Last couple of years been culling a lot of young ewes that had missing teeth at sorting for tupping time. After speaking to my vet about it were pretty sure its a calcium deficiency that the ewes have when they are milking well and using stored calcium from their skeleton to make milk for the lambs. Apparently the calcium in the bottom jaw is the easiest to mobilise so it goes soft and the teeth fall out.
Does anyone have any experience of this? How do i supplement calcium to them? Been advised to only offer them calcium after they have lambed and not before so bolusing (if a calcium bolus exists?) before lambing is out as is bolising after lambing because hopefully they will be lambing outside. Ive seen limestone flour for sale as a calcium supplement but not sure if sheep will eat it on its own? I have seen salt blocks with calcium in them too that might be worth a look. Anything else to consider?
Does anyone have any experience of this? How do i supplement calcium to them? Been advised to only offer them calcium after they have lambed and not before so bolusing (if a calcium bolus exists?) before lambing is out as is bolising after lambing because hopefully they will be lambing outside. Ive seen limestone flour for sale as a calcium supplement but not sure if sheep will eat it on its own? I have seen salt blocks with calcium in them too that might be worth a look. Anything else to consider?