate nutritional management.

What You Can Do

Implement body condition scoring at tupping and mid-pregnancy for targeted supplementation
Ensure adequate energy intake for ewes carrying multiples in the final 6 weeks
Keep injectable calcium borogluconate available for emergency hypocalcaemia treatment
Monitor ewes daily in the final 2 weeks of pregnancy for early signs of metabolic disease
Engage with your vet for a metabolic disease prevention plan specific to your flock