Ketosis: let’s talk about it.

I’d be lying if I said it was a word well received in this house. While going through the learning curves of beginning sheep farming, we experienced loss from Ketosis. All it took was once for me to dive in and learn everything I could find on the why’s, how’s, and what’s. To compound the loss, she was one of our first ewes bought and had survived a domestic dog attack a well…all to be taken by the awful “K” word.

So did you know: Ketosis is a imbalance in energy levels brought on by lambs growing rapidly and requiring more energy from momma ewe? And pregnancy toxemia is directly connected to a reduction in calcium? How about hypocalcemia being due to the lambs growing and pulling calcium from their mother to aid in bone growth. All three conditions interconnect. 

When a ewe is facing these issues, she becomes very sore. She lays down, she can’t get back up, misses her nutrition source and becomes Ketotic.

But the fix sounds so simple – Add sugars and calcium with higher fat calorie content and you’re all good, right? 

It’s not that easy if you’re catching it late in the game. It is one on the hardest battles that potentially can be faced during the last 6 weeks of gestation. 

Prevention is key with ketosis, pregnancy toxemia, and/or hypoglycemia in ewes. A higher calcium mineral sure helps reduce the onset of hypocalcemia in the ewes but it alone isn’t enough. It’s important to remember that our ewes who are heavy with lambs are running low on rumen capacity with space decreased every day that the lambs grow in utro. So how do you address the need for increased energy, vitamins and minerals, and calories but not supply it in bulky feeds? 

Our personal shepherds choices are: 

•molasses protein tubs 

•free choice minerals

•easily digestible rations

This is where quality and research comes into play and you need to know your land and what your soil is deficient in. For our flock we are having great success with the Purina Accuration tubs, Purina Wind & Rain Sheep mineral, and a custom formulated ration.  At birth or if we see ewes acts slightly sluggish we give a boost of molasses in their water. 

When we made these shifts, we stopped seeing the issues we were and started seeing our ewes have their needs met. We always provide good quality grass hay – but remember – hay takes rumen space, and some ewes are just plumb out of space during the last week + of gestation. So providing access to needed rescores for nutritional needs to be met is absolutely essential.

Prevention is key my friend. Prevention. It’s a precious thing. Saving you time and money when you’re willing to know what is needed for your flock. 

And remember, my flocks needs might be different than yours – but they are still ruminants and all need these basic needs met. So take this information and see how you might be able to apply this knowledge to your flock management system! ♥️ 

I’d love to hear from you – send us an email! We’re here to help! If you have questions – ask away!

Happy Shepherding!

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