3. Ewe 3
“ The female of the sheep especially when it
fully mature”.
• A member of a people of Togo and Ghana, in
western Africa, the Kwa language spoken by
the Ewe people.
5. Puberty 5
• Ewes generally reach Puberty at six to
eight months of age .
• Puberty is when a ewe reaches sexual
maturity and exhibits estrus (heat) for the first
time.
• The age of puberty is influenced by
breed, genetic selection, body size,
nutrition, and season of birth.
6. Pregnancy 6
The average gestation length in sheep varies
from 142 to 152 days.
• The average is 147 days.
• There are breed differences in gestation
length.
8. 01.Pregnancy toxaemia 8
• ketosis, pregnancy toxemia
• Pregnancy toxaemia occurs when low levels of
glucose in the blood, damage the brain and
result in dehydration, kidney failure and
potentially death.
• It usually occurs in the last weeks of
pregnancy.
9. Causes 9
not receive enough nutrition.
• In Western Australia, autumn is a precarious time
for ewes dry feed is minimal and the
pregnant ewe’s nutritional needs are increasing,
making her susceptible to pregnancy toxaemia.
10. Symptoms 10
• standing apart from the flock
• not grazing
• not coming to the trough at feeding time.
11. Treatment 11
• Propylene glycol can be given orally that acts
as a precursor to glucose
• administering IV dextrose
12. 02. Hypocalcaemia 12
(Also known as Milk Fever)
• It can occur in late pregnancy.
• The condition can be induced by some form of
stress with her normal metabolism
low blood calcium.
13. Symptoms 13
• in the early stages the ewe difficult
walk
• Her pupils will be dilated, As the condition
progresses, she will become recumbent, or
with her chin on the ground unable to raise
her head and she may start to produce a
frothy fluid from her mouth and nose.
16. 03. Hypomagnesaemia 16
(Also known as Grass Staggers)
• Fast-growing spring grass is often very low in
magnesium, especially if it has been heavily
fertilised with nitrogen and potash fertiliser,
resulting in low blood magnesium in the ewe
17. Symptoms 17
• animals will appear over-alert
• if left untreated the condition progresses
quickly,
• causing excitability and spasms, or
convulsions, leading to collapse and death in a
few hours
18. Treatment 18
.
• 1. Slow intravenous injection of calcium
borogluconate and magnesium sulphate
• 2. Further subcutaneous injection of a
solution containing a higher concentration of
magnesium.
20. Source 20
• Helen A. Swartz, State Sheep, Goat and Small
Livestock Specialist
• Merck & Co (2008) The Merck Veterinary
Manual (Eighth Edition) Merial (Pregnancy
Toxaemia)
• Durlach, J; Bac, P; Durlach, V; Bara, M; Guiet-
Bara, A (June 1997). "Neurotic, neuromuscular
and autonomic nervous form of magnesium
imbalance". Magnesium research (International
Society for the Development of Research on
Magnesium) (Hypocalcaemia)
21. Source 21
• Foster, A. (2007) Farm Animal Practice:
Magnesium disorders in ruminants In
Practice 29:534-539 (Hypomagnesaemia)