Mortality among Breeding Ewes before Lambing.

King Country Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 97, 28 August 1908, Page 4

Mortality among Breeding Ewes before Lambing.

Every season a considerable number of deaths occur among ewes during the last four or five weeks before lambing, these being due to one or other two afflictions, viz., ante-partum paralysis, or anti-partum extrusion of the vagina. In either, it is always the ewes in the best condition and generally those carrying twin lambs which succumb. The cause lies in too great an accumulation of fat in the tissues of the body and in some of the internal organs. In the case of anti-partum paralysis particularly, the liver is always found to be in the condition known as' :£atty infiltartion, a large quantity of fat being present in the liver tissue which, by its presence, prevents the organ per forming its functions properly. And when the liver is more or less inactive the constitutional balance is. "disturbed and ill health results. But when, as in the case of anti-partum paralysis, other organs, particularly the kidneys, are similarly affected, the consequences become seirous, and unless something is done to remove the cause of the trouble it quickly comes about that a condition of body is established in which waste matters which ought to be cleared out of the system by the natural channels and by natural means, gradually accumulate within and invariably cause death. In antipartum extrusion of the vagina, the sequence of trouble is different. There is the same fatty condition of the tissues and internal organs, though probably not so pronounced so far as the latter are concerned. Still, the natural functions of the body are not carried out in quite a regular manner. Owing to the liver being sluggish a certain amount of constipation is present and the ewe being fat, heavy and lazy, lies about and allows her bladder to become distended with urine before she troubles to empty it. Then it may be, she has difficulty in relieving herself and has to strain considerably in order to do so. This straining tends to throw the weight of the womb heavy with its twin lambs, backwards. The tissues underlying the lining membrane of the vagina are rendered lax and flaccid owing to the disposition of fat in them, and as a consequence of the pressure, the membrane is forced out. Even when this happpens, if proper treatment be promptly applied the ewe may still be. saved. The extruded part should be well washed with luke warm water to which a little antiseptic has been added and a dose of castor or linseed oil, combined with two teaspoonsful of tincture of opium given internally. The animal must be watched for a time after the membrane has been returned, as it is very liable to come out again quickly after its return. It is not a bad plan to put a stitch across the outer opening after operating, but this must be removed wtihin 24 hours.

In the case of anti-partum paralysis the only treatment likely to be of any value is the administration of a good dose of epsom salts combined with slow, frequent, but never long continued forced exercise. Usually, however, by the time the ewe is noticed to be sick it is too late for any treatment to be of any value. The. symptoms observed are a heavy, sleepy, listless condition, the animal keeping by itself and not feeding. This may continue from one to three days —the period varying—but it gradually becomes accentuated until paralysis followed by death results. Both these diseases are preventable, and with proper care and attention should never occur. It must be remembered that pregnant ewes of the long-woollen breeds especially, have a natural tendency to become sluggish and lazy and to acumulate fat, and if in good feed and living under good conditions generally. Preventative treatment is simple and effectual. Do not allow ewes to get into this fat sluggish condition. If they are doing well put them into a pasture where fed is not plentiful, and where they have to taite plenty of exercise m order to obtain a sufficiency of food. If no poor paddock is available, see that they get the exercise at any rate, even if it entails a man or boy's time occupied in keeping them moving about a couple of

hours daily. Less food and more exer-c:\-o pvo the essential features ol: preventative treatment, snd if these are onrajvd no trouble from these diseases? should result. ■