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SHEEP-fed-barely-sprouting-fodders, page : 173
5. Premature births
6. Ewes are slower to come into milk, and when it does come there is less.
7. Weakness in a ewe's fleece that cause the fibers to break at the slightest pull, which consequently decreases the value of the wool.
Ketone Test:
A way in which you can be certain that your ewes that are carrying twins or triplets are getting sufficient nutrition is the run a test for ketones in the urine.
As we mentioned before, ewes that do not get enough feed to meet their energy requirements will use their reserve of body fat. It is then that fat cells are converted into energy, and waste products, called ketones created. Pregnancy disease occurs when the ketones are produced faster than they can be excreted. What happens is they rise to toxic levels in the bloodstream, but this can be easily detected in the urine. You can do the tests yourself with a ketone test kit. Should you discover a ewe is not getting sufficient nutrition you can then separate her and give her the extra attention she needs, in this way underweight or dead lambs and pregnancy toxemia is averted.
CHAPTER 10
LAMBING
The time you awaited is near at hand! Lambing is both hard work but very rewarding, if you choose to lamb in the winter then the work is harder. By the way, if your flock is an all white breed, and much to your surprise you suddenly find you have a black lamb, this will be on account of the recessive gene factor!
PREPARATION FOR LAMBING
A few weeks before lambing it is very helpful to have already sheared the ewe's crotch and face.
6. Ewes are slower to come into milk, and when it does come there is less.
7. Weakness in a ewe's fleece that cause the fibers to break at the slightest pull, which consequently decreases the value of the wool.
Ketone Test:
A way in which you can be certain that your ewes that are carrying twins or triplets are getting sufficient nutrition is the run a test for ketones in the urine.
As we mentioned before, ewes that do not get enough feed to meet their energy requirements will use their reserve of body fat. It is then that fat cells are converted into energy, and waste products, called ketones created. Pregnancy disease occurs when the ketones are produced faster than they can be excreted. What happens is they rise to toxic levels in the bloodstream, but this can be easily detected in the urine. You can do the tests yourself with a ketone test kit. Should you discover a ewe is not getting sufficient nutrition you can then separate her and give her the extra attention she needs, in this way underweight or dead lambs and pregnancy toxemia is averted.
CHAPTER 10
LAMBING
The time you awaited is near at hand! Lambing is both hard work but very rewarding, if you choose to lamb in the winter then the work is harder. By the way, if your flock is an all white breed, and much to your surprise you suddenly find you have a black lamb, this will be on account of the recessive gene factor!
PREPARATION FOR LAMBING
A few weeks before lambing it is very helpful to have already sheared the ewe's crotch and face.