Caprine Health

Ketosis or Pregnancy Toxemia in the Doe Pregnancy toxemia, also known as ketosis, is a metabolic disease that occurs in late pregnancy. It is most prevalent in does carrying two or more kids or in very fat does. Ketosis is caused by a disturbance in carbohydrate usage in the doe. As a doe’s pregnancy progresses, the energy demands of her body increase as her kids grow in her uterus. At the same time, the capacity of her rumen shrinks since her growing uterus takes up more and more space inside of her leaving less space for the rumen . This combination can result in the doe not receiving enough carbohydrates (energy) through her diet. As a result she will have to resort to breaking down her own body tissues (usually fat) in order to provide energy for her growing kids, thus releasing ketones (a toxic by-product of fat breakdown) into her bloodstream. When this occurs too rapidly, the doe’s body cannot detoxify the ketones fast enough and ketosis or pregnancy toxemia results. Ketosis can also occur when a doe is too fat since fat also takes up room inside of the doe resulting a less space for the rumen to hold feed. Additionally, conditions that interrupt feed intake, such as storms, trucking or other diseases, can also induce this metabolic disease. Symptoms: Does with ketosis are lethargic and have a poor appetite for one to two weeks, generally within the last one to two weeks of pregnancy. They also tend to have poor muscle control and balance. A classic symptom is sweet-smelling (ketotic) breath. Goats may also grind their teeth and moan. Eventually they lie down and are unable to rise. Death usually follows within a few days. Treatment Treatment of ketosis is relatively simple – administer a readily usable form of energy (usually glucose) and get the doe eating on her own again (usually with the help of anabolic steroids). Once she is eating, add grain to her ration to increase energy intake. Cesarean section or induced abortion will usually lead to recovery of the doe if the ketosis is caught early enough. If the kids are near term they may also be saved. Unfortunately, response to treatment is usually not very good; however, it is worth the effort of trying especially if the affected doe is valuable. Once pregnancy toxemia is in advanced stages (doe lying down unable to rise), no treatment is highly effective. Prevention: Since treatment is not generally effective, avoiding conditions that lead to ketosis is the best course of action. First, avoid over conditioning does in early pregnancy. This includes preventing does from becoming too fat and also slimming down does that are already fat. Next be sure to feed good-quality forages and/or grain supplements that are palatable during the last two months of pregnancy. This allows does to receive adequate energy even though their rumen volume is decreased. If adequate and suitable feed is not available for the whole herd during late pregnancy, gentle driving can identify early cases of ketosis. Ketotic does can be recognized by the symptoms outlined above. These does can then be separated from the herd and given special care. In summary, pregnancy toxemia or ketosis is a metabolic disease found mainly in fat does and does carrying multiple fetuses. Symptoms include lethargy and loss of appetite, eventually leading to coma and death.Unfortunately, treatment is not usually very effective, therefore prevention is the best way of dealing with ketosis. Avoid over conditioning does during pregnancy and be sure to feed good to high quality forages and feeds in the last trimester of pregnancy. Sources: The Goatkeeper’s Veterinary Book, 3rd Edition. P. Dunn. Farming Press. 1994. The Merck Veterinary Manual, 7th Edition. C.M. Fraser, et. al.. Merck & Co., Inc. 1991. Goat Health Handbook. T.R. Thedford. Windrock International. 1983. Jackie Nix is an Agricultural Extension Agent with the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service. You may e-mail questions to her at Jackie_Nix@ncsu.edu .

Hormone May Be Early Livestock Disease Marker By Sharon Durham August 29, 2000 Agricultural Research Service scientists have found that a recently discovered hormone could act as an indicator of disease stress in livestock. This hormone marker could make it easier to keep some contamination out of meat processing—and save producers money. Increases in the hormone adrenomedullin (AM) appear to be associated with some forms of infection in cattle, goats, pigs and sheep, according to ARS research animal specialist Theodore H. Elsasser. He has been collaborating with a National Institutes of Health team of scientists led by Frank Cuttitta. NIH is interested in the bioactivity and function of AM in human health and disease. AM is a naturally occurring amino acid peptide hormone produced in many tissues, including adrenal medulla, lung, kidney and heart, and it is involved in many physiological and pathological processes. For example, in ARS experiments, calves that harbored internal parasites had more AM in their pancreatic tissue and blood than healthy calves. So livestock producers may be able to use a test based on higher AM levels as a screening biomarker for disease stress, indicating animals that may not be acceptable for meat processing. Both low-level, long duration parasite infections and intense, short-term bouts can provoke higher AM levels. Elsasser thinks that it may be possible to use AM levels to indicate the presence of other stresses like metabolic diseases in addition to infection, although more investigation on this application is necessary. Currently, meat processors identify questionable carcasses based on visual inspection and then subject them to microbial testing. In the future, a rapid screening test for abnormal AM levels could make it possible for the livestock producer to identify questionable animals before sending livestock to market. Monitoring of AM levels may also give livestock producers the opportunity to help sick animals recover from illness and make them safe for processing, which would be a plus for the producer and the consumer. ARS is the chief research agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Scientific contact: Theodore H. Elsasser, ARS Growth Biology Laboratory, Beltsville, Md., phone (301) 504-8222, fax (301) 504-8623, elsasser@lpsi.barc.usda.gov. Take the Rabies Test!! Jackie Nix Test your knowledge of this common and extremely dangerous disease! True or False 1. All wildlife is susceptible to rabies. 2. The rabies vaccine was developed in the USA in the early 1900's. 3. No person has died from rabies in the USA in the last 5 years. 4 Rabies in a person can be cured by a series of shots. 5 A rabid animal will always be recognizable by its crazed and vicious behavior. 6. Although bats can carry the rabies virus, no rabid bat has infected a human in the USA in recent years. 7 The earliest recorded reports of rabies date from the Middle Ages. 8. Alaska and the Canadian Arctic area are rabies- free. 9 Great Britain is the only country currently considered free of rabies.   Answers in FYI section  AD Spaces For Lease