Question:
We farm with Dorper sheep in the Koffiefontein district. We are in our summer lambing season (the pasture is nice and green but slightly wilted). We’re experiencing a problem where some lambs die from bloating at two to three days. The ewes are in very good condition and have plenty of milk. They were vaccinated against enterotoxemia (pulpy kidney) and dewormed before the lambing season. Could the ewes’ milk be too rich for the lambs? When we cut open the abomasum (milk stomach), it looks like the milk has fermented. Could Clostridia or Lactobacillus play a role here, and how can we help the bloated lambs?
Answer:
Bloating in lambs is not the same as bloating in adult sheep. It results from abnormal fermentation, especially in the abomasum (milk stomach). It is accompanied by a very low pH, meaning excessive acidity. These two factors cause the lamb to die quickly – often, the abomasum ruptures. Bacterial germs are held responsible, but the underlying cause has been using the wrong artificial milk, especially milk powder intended for calves. It could also possibly be linked to incorrect creep feed. Were the lambs not exposed to this? Or did they perhaps gain access to other concentrated feed? There is no evidence that it can be attributed to too much or too rich ewe’s milk. This case requires further careful investigation.
Treatment is usually too late because the animals bloat and die so quickly. In theory, oral administration of antibiotics should stop the fermentation process. However, the usual solution is to provide the correct artificial milk at the right times. Alternatively, an antibiotic can be mixed with the artificial milk as a temporary solution. In this case, however, the underlying factors causing the bloat must first be determined.
The disease is briefly discussed in the book Sheep and Goat Diseases*. It is a rare phenomenon.
*Written on 2 May 2007 by Prof. Gareth Bath, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria.
More advice: Vet’s Advice to Farmers is a useful A5-sized manual with contributions by veterinarians published in Farming SA. Readers’ questions were answered by Dr Danie Odendaal (livestock), Prof. Gareth Bath (small stock), Dr Mary-Louise Penrith (pigs), and Dr Mick Versfeld (pigs) and compiled in this useful booklet. It contains more than 100 questions and answers. The book is available here.
