The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1925-03-06
Losses of Aged
Ewes Prevented
System of M anagem ent
Rather Than Any Infec-
ton Is the Cause.
prepared by the United States Department
of AEriculture.l

prepared by the United States Department
of Agriculture.)
Heavy losses of aged ewes which
lamb early in the spring under shed
conditions are due chiefly to faulty
nutrition and lack of sufficient ex-
ercise, and can easily be prevented.
According to observations by DR.. w. T.
Huffman, veterinary inspector of the
federal bureau of animal industry, and
Dr.. J. s. Dade, inspector in charge for
the Idaho board of sheep commission
ers. these losses which IN the past have
been especially serious in Idaho
where many early lambs are raised
are likely to occur in other states this
year, because Of the movement of aged
ewes into those states. The ailment
Is of peculiar nature not fully under
stood even by some sheepmen Of long
experience or by many veterinarians.
In recent years sheep owners in
Idaho have lost from 10000 to 10000
sheep some seasons, the losses being
scattered in such a manner as to prove
conclusively that the system of man.
agement rather than any infection is
the cause. Moreover, the mortality 0c-
ours almost entirely among ewes five
years old or more, and about 80 per
cent OF these are carriers of twin
lambs, the remainder carrying we'll
developed single lambs. The losses of
lambs added to the mortality of the
ewes make heavy drain on the re-
sources of the average outfit.
Danger Period.
Losses in Idaho have occurred chief
ly during the latter part of February,
beginning about the Doth, until the
middle Of March, by which time most
OF the early lambs are born. The early
symptoms are loss of appetite. I'M
paired vision, staggering gait, twitch-
ing of muscles Of head and ears, drool-
Ing, and desire to be alone. Later
the ewes develop paralysis and coma,
probably the result of autointOxica-
ton. Affected animals present a
pitiable condition and even after the
advanced stages are noted may live
for several days. The heaviest losses
have occurred in years of poor hay
crops and formerly were attributed to
poisoned hay.
The present knowledge Of shed-lamb-
ing losses indicates the cause to be
close confinement coupled with too
heavy feeding. The remedy is exer-
else and the feeding of balanced ra-
ton, with an ample water supply. of
course. all, practiced for at least 30
days before lambing.
The. ailment is no respecter of
breeds, all being affected in about equal
degree, though observation shows that
cross-bred ewes have the greatest NOR
tally from this cause. The explana-
ton of this fact Is the greater proper
ton of twin lambs which crOss-bred
ewes produce. Another striking obser-
walton is that ewes which, while in the
affected coalition, give birth to lambs
very often recover. The ailment is as
ISOLATED entirely with lambing early
under shed conditions, and with Excess
sive supply of nutriment. The longer
the ewes are fed on ration which
furnishes too large an amount Of nutri-
ton, the greater is the likelihood that
the ailment will appear On the other
hand, sheep which have been on range
until short time before lambing and
have had abundant exercise, even
though fed nothing but hay, have
OBJ ,x,,,, 40 lnocae fv0,,, %h;S oo,.Ca Tn N
case where band of 500 old ewes was
divided among several ranch sheep
men, three lots, fed high and receiving
little exercise. suffered 20 per cent
loss. One, lot, whose owner used the
preventive measures described, suf-
fered no mortality.
Results OF Treatment.
Owing to the rapidly with which the
ailment attacks susceptible animals,
treatment is of doubtful value. In
some cases, the disease has been dag
nosed as hemorrhagic septicemia and
preventive treatment applied to the
rest of the band, but as the ailment
had already run its course among the
susceptible animals, the apparent ar
rest of mortality was misleading re-
suit. ~
The present profitable condition Of
the sheep industry, in general, has re-
suited 10. the retention of many aged,
broken-mouthed ewes which still bring
good prices. Many of these have been
sold to corn belt breeders and feeders,
for whose benefit the foregoing obser-
yafions are largely uresented