Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
PREVENTION OF ENTEROTOXEMIA
Enterotoxemia can be quickly fatal, thus prevention is best. During
pregnancy, vaccinate your ewes with a multipurpose vaccine that
lists clostridium; it should be given to ewes 6 to 8 weeks prior to
lambing, with a booster dose 2 weeks before lambing. In following
years, ewes need only the booster shot. The colostral antibodies
are passed to the lamb, providing immediate and complete protec-
tion against all clostridial diseases, including enterotoxemia and
tetanus, the most common ones.
Enterotoxemia
A disease caused by a multiplying of bacteria called
Clostridium perfringens
that often strike your biggest and best lambs — those that eat with the most
enthusiasm — is known as enterotoxemia, or “overeating disease.” This dis-
order is more common among lambs that are given too much grain and too
little roughage (hay) and those that have had an abrupt change in their feed
ration. Enterotoxemia sometimes occurs among fairly young lambs that get
too much milk from a heavy-milking ewe. Early creep feeding of both hay and
grain helps cut down on the incidence.
Specifi cally, lambs may develop this disease if grain comprises more than
60 percent of their ration or if they are brought up to a full feed of 1½ to
2 pounds (0.7 to 0.9 kg) of grain per day too rapidly. Older lambs with a heavy
load of tapeworms are especially vulnerable. Wet bedding, chilling, and stress
cause variable feed intake, which is conducive to an outbreak.
The immunity provided by the ewe, assuming that the lamb gets a good
dose of her colostrum, protects the lamb until it is about 10 weeks of age.
At that point it should receive its own vaccination. Ideally, a “priming dose”
should be given at 9 or 10 weeks of age, with a booster about a month later.
If the lamb is kept as breeding stock, it will need only the booster dose in
subsequent years, given about 2 weeks prior to lambing.
Enterotoxemia is characterized by sudden death or convulsions and diar-
rhea. Few lambs live long enough to respond to treatment, but injected anti-
serum can be tried. Prevention is the only sure thing.
