Producers advised to keep an eye out for metabolic problems
District vets from the Lachlan Livestock Health and Pest Authority are seeing a number of early season metabolic disorders in local sheep that are beginning lambing.
Eliz Braddon, Lachlan LHPA senior district vet, says this season is shaping up as another difficult year for pregnancy toxaemia (lambing sickness) and calcium deficiency in ewes. Grass tetany and calcium deficiency in cattle could also become a problem in the coming months.
"In some flocks, these problems are occurring earlier in the season than we would normally expect, and we’re already seeing some mortalities," Dr Braddon said.
"Unusual seasonal conditions have been a significant factor in causing these problems. Most stock have been running on green and plentiful pastures that are often deceptive in their nutritional value – low in energy, fibre and essential minerals such as calcium and magnesium.
"Ironically most of these cases are occurring in fat pregnant ewes that are carrying multiple lambs which would suggest they should have ample nutrition to keep them going.
"However heavily pregnant ewes (and particularly those with twins) are often unable to ingest sufficient lush green feed to maintain their energy needs and the symptoms of pregnancy toxaemia set in – lethargy, separating off from the mob, not eating and inevitably death without very early treatment.
"Problems with pregnancy toxaemia have also been compounded by foot abscess and lameness this year which has affected the ability of ewes to get around and graze.
"Don’t forget that lactating ewes and cows also have a very high demand for calcium and magnesium and these minerals are invariably low in the fresh, grass dominant pastures that we have at present.
"Stress factors such as the movement and yarding of 'at risk' stock, whose energy and mineral levels are already in a marginal state, are also triggering off a number of these nutritional disorders.
"Late shearing of ewes close to lambing or a sudden change from our currently mild weather conditions could be all that is needed to put a flock in trouble."
Strategies to prevent nutritional disorders include:
- providing some high quality roughage (e.g. hay);
- supplementing some grain to late pregnant ewes to provide a concentrated energy source and provide a buffer in case you need to increase this during lambing;
- providing calcium and magnesium supplements to high risk classes of stock; and
- minimising movement of 'at risk' stock.
For more information on management of nutritional disorders contact your local LHPA district vet .
Media contact: Kylie Dunn 6391 3720 / 0428 465 378