An outbreak of hypocalcaemia in ewes associated with dietary mismanagement
Sweeney, H.J.; Cuddeford, D.
Veterinary Record 120(5): 114
1987
ISSN/ISBN: 0042-4900 PMID: 3604019 Document Number: 295300
Forty-three of 350 purebred Llyn ewes became comatose and 5 died within 12 hours. The ewes were within 2 weeks of lambing and most carried twins. All but two of the remainder responded to i/v injection of 40 ml 40% calcium borogluconate solution plus 40 ml subcutaneously. The diet consisted of swedes for 3 hours daily, hay and 0.3 kg of a mixture of whole barley and fish-meal pellets. The supplement was inadequately mixed and had a mean Ca and P content of 4.8 and 6.9 g/kg dry matter, respectively. Serum calcium ranged from 0.74 to 1.18 mmol/litre (normal 2.86 to 3.24), inorganic phosphate was correspondingly low, and magnesium normal. An energy deficit was indicated by elevated 3-hydroxybutyrate (1.30 to 2.09 mmol/litre) representing a daily deficit of 3.5 MJ metabolisable energy. Calcium intake per ewe was calculated to be 3.5 g/day whereas 10.1 g/day is recommended for a 60 kg ewe carrying twins. Also contributory to the condition was the variation in the calcium content of the concentrate.