Late Gestation

SUSAN SCHOENIAN (Shāy-nē-ŭn) Sheep & Goat SpecialistWestern Maryland Research & Education Centersschoen@umd.edu – www.sheepandgoat.com
2011 Ewe and Doe Management Webinar Series
Small Ruminant Program

2011 Ewe and Doe Management Webinar Series
Jan 13I. Late Gestation
Jan 20 II. Vaccinations
Feb 3 III. Parturition
Feb 10 IV. Neonatal Care
Feb 17 V. Lactation
Feb 24 VI. Weaning

Late gestation
Last 4 to 6 weeks of pregnancy (142-158 days)
The most critical period in the female’s production cycle.

What’s happening?!
70 percent of fetal growth is occurring.
Pregnant ewe lambs and doe kids are still growing.
The udder tissue is developing.
Rumen capacity is decreasing.
Boer x Nubian doe (carrying triplets)

Extra nutrition is needed
Why?
To support fetal growth
To support udder development
To prevent pregnancy toxemia (ketosis) and milk fever.
To ensure the birth of strong, healthy babies of moderate birth weight.
BIRTH WEIGHT SURVIVAL

Nutrient requirements of a 176-lb. mature ewe (twins) at different stages of production
66%
Lbs. per day
66%
53%
53%
10%
15%
7%
8%
NRC 2007

Nutrition During Late Gestation
Energy (TDN) is the nutrient most likely to be deficient in the late gestation diet of ewes and does.
Nutrient requirements vary by species, age, size (weight), and number of fetuses.
To meet energy needs, you usually need to feed some grain.
Introduce grain slowly and increase incrementally.
If forage quality is low, you may also need to supplement protein and calcium.

Do not underfeed (including the fat ones)
Inadequate nutrition can result in . . .
Pregnancy toxemia (ketosis)
Small and weak babies
Higher mortality
Reduced colostrum quality and quantity
Poor milk yield
Reduced wool production (in offspring) via fewer secondary follicles

Do not overfeed(including the skinny ones)
Because . . .
Fat females are more prone to pregnancy toxemia.
Overfed females have moredystociaproblems.
They are more likely to prolapse their vaginas.
Females may have a more difficult time birthing large fetuses.
Prolonged births can affect viability of offspring.

Energy (TDN) requirements as affected by species and genetic potential for a 132-lb. mature female
Lbs. per day
NRC 2007

Nutrient requirements of different size ewes in late gestation (twin fetuses)
Lbs. per day
52%
66%
66%
10%
10%
8.5%
NRC, 2007

Nutrient requirements of different size (non-dairy) does in late gestation (twin fetuses)
Lbs. per day
66%
66%
80%
13%
13%
15%
NRC, 2007, Errata

Nutrient requirements of ewes in late gestationas affected by age
Lbs. per day
-- 79% --
~10%
66%
NRC, 2007

Nutrient requirements of a 154-lb. ewe during late gestation, as affected by number of fetuses
Lbs. per day
66%
66%
53%
8.3%
10%
10%
NRC, 2007

Effect of a lower critical temperature on the energy requirements of a goat needing 2.8 lbs. of TDN.

Nutrition during late gestation
What you should do
Balance a ration to determine what and how much to feed
Evaluate your ration to see if what you are feeding is meeting the nutrient requirements of your pregnant females.
Adjust, if necessary
What we usually do
Free choice hay + some grain (1/2 to 1 lb. per head per day)
http://www.sheepandgoat.com/feed.html#ration

Proper feed bunk management
Make sure all ewes or does can eat at the same time.
Feed pregnant ewe lambs and doelings separately from mature females.
Separate males after breeding.
Do not feed on the ground.(exception: frozen ground)

Selenium (Se) and vitamin E
Many soils are deficient in selenium (Se).
Low levels of Se and/or vitamin E have been associated with …
Poor reproductive performance
Retained placentas
White muscle disease in lambs and kids.
Se is passed from the placenta to the fetus during late gestation

Selenium (Se) and vitamin E
Free choice mineral mixes usually provide adequate selenium.
Adding a selenium-fortified mineral mix to the grain ration will ensure adequate intake of Se.
On farms with a history of white muscle disease, Se injections are sometimes necessary.
Bo-Se must be obtained from a licensed veterinarian.
There is a narrow range between what animals need and Se toxicity.

Calcium
Calcium requirements virtually double during late pregnancy.
Milk fever is caused by low blood calcium resulting from …
An inadequate intake of calcium
Failure to mobilize calcium reserves.
You also need to avoid excessive Ca intake.
Save pure legume (alfalfa) hay for lactation diet.
This ewe required IV calcium.

Calcium and phosphorus requirements of a 176-lb. ewe (twins)
Grams per day
NRC, 2007

Calcium and phosphorus requirements of a 132-lb. doe (twins)
Grams per day
NRC, 2007

Calcium
Grains (corn, barley, and oats) and soybean meal are low in calcium.
Forages are higher in calcium, especially legumes.
Supplemental Ca
Complete grain mixes
Mineral supplements
Dicalcium phosphate
Limestone
Bonemeal
If a low quality forage is fed, calcium should be added to the grain ration.

Pre-lambing/kidding vaccinationsCD-T: clostridium perfringins type C & D (overeating disease) and tetanus
Vaccinate pregnant females approximately one month prior to parturition.
Only way to protect lambs and kids from type C overeating disease and provide early immunity to tetanus.
Females never vaccinated before or whose vaccination status is unknown should receive two vaccinations during late pregnancy.
Do not vaccinate within 2 weeks of parturition.
Lambs and kids will acquire passive immunity when they consume colostrum (first milk).

Periparturient egg rise
Small ruminant females suffer a temporary loss of immunity to parasites around and after parturition.

Management options
Deworm all females prior to lambing or kidding.
At the time of vaccination
Two weeks prior
At the time of parturition
Use the FAMACHA© system and Five Point Check© to determine the need for deworming individual females.
Increase the level of protein in the ration during late gestation.
Do not administer Valbazen® during first 30 days of pregnancy.

Feed a coccidiostatTo reduce the number coccidia oocytes in the lambing and kidding environment
In feed or mineral
Bovatec® - sheep
Rumensin® - goats
Deccox® - both
Continue through weaning.
As an aid to prevent abortions caused by Toxoplasmagondii.
 Coccidiostats, especially Rumensin® are toxic to the equine family.

AntibioticsIf there is a flock history or risk of abortions
Feed
Chlortetracycline (aureomycin) fed at a level of 80 mg/head/day during the last 6 weeks of gestation
Injections
Oxytetracycline (LA-200) at 2 week intervals.

Give injectable antibiotics to remaining females.
Isolate aborting females
Submit fetuses and placenta to diagnostic lab.
Destroy fetuses, fluid, and placenta from abortion females.
Disinfect pens.
In the event of an abortion “storm”

Shear or crutch before lambing/kidding (about one month prior)
Results in a cleaner, drier, healthier, environment for babies.
Shorn ewes are less likely to lay on their lambs.
Ewes take up less space in barn and around feeders
Results in cleaner fleeces
Shorn ewes will seek shelter
Shorn ewes/does will need more feed to compensate for heat loss from shearing.
Freshly shorn ewes/does require adequate shelter.
Crutching– removal of wool around udder and vulva area.

Get your facilities, equipment, and supplies ready 2 weeks before the first babies are due.

Clean, dry, draft-free building (cold or inclement weather)
Put dams and offspring in small pen after parturition
Called a “jug”
5 ft. by 5 ft. (bigger or smaller depending upon size of female)
1-3 days
Clean, well-rested pastures (during mild weather)
Have shelter available
Pen dams and offspring with problems
Lambing and kidding

Recommended supplies to have on hand
Frozen colostrum
Prolapse retainer or harness
Weigh sling
Milk replacer
Colostrum supplement
Elastrator
OB lube
Needles and syringes
Ear tags
OB sleeves
Antibiotic(s)
Rubber rings
OB lubricant
Nylon rope or snare
Nipples/teats
OB S-curved needle
Esophageal feeding tube
Disinfectant
Hanging scale
Thermometer
Heat lamb or warming box
Dextrose
Oral dosing syringe
Propylene glycol
Bo-Se
Calcium borogluconate
Pocket record keeping book

Do’s and don’ts during late gestation
DO’s
Increase nutrient intake(increase grain intake slowly)
Monitor calcium intake
Feed a coccidiostat
Vaccinate for CD-T
Encourage exercise
Shear or crutch full-fleeced animals.
Deworm or evaluate need for deworming
Prepare facilities
Inventory supplies
DON’T’s
Introduce new animals
Mix pregnant ewe lambs and doelings with mature females
Overfeed
Underfeed
Stress

Thank you for your attention. Questions?
Susan Schoenianwww.sheepandgoat.com
sschoen@umd.edu
Small Ruminant Program

Late Gestation

by University of Maryland Extension Small Ruminant Program

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Late Gestation Presentation Transcript

Late Gestation

by University of Maryland Extension Small Ruminant Program

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Late Gestation Presentation Transcript

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