Urinary Calculi in lambs

[EHB]

as the title we have 6 male lambs that have this. they have been having fattening nuts from a company which I wont name, we have been using this feed for many years and only this year have had this condition, we have been in touch with feed firm and they say no one else has complained but we know of two farms that are having the same problem. is anyone on here having the same problem. send me a pm if you wish to know the feed company. thanks.

 

[Longlowdog]

I don't mean to belittle your problem but could you clear up if they were on a tup specific foodstuff or a general purpose feed. Is the magnesium content stated on the bag. I know folk who had a bad mix two years ago from a company that resulted in copper poisoning of a number of pedigree sheep so I am curious to follow these issues. When an independent analysis was brought to the table the company settled very quickly.

 

[neilo]

I don't mean to belittle your problem but could you clear up if they were on a tup specific foodstuff or a general purpose feed. Is the magnesium content stated on the bag. I know folk who had a bad mix two years ago from a company that resulted in copper poisoning of a number of pedigree sheep so I am curious to follow these issues. When an independent analysis was brought to the table the company settled very quickly.

Lamb finishing feed or creep should have Ammonium Chloride in to dissolve any crystals before they form. Could it have been missed out of the OP's feed? If you have a sample still, you might get an independent analysis on it to confirm. Don't know who would do it though.


I had a load of coarse lamb creep last year which resulted in me having at least 1 lamb every single day to treat for CCN. Changed the feed when that was gone, and the problem disappeared. I suspect the company had missed out the vit pre-mix, as I can't see how else it could have happened. Nobody else had had that problem either. I never rated that company historically but had been persuaded to try this ration, but won't be having that again.

 

[EHB]

we think that ammonium chloride was missing too a farm a couple of miles away have had 10 die of it and were on the same compound as us, vet said to test compound and came back that it would cost £100, will have a talk with other farmer to split the sample and cost.

 

[Longlowdog]

If you have a valid claim it would certainly include the cost of testing the sample. I wouldn't hesitate. They were after all your best tup lambs........

 

[z.man]

trading standards will test and pretty sure its foc it is their job aint it

 

[bovine]

trading standards will test and pretty sure its foc it is their job aint it

I've found Trading Standards only interested after the problem has been established.

 

[andybk]

can you buy an intensive mineral with ammonium chloride added for home mixing? may have to ring dennis brims at some point