Presentation given at the 2011 Lambing & Kidding School in Wye Mills, MD, by Susan Schoenian, University of Maryland Extension Sheep & Goat Specialist.

1. SUSAN SCHOENIAN (Shāy-nē-ŭn)
Sheep & Goat Specialist
Western Maryland Research & Education Center
sschoen@umd.edu - www.sheepandgoat.com

2.  Seventy (70) percent
of fetal growth is
occurring.
NEEDS 
 Most of the female’s
udder development is
occurring.
 Her rumen capacity is
decreasing.
 She’s eating less.
INTAKE 

3.  A more nutrient-dense diet
 To compensate for
reduced feed intake.
 To support fetal growth.
 To support udder
development.
 To prevent pregnancy
toxemia and milk fever. Remember: animals need amounts
 To ensure birth of (lb, g) of nutrients -- not percentages.
strong, healthy babies of
moderate size (weight).
 Poor nutrition can cause
Angora does to abort (90-
110 d).

4.  Energy is the nutrient most likely
to be deficient, but protein can
also be deficient in the diet, due
to reduced intake.
 Nutrient requirements vary by
species, breed, size, age, and
number of fetuses.
 Grain is often necessary
to meet increase energy needs
of pregnant females.
 If a low quality forage is fed, it
may also be necessary to provide
supplemental Ca and/or protein. Remember: animals need amounts
(lb, g) of nutrients -- not percentages.

5. UNDERFEEDING OVERFEEDING
 Pregnancy toxemia risk  Pregnancy toxemia risk
 Smaller, weaker babies  More likely to prolapse
 Reduced colostrum their vaginas.
quality and quantity  Greater risk of dystocia
 Higher neonatal mortality (difficult birthing).
 Reduced milk yield  Too much internal fat
 Reduced wool production  Oversized fetuses
via fewer secondary  Expensive!
follicles (in the offspring).

6.  Calcium requirements
virtually double during
late pregnancy, but you
need to avoid excessive
calcium, too.
 Milk fever is caused by
low blood calcium
 Pre-partum
▪ Inadequate intake of Ca
 Post-partum (dairy does)
▪ Failure to mobilize Ca
reserves

7. POOR SOURCES GOOD SOURCES
Feed stuff % Ca Feed stuff % Ca
Barley 0.06 Limestone 34.0
Corn 0.02 Dicalcium phosphate 22.0
Oats , wheat 0.05 Trace minerals 14-18
Dry kelp 2.72
Legumes 1.3-1.5
INTERMEDIATE SOURCES
Feed stuff % Ca
Grasses 0.30-0.50
Soybean meal 0.28-0.38

8. Image source: Informed Farmers (Can)
 Our soils are deficient
in selenium.
 During late gestation,
selenium crosses the
placenta to the fetuses.
 Low levels of selenium
can result in . . .
 Poor reproductive
performance
 Retain placentas
 White muscle disease
in lambs and kids

9.  Free choice mineral mixes
usually provide adequate
selenium (but do not
guarantee adequate intake).
 Adding a selenium-fortified
mineral mix to the grain ration
will ensure adequate intake of
selenium and other minerals.
 Selenium and vitamin E can be
supplemented orally (gels).
 On farms with a history of white
muscle disease, selenium
injections (Rx) may be advisable.

10.  Make sure all ewes
and does can eat
at the same time.
 Separate pregnant
ewe lambs and
doelings from
mature females.
 Remove males after
breeding season.
 Do not feed on the
ground.

11.  Stress can predispose
pregnant ewes and does
to many problems.
 Minimize stress during
late pregnancy
 Missed feedings
 Shearing, crutching
 Moving, handling
 Mixing groups
 Dogs

12.  Lack of exercise may
increase the chances of
pregnancy toxemia and
other problems.
 Daily exercise is
recommended
throughout pregnancy.
 Exercise can be
encouraged by
separating
feed, water, and
minerals.

13.  Vaccinate pregnant
females approximately 1
month (at least 2 weeks)
before they are due to
lamb/kid.
 Lambs and kids will
acquire temporary, passive
immunity via the colostrum.
 Females never
vaccinated before
require two injections,
4 weeks apart.

14.  Ewes and does suffer a
temporary loss of
immunity to stomach
worms around the time
of parturition.
 If lambing or kidding
occurs in the spring, the
egg rise coincides with
the hypobiotic larvae
resuming their life cycle.

15.  Traditional approach
 Deworm ewes and does
prior to parturition.
▪ Use an anthelmintic that
has efficacy against
hypobiotic larvae (e.g.
ivermectin, SafeGuard)
 Novel approaches
 Increase level of protein in
late gestation ration.
 Use the FAMACHA©
system and Five Point
Check© to determine
which ewes and does
require deworming.

16.  In feed or mineral  Why?
 Bovatec® - sheep  To prevent coccidiosis
 Rumensin® - goats in lambs and kids.
▪ Reduce shedding of
 Deccox® - both
coccidia organism into
environment.
 As an aid to prevent
abortions caused by
Toxoplasma gondii.
 Coccidiostats, especially Rumensin® can be toxic to equines and dogs.

17.  Why?
 To prevent abortion.
▪ If the flock has a history of
diagnosed abortions.
▪ In the event of an abortion
storm.
 How?
 Feed chlorotetracycline
(aureomycin) at a rate of
80 mg/head/day during the
last 6 weeks of gestation.
 Inject oxytetracycline (LA-
200) at two week intervals
during late gestation [Rx].

18.  Results in
cleaner, drier, healthier
environment for babies.
 Shorn ewes are less likely to
lay on their lambs.
 Shorn ewes are more likely to
seek shelter for lambing.
 Shorn animals take up less
space in the barn and around
feeders.
 Results in cleaner fleeces.
 But . . . shorn animals require
shelter and more feed.

19. FACILITIES SUPPLIES
 Clean, dry, draft-free  Frozen colostrum
building  Esophageal feeding tube
 OB sleeves and lubricant
 Drop area
 Disinfectant for dipping navels
 Small pens (jugs)  Prolapse harness or spoon
 Mixing pens  Needles and syringes
 Propylene glycol
 Clean, well-rested pasture  Calcium borogluconate
 Shelter  Antibiotics
 Emergency pens  Bo-Se
 Thermometer
 More…

20. DO’S DON’TS
 Increase nutrition (gradually)  Overfeed
 Feed pregnant ewe lambs  Underfeed
and doelings separately
 Encourage daily exercise  Stress females
 Minimize stress  Introduce new animals
 Vaccinate for CD-T  Change groupings
 Manage periparturient  Leave males in
egg rise  Worry
 Feed a coccidiostat
 Shear or crutch females
 Prepare facilities
 Gather/inventory supplies

21. Thank you for your
attention.
Any questions?
Susan Schoenian
sschoen@umd.edu
www.sheepandgoat.com