Author Topic: can they get to fat? sheep on back...  (Read 3532 times)

wonderwooly

  • Joined May 2013
can they get to fat? sheep on back...
« on: May 10, 2013, 12:02:11 am »
hello I am new to this forum.

was wondering if any body could help, to be clear we are relative newbees in sheep, and have just received three ewes back after a little brake at a friends house after a year as we were moving, and on coming back after two days or so one was obviously a bit unwell, front feet going down then back and staying down, panting too, getting worse quickish, she was is big and was worried about bloat initially then on consultation with vet said possible bloat but also consider calcium/magnesium deficient, so drenched and she seems to be getting better, then when out to do a wee reckey day or so latter, and theres a sheep down on its side can't get up, arr ****** she a gonna i thought but it was a different one, I rolled her over and she popped up no bother, she is also looking big around the wast and was clearly struggling to get back on her legs.
so could these be related issues, and is it possible that they could be too fat? if so should I limit there grazing,
(i limited the first which I drenched for two days on hay) but back in field now.
thank you ross 

bizzielizzie66

  • Joined Apr 2013
  • Kent
Re: can they get to fat? sheep on back...
« Reply #1 on: May 10, 2013, 08:03:15 am »
 Yes it is possible they are too fat and it can mean that they can get cast and not be able to get up again. If cast for too long it can have bad consequences - did the one you got up look particularly swollen one side? That's a gas build up that happens if they are stuck on the ground for a while. Normally they potter off a bit unsteadily when you get them up (sometimes you have to steady them for a while til they find their feet again) and the gas subsides.  I think the shorter squarer breeds more prone to this. 

Didn't the vet say anything about their size? If you can handle sheep easily, try and do condition scoring. I think there's an Adam Henson video on You-Tube about it. It will teach you to work out if they are too fat. What was the grazing like at your friend's?  If they've moved from poor to lush grazing then bloat is possible. If they are just too fat it will have happened at your friend's - they don't get fat in a few days - but they can get gassy.  Check out poo - is it a bit green & squashy?  Either way, if they are just too fat and/or bloated on lush grass, limiting their grazing is the answer. Strip grazing with electric fencing works for mine - though not all sheep respect electric fencing.

Hope this makes sense - written in a rush! Hope it goes ok for you  :fc:
Keeper of Ryelands (learner) , Geese, Bantams, Chickens, Ducks , Horses & Cattle.  Animal Feed Merchant by day & BSc Agriculture graduate of yore :)

SallyintNorth

  • Joined Feb 2011
  • Cornwall
  • Rarely short of an opinion but I mean well
    • Trelay Cohousing Community
Re: can they get to fat? sheep on back...
« Reply #2 on: May 10, 2013, 09:55:36 am »
Plus, if they now have great thick fleeces they can get too heavy from the weight of the wool and they get 'cast' on their backs.
Don't listen to the money men - they know the price of everything and the value of nothing

Live in a cohousing community with small farm for our own use.  Dairy cows (rearing their own calves for beef), pigs, sheep for meat and fleece, ducks and hens for eggs, veg and fruit growing

wonderwooly

  • Joined May 2013
Re: can they get to fat? sheep on back...
« Reply #3 on: May 10, 2013, 11:20:00 pm »
thank you for your responces

arr cast that's the term on the tip of my tong i couldn't find, there Dorset down/horn crosses so quite stumpy, no not swollen on the right, it was difficult to tell though because there so large either side, i think a good sheer and I will try to point score them, that's a good idea and strip graze them too. she seems fine now I think I was quick to her as I was watching the other one.

my friend was definitely a bit more grazed than here and the land is different mineral speaking. as it go's I have kept a good eye on them the past day or so and I can still see in the first one that I think recovered with the calcium drench, has still got a small limp on the front left leg, nothing in comparison to before.  However after talking it through with thouse involved, i was not there but, there is a possibility she was slightly roughly brought into the trailer using a crook. ironically I'm recovering from a broken ankle at the moment and I was wondering if this may also ring any bells, I'm thinking if one of them is showing signs of difficulty moving to a new pasture maybe i should drench them all. or perhaps It is an isolated case because she is stressed because of a bad leg. either way thank you so much for your replies it is great to know I can talk to people out there with experience. 

oh by the way, the vet was consulted but she didn't see the sheep, the call out is quite pricey there v,busy and time was of essence, also in reality the next stage was puncture the rumun if bloat or in the trailer to the vet but this would have arguably caused more stress. always seems to happen on a sunday eve before some sort of bankholiday.  thanks again r 

wonderwooly

  • Joined May 2013
Re: can they get to fat? sheep on back...
« Reply #4 on: May 10, 2013, 11:26:54 pm »
sorry I said not swollen on right but meant left... ie bloat i think thats right, arr its late..

 

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