Internal ruptures in ewes, contributing factors?

[Keepers]

Apart from the obvious, just being very large, triplets etc

Anything anyone has noticed that may contribute towards a ewe becoming more prone to having an internal rupture?

I had one last year, but this year I have had four, all in very large ewes, carrying triplets and one with a twin. Set stocked on grass to lamb so not moved around, no bulky or extra feed. Ewes are in good condition and are youngish, 3-4 years old

They were moved to the lambing ground 7-10 days before the start of lambing, can this have added stress to the largest of them causing a rupture further down the line?

Just trying to think about how to make it that I don’t have any/have less next year!
Thankyou

 

[JHT]

Shedders? They seem prone to it.

 

[gatepost]

Genetic weakness I expect, most things are a mixture of genetics coupled with environmental pressure/conditions.

 

[Keepers]

Shedders? They seem prone to it.

yes, I was wondering if it could be that they were prone to it, so was going to see if anyone else mentioned that they had had them happen in their shedders

 

[neilo]

yes, I was wondering if it could be that they were prone to it, so was going to see if anyone else mentioned that they had had them happen in their shedders

Weren’t you running shedders last year, when you only had one?

I’m convinced a sub-clinical deficiency in Calcium increases numbers of prolapses here (wintering on beet/brassicas), probably through the same muscular weakness that manifests itself with hypocalcaemia (sp?).

Have you managed the in-lamb ewes differently this year, which may have changed trace element availability?

Or, more likely, just one of those things and next year will be fine....

 

[Frank-the-Wool]

We had more this year than normal. Usually around one in a thousand and always twins and not triplets. This year more like 10 and most ended up dying before they lambed. Set stocked as well so not chased about.

 

[Farmer 83563]

Apart from the obvious, just being very large, triplets etc

Anything anyone has noticed that may contribute towards a ewe becoming more prone to having an internal rupture?

I had one last year, but this year I have had four, all in very large ewes, carrying triplets and one with a twin. Set stocked on grass to lamb so not moved around, no bulky or extra feed. Ewes are in good condition and are youngish, 3-4 years old

They were moved to the lambing ground 7-10 days before the start of lambing, can this have added stress to the largest of them causing a rupture further down the line?

Just trying to think about how to make it that I don’t have any/have less next year!
Thankyou

Mag blocks and salt licks have helped reduce numbers here ... also we try and feed silage from ground with lower soil K during the pre lambing period.

 

[Keepers]

Weren’t you running shedders last year, when you only had one?

I’m convinced a sub-clinical deficiency in Calcium increases numbers of prolapses here (wintering on beet/brassicas), probably through the same muscular weakness that manifests itself with hypocalcaemia (sp?).

Have you managed the in-lamb ewes differently this year, which may have changed trace element availability?

Or, more likely, just one of those things and next year will be fine....

Yes one out of the shedders last year, 4 out of them this year, but double the numbers
None in any of the other lambing groups

last yeah they were lambing on ground with TE deficiencies, just grass, this year lambing on ground without deficiencies but with also lick buckets.

last year they were perfect condition I’d say, and they spent some time wintering on rape, this year averagely over fat in the twins and trips and they wintered on beet/hay and then forage rye and a week of turnips

most likely one of those things I guess, calcium deficiency possibly being a contributing factor is interesting and would make sense, no TLD last year and none this year

 

[Farmer 83563]

Useful article in this week's Scottish Farmer
https://www.thescottishfarmer.co.uk/livestock/19283004.top-tips-avoid-grass-staggers/

 

[Keepers]

Mag blocks and salt licks have helped reduce numbers here ... also we try and feed silage from ground with lower soil K during the pre lambing period.

Thankyou that’s definitely something to try for next year, do you introduce them well before lambing date?

 

[Farmer 83563]

Thankyou that’s definitely something to try for next year, do you introduce them well before lambing date?

Yes, we scan fairly late at 90d ish and start them on silage, salt and mag soon after. Mag blocks aren't as sweet so intakes are lower. The have access to both mag and salt licks through till late May early June.

 

[JHT]

Yes, we scan fairly late at 90d ish and start them on silage, salt and mag soon after. Mag blocks aren't as sweet so intakes are lower. The have access to both mag and salt licks through till late May early June.

Do you not find feeding Mag pre lambing ties up the calcium leading to inlamb ewes going down with calcium deficiency? We had some ewe rolls with extra Mag in by mistake once- ewes down everywhere- it was frightening!

 

[Farmer 83563]

Do you not find feeding Mag pre lambing ties up the calcium leading to inlamb ewes going down with calcium deficiency? We had some ewe rolls with extra Mag in by mistake once- ewes down everywhere- it was frightening!

Thats interesting. We found the mag in the diet helps prevent calcium deficiency - something along the lines that it is needed for the absorption of calcium and so reduces the risk of calcium deficiency. Works the same in reducing subclinical milk fever, slow calvings, prolapses etc in our suckler cows. I'll ask the vets for a recap next tine they are here!

 

[Keepers]

Do you not find feeding Mag pre lambing ties up the calcium leading to inlamb ewes going down with calcium deficiency? We had some ewe rolls with extra Mag in by mistake once- ewes down everywhere- it was frightening!

that’s really odd! I’ve always found some mag aids in the recovery from TLD and lack of calcium

Much like @ERL says above, I thought it was needed to help in the absorption of calcium

I havnt had an issue with mag in the later lambers this year, only the march lambing flock, but definitely going to try offering it next year now

 

[Downton_shep]

Do you not find feeding Mag pre lambing ties up the calcium leading to inlamb ewes going down with calcium deficiency? We had some ewe rolls with extra Mag in by mistake once- ewes down everywhere- it was frightening!

I think feeding Mag pre lambing is fine but you don’t want to be feeding Calcium pre lambing or they lose the ability to absorb it from their body’s.

 

[Farmer 83563]

Do you not find feeding Mag pre lambing ties up the calcium leading to inlamb ewes going down with calcium deficiency? We had some ewe rolls with extra Mag in by mistake once- ewes down everywhere- it was frightening!

Could the problems have been due to the change to diet formulation in late pregnancy more than the Mag itself?