This presentation was prepared for the Blue Ribbon Sheep Forum in Storrs, CT (2/25/12).

1. SUSAN SCHOENIAN (Shāy-nē-ŭn)
Sheep & Goat Specialist
Western Maryland Research & Education Center
sschoen@umd.edu - www.sheepandgoat.com

2.  Seventy (70) percent
of fetal growth is occurring.
 Important time for udder
development and
colostrum production.
NEEDS 
 Rumen capacity is
decreasing.
 Voluntary feed intake of
feed is less, especially
during last two weeks.
INTAKE 

3.  More feed -- but more
importantly, a more
nutrient-dense (better
quality) diet.
We want grain!
 To compensate for
reduced feed intake.
 To meet demands of
growing fetuses.
 To support udder development
and colostrum production.
 To prevent pregnancy
toxemia and milk fever.
 To ensure the birth of strong,
healthy lambs of moderate size
(weight).

4.  Energy (TDN) is the nutrient
most likely to be deficient,
but protein (CP) can also be
deficient in the diet, due to
a reduced intake of feed.
 Nutrient requirements vary:
▪ Breed
▪ Size (weight)
▪ Age (lamb vs. mature)
▪ Number of fetuses
▪ Environment

5.  Concentrates are usually
necessary to meet the
increased energy needs of
pregnant ewes, especially
those carrying multiple
fetuses.
 If a low-quality forage is fed,
it may also be necessary to
provide supplemental
calcium (Ca) and/or protein
(CP) in the concentrate diet.
Corn is only an energy supplement.

6.  Disease risk
 Pregnancy toxemia risk (TDN)
 Milk fever risk (Ca)
 Poorer immunity (CP)
 Higher neonatal mortality
 Smaller, weaker lambs
 Reduced colostrum quality
and quantity.
 Poorer performance
 Reduced milk yield
 Reduced wool production (in
the offspring) due to fewer
secondary follicles.

7.  Pregnancy toxemia risk
 Milk fever risk (Ca)
 Ewes more likely to
prolapse their vagina.
 Greater risk of dystocia
(difficult birthing).
 Too much internal fat
 Oversized fetuses
 Fat, lazy ewes
 Feed is expensive - why do
you want to overfeed it?

8.  Low blood sugar (glucose).
 Caused by an inadequate
intake of energy (TDN)
during late pregnancy.
 Leads to a breakdown of fat
(energy reserves) into toxic
ketone bodies which overwhelm
the capacity of the liver (also called “fatty liver disease”).
 Most commonly affects fat or thin ewes and those carrying
multiple fetuses (also called “twin lamb disease”).
 Stress is another risk factor.

9. GOOD SOURCES POOR SOURCES
Feed stuff % TDN Feed stuff % TDN
Corn 88 Poor quality hay < 50
Barley 84 Poor quality pasture < 50
Oats 76 By-products < 50
[corn cobs, straw]
By-products ~75
[beet pulp, soy hulls, DDSG]
Commercial (sack) feed ~72
INTERMEDIATE SOURCES
Feed stuff % TDN
Good quality hay > 55
Good quality pasture (low DM) > 60

10.  Calcium (Ca) requirements
virtually double during late
pregnancy . . . but you need to
avoid excessive calcium, too.
 Milk fever is low blood calcium.
 It is caused by inadequate Ca in
the diet or a failure of the ewe
to mobilize Ca reserves.
 It can occur anywhere from six
weeks before lambing to 10
weeks after.
1. Pre-partum (non-dairy ewes)
2. Post-partum (dairy ewes)

11. GOOD SOURCES INTERMEDIATE SOURCES
Feed stuff % Ca Feed stuff % Ca
Limestone 34.0 Grasses 0.30-0.50
Dicalcium phosphate 22.0 Soybean meal 0.28-0.38
Trace minerals 14-18 Complete (sack) feed 0.55
Dry kelp 2.72
Balancer pellet 1.60
Legume hays 1.3-1.5 POOR SOURCES
Feed stuff % Ca
Corn 0.02
Oats , wheat 0.05
Barley 0.06

12. Image source: Informed Farmers (Can)
 Soils in the Northeast are
considered low in Se.
 During late gestation,
selenium crosses the
placenta to the fetuses.
 Low levels of selenium and/or
vitamin E can result in . . .
 White muscle disease (lambs)
1. Congenital vs. acquired
2. Cardiac vs. skeletal
 Poor reproductive performance
 Poor performance

13.  Free choice mineral mixes
usually provide adequate
selenium . . . but do not
guarantee adequate intake.
 Adding a selenium-fortified
mineral mix to a concentrate
ration will ensure adequate
intake of selenium and other
minerals.
 Selenium and vitamin E can
be also supplemented orally
via gels or pastes.

14.  On farms with a diagnosed
history of white muscle
disease or selenium deficiency,
Se/Vitamin E injections may
be given per the advice of a
small ruminant veterinarian.
 Labeled dosage for Bo-Se® [Rx]
 1 ml/40 lbs. (1 ml min) for lambs
 Not labeled for lambs under 2 weeks of age
Se Se
deficiency toxicity  2.5 ml/100 lbs. for ewes
 Not labeled for pregnant ewes

15.  Make sure all ewes
can eat at the same time.
 Make sure all ewes get their fair
share of all feed.
 Pay particularly close attention to
ewes that are old or compromised
in some way.
 Separate pregnant ewe lambs from
mature ewes and feed separately.
 Remove rams after breeding
season and feed separately.
 Do not feed on the ground.

16.  Stress can predispose This is my
pregnant ewes to many special time.
Leave me alone.
problems.
 Minimize stress during
late pregnancy.
Examples:
 Missed feedings
 Erratic feeding schedule
 Shearing, crutching
 Moving, handling
 Mixing groups
 Dogs
 Visitors
 Weather (be prepared)

17.  Lack of exercise may
increase the chances of
pregnancy toxemia and
other problems.
 Daily exercise is
recommended
through-out pregnancy.
 Exercise can be
encouraged by
separating feed, water,
and minerals.
Fit, active ewes have fewer problems.

18.  Vaccinate pregnant
ewes approximately 1
month (but at least 2
weeks) before they are
due to lamb.
 Lambs will acquire temporary,
passive immunity via the
colostrum -- provided they
consume adequate colostrum
What is adequate?
~10% of BW in first 24 hours

19.  Ewes not previously
vaccinated will require two
vaccinations, 3-4 weeks apart.
 If the dam was not vaccinated
or the lamb did not consume
adequate colostrum, the
tetanus antitoxin should be
given at the time of docking
and/or castrating, especially if
rubber rings are used.
 Lambs from vaccinated dams
should be vaccinated twice, 3
to 4 weeks apart, starting at 6
to 10 weeks of age.

20.  Ewes suffer a temporary
loss of immunity to gastro-
intestinal worms around the
time of parturition.
 Fecal egg counts increase
 If lambing occurs in the
spring, the egg rise will
coincide with the hypobiotic
(dormant) larvae resuming
their life cycles.
 The periparturient egg rise
is the primary source of
infection for new lambs.

21.  Traditional approach
 Deworm all ewes prior to
lambing (2-4 weeks prior).
▪ Use an anthelmintic that
is effective against hypobiotic
larvae (e.g. ivermectin).
 New approaches
 Increase protein level in late
gestation ration.
How much?  NRC by 30%
 Use the FAMACHA© system
and Five Point Check© to
determine which ewes
require deworming.

22.  In feed or mineral  Why?
[no withdrawal period]
1. FDA approval: to prevent
1. Bovatec® coccidiosis in lambs.
2. Deccox®  Kill or inhibit coccidia
3. Rumensin® [Rx]
2. As an aid to prevent
abortions caused by
Toxoplasma gondii.
3. Rumen modifier:
 propionic acid
 by-pass protein
 digestive problems
 methane gas
 Coccidiostats, especially Rumensin® can be toxic to equines and dogs.

23.  Why?
 To prevent abortion.
1. If the flock has a history of
diagnosed abortions that can
be controlled with antibiotics,
e.g. Chlamydia, Vibrio.
2. In the event of an abortion
storm.
 How?
1. Feed chlortetracycline
(aureomycin) at a rate of 80
mg/head/day during the last
6 weeks of gestation [OTC].
2. Inject oxytetracycline (LA-
200) at two week intervals
during late gestation [Rx].

24.  Results in cleaner, drier,
healthier environment for
ewes and especially lambs.
 Shorn ewes are less likely to
lay on their lambs.
 Shorn ewes are more likely to
seek shelter for lambing.
 Shorn ewes take up less
space in the barn and around
feeders.
 Results in cleaner fleeces.
 But . . . shorn ewes require
shelter and more feed. Image by Kelly Cole

25. FACILITIES
 Clean, dry, draft-free building
 Drop area
 Jugs (small pens for bonding)
e.g. 5 ft. x 5 ft
 Individual feeders and waterers
 Grafting stanchion
 Mixing pens
 Clean, well-rested pasture
 Shelter
 Emergency jugs

26. SUPPLIES (partial list)
 Colostrum source
 Esophageal feeding tube
 OB sleeves and lubricant
 Disinfectant for dipping navels
 Prolapse harness or spoon
 Needles and syringes
 Nipples or teats
 Lamb milk replacer
 Propylene glycol
 Calcium
 Antibiotics
 Thermometer
 Record keeping booklet
 More…

27. DO’S DON’TS
 Increase nutrition (gradually)  Overfeed
 Feed pregnant ewe lambs  Underfeed
separately
 Encourage daily exercise  Stress ewe
 Minimize stress  Introduce new animals
 Vaccinate for CD-T  Change groupings
 Manage periparturient  Leave rams in
egg rise  Worry
 Feed a coccidiostat
 Shear or crutch ewes
 Prepare facilities
 Gather/inventory supplies

28. Lambing should be fun!
Thank you for your
attention.
Any questions?
Susan Schoenian
sschoen@umd.edu
www.sheepandgoat.com