Anaemia in housed newborn lambs
Bassett, J.M.; Borrett, R.A.; Hanson, C.; Parsons, R.; Wolfensohn, S.E.
Veterinary Record 136(6): 137-140
1995
ISSN/ISBN: 0042-4900 PMID: 7747386 Document Number: 452490
The mean (+ sd) packed cell volume (PCV) of the lambs in a flock mated by 'out-of-season' breeding methods and housed throughout the last 6 weeks of pregnancy and the whole of the suckling period declined to 23.3 + 3.34% when the lambs were a month old, but recovered spontaneously to reach values within the normal range (30 to 35%) before they were weaned at 2 months. Clinical signs of anaemia were observed in only a few lambs at 3 weeks old but the PCV values of all the lambs were lower at this time than at weaning. There was no relationship between the PCV values during the 2 to 4 weeks after birth and the growth rate of the lambs. The administration of 200 mg iron, as iron dextran, by i.m. injection to the newborn lambs prevented the decrease in PCV, but had no effect on the health or growth rate of the lambs throughout the suckling period.