Pregnancy toxaemia is a metabolic crisis in late-pregnant ewes carrying multiple lambs. Prevention through nutrition management is critical to avoid severe welfare compromise and death.
Pregnancy toxaemia causes severe suffering in ewes, progressing from early dullness and inappetence through neurological signs including blindness and recumbency to death within days if untreated. The condition is almost entirely preventable through feeding management. Body condition scoring ewes at mating, scanning to identify multiple-bearing ewes, and providing appropriate supplementary feed in the last 6 weeks of pregnancy prevents the energy deficit that causes the condition. Monitoring ewes for early signs enables prompt treatment before welfare is severely compromised.