Pregnancy toxaemia in the ewe

PREGNANCY toxaemia, or twin lamb disease, is a common and important disease of late pregnancy. With the drive to increase lambing percentages, and margins dependent on feed costs, the problem has become widespread, particularly in intensively farmed, lowland flocks; the condition is rarely seen under extensive conditions. Many farmers will be faced with a few cases annually, but in certain years up to 40 per cent of ewes in a flock, and possibly 2 per cent of the national flock, may be affected. Control of the disease relies on close attention to nutrition, from as early on as one month before tupping.