25/06/2025
Probably the most relevant topic at the moment for a lot of farmers and lifestylers is sleepy sickness (** explained at the end of this post so that you don't have to wade through that explanation before getting to the important stuff!) in sheep. My pet ewe, Poppy, was missing from this mornings feed out and head count. I went looking for her and found her standing in a very odd place, completely alone looking very "flat" and lethargic. Normally she would be the first to the gate for breakfast. We've given her Ketol and some "One for All" feed (Barley, Maize, Oaten Chaff & Molasses) to give her a boost, and she'll get moved tonight onto greener, lusher grass to help her maintain the required energy levels to provide for her twin lambs growing inside her. The whole flock will also get provided with a Sheep Mineral Molasses block to help them get everything that they need at this very critical time.
We got lucky.... I check our sheep everyday (sometimes twice a day) and I know their normal behaviour so can quickly spot when something isn't right. These factors have been imperative to hopefully having a good outcome for Poppy as we caught it very early. Once the sheep go down, they often don't have the energy to get back up and feed/water themselves. This is the start of the slippery slope into ketosis, coma and death.
Everyday is important with in-lamb ewes, but the last 4-6 weeks are some of the most critical weeks. Please ensure that your ewes have the following during this time....
* Access to good grass, or supplementary feed like hay, baleage and nutritional pellets if the grass is scarce
* Checked everyday and any abnormal behaviour noted and acted on quickly
* Access to a mineral block if possible
Now is a good time to be thinking about pre-lambing vaccinations for your ewes, arming your lambing first aid kits, and moving stock to your most sheltered, safe lambing paddocks that you have.
We have meadow hay, lucerne hay, clover hay, and mini baleage available at Living Rural. We also have Sharpes Multi Feed Nuts, Drought Mix, and One For All which are all perfect feed supplements for sheep (and other animals!). You can also come to us for your drenching and vaccine requirements.
Photo 1 - Poppy and her friend Rowdy when they were just little lambs
Photo 2 - What a ewe might look like in later stages of sleepy sickness (stock photo, not Poppy - she is black!)
Photo 3 - The vicious cycle of sleepy sickness that will eventually end up with coma and death if not caught in time
Photo 4 - Feed and mineral supplements for sheep
Photo 5 - Baleage (mini bales)
Photo 6 - Meadow hay
Photo 7 - Ketol (best treatment aid for sleepy sickness)
** Sleepy sickness (also known as ‘twin lamb disease’ or ‘pregnancy toxaemia’) is a metabolic disorder of sheep seen in late pregnancy and is caused by a mismatch in the energy requirements of the ewe and the energy provided (via feed). This mismatch can be due to low levels of nutrition being offered to pregnant ewes (especially in the last six weeks of pregnancy) but can also occur in multiple-bearing ewes, even when they’re offered adequate feed levels.