Vol. 12, Issue 5 (2023)

Author(s):
Siddiq E Akbar A, Sahadev A, Guruprasad R, Babu M, Ravikumar BP and Sathish KB

Abstract:
The study was carried out to record the incidence, diagnosis, treatment for pregnancy toxaemia (PT) and its effect on reproductive parameters in Hassan ewes. The ewes in their last 4-6 weeks of pregnancy with BHBA levels ≥0.8 mmol/L were diagnosed to have PT and were randomly divided into 3 groups. Ewes in group 1 (n=6) did not receive any supplementation and served as positive control, group 2 (n=9) were daily administered (p.o) with 25 mL of GLYCOW, group 3 (n=8) were daily supplemented with 100 g of broken maize and healthy pregnant ewe with BHBA <0.8 mmol/L (group 4; n=6) were taken as negative control for comparison. The ewes were monitored up to lambing and periparturient complications, birth weight and growth rate of lambs were recorded. The incidence of PT recorded was 15.33%. Mean blood glucose level among the groups did not vary significantly during the course of treatment but significant decrease in mean BHBA levels was recorded in group 2 and 3. The BHBA decline was more pronounced and earlier in the group 2 compared to group 3. Decreased gestational length was observed in untreated PT ewes compared to that of group 2, 3 and 4. Periparturient complications were higher in untreated ewes and no complications in healthy ewes. It is concluded that pregnancy toxaemia in Hassan ewes needs to be detected at the right time and treated promptly to minimize the financial loss to the shepherds.