Grazing wheat growth, down ewes

paul&mandy

Member

Location

surrey/west sussex

• Jan 12, 2019

• #1

Got some well forward wheat that I've put some ewes on. 1st lot last week been fine but put another group on another field yesterday and got 2 down ewes this morning, they seem ok in themselves but are really uncomfortable if I try and make them stand and lay straight down. They are due to lamb 10th April. Any ideas what this could be? Also what's the plan of action with these 2.
Will call the vet in a bit just someone on here night have more hands on with this sort of thing.
Thanks Paul

 

Tim W

Member

Livestock Farmer

Location

Wiltshire

• Jan 12, 2019

• #2

I have heard of mineral problems with ewes in late pregnancy on wheat before but your girls aren't that far forward ?
Magnesium/calcium typically or even pregnancy toxemia (low sugars)

Sounds unlikely in your animals which are mid pregnancy but try giving them dextrose/Mg/Ca under the skin ---it's cheap and wont hurt them ----just might do the trick
If it is one of these conditions and you don't act they will be harder to treat successfully later on

 

ShooTa

Member

Location

Denbighshire - In the vale of Clwyd!

• Jan 12, 2019

• #3

a vit C jab - and then double check that they have acess to minerals (theyll walk away if theres too many around a bucket)

 

andybk

Member

Livestock Farmer

Location

Mendips Somerset

• Jan 12, 2019

• #4

we have never had any issues grazing wheat , what were they on before ? a sudden change of diet from say old grass , onto wheat (high protein) need to be careful with the normal stuff like pasturella and pulpy kidney , only other thing is any piles left from unloading the combine and ewes gorging on it and getting acidosis (any pheasant feeders about ?

 

paul&mandy

Member

Location

surrey/west sussex

• Jan 12, 2019

• #5

I've given them 80ml calcject 6. I think 1 is up but looks like 1 still there. I'll check when I'm done spreading. Can I give them another dose of calciject later this afternoon if needed? 1st shot was about 9.30.

 

Still Farming

Member

Mixed Farmer

Location

South Wales UK

• Jan 12, 2019

• #6

Multivit drench good.
Just turn in day or so then out etc etc.

 

paul&mandy

Member

Location

surrey/west sussex

• Jan 12, 2019

• #7

ShooTa said:

a vit C jab - and then double check that they have acess to minerals (theyll walk away if theres too many around a bucket)

Click to expand...

Got some baged minerals coming in a few days, mainly for the ones on turnips but will give these some

 

Still Farming

Member

Mixed Farmer

Location

South Wales UK

• Jan 12, 2019

• #8

Bucket licks too

 

paul&mandy

Member

Location

surrey/west sussex

• Jan 12, 2019

• #9

andybk said:

we have never had any issues grazing wheat , what were they on before ? a sudden change of diet from say old grass , onto wheat (high protein) need to be careful with the normal stuff like pasturella and pulpy kidney , only other thing is any piles left from unloading the combine and ewes gorging on it and getting acidosis (any pheasant feeders about ?

Click to expand...

Come off pretty good grass tbh, still this wheat pretty good. Over a ft tall

 

Still Farming

Member

Mixed Farmer

Location

South Wales UK

• Jan 12, 2019

• #10

Stuffing their guts are they ?
Any bloat or Acidosis start maybe?