Calcium deficiency in pregnant sheep can easily lead to difficult lambing or even stillbirth; guard against osteomalacia during the winter

    Pregnant sheep need nutrition for themselves and also to support the growth and development of the fetus. In winter, water is cold and grass is withered, and there is little low-temperature sunlight; the vitamin D produced by pregnant sheep through sunlight exposure decreases. If calcium, phosphorus, vitamin D and other substances are not supplemented in time, the bones easily soften, leading to difficult lambing later, postpartum paralysis, congenital rickets and disease in lambs, or even stillbirth. To prevent osteomalacia in pregnant sheep in winter, do the following:

Pregnant sheep

    1 Strengthen care and increase light exposure.Repair the pens in time before winter. The pens are best located in a place sheltered from the wind and facing the sun; in cold weather, cover them with plastic film and straw curtains. Remove accumulated manure from the sheep pen frequently, change the soil frequently, and keep the pen clean and warm. Give the sheep warm soup and warm water to drink, and do not feed frozen grass or frozen water. There is little sunlight in winter, so take advantage of the sunny midday to let pregnant sheep sunbathe more.

    2 Feed silage and ammoniated feed.Cut green corn stalks and sweet potato vines into short pieces and make them into silage and ammoniated feed. This not only saves concentrate and solves the problem of feed shortage, but also has good palatability and can meet the needs of pregnant sheep.

    3 Reasonably match the feed and add vitamins as well as calcium and phosphorus.In addition to feeding pregnant sheep silage, supplements containing vitamin D as well as calcium and phosphorus should also be provided, such as fish meal, bone meal and eggshells. Store and feed more green vegetable leaves, carrots, alfalfa, sweet potatoes, tung leaves and other feed to supplement the nutrients lacking in straw feed.

    4 Use preventive medication to prevent trouble before it occurs.For thin and weak pregnant sheep, preventive medication should be given as early as possible to eliminate hidden risks. The method is calcium gluconate tablets, which can be taken together with cod liver oil pills. Cod liver oil pills contain vitamins A and D, which both promote calcium absorption and deposit calcium and phosphorus in the bones. The duration of medication depends on the constitution of the pregnant sheep; generally 2 to 4 weeks is enough.