Abstract
Simple SummaryNutritional management is one of the most important factors to ensure adequate productivity and to prevent wasting in sheep flocks. Food needs to be offered in enough quantity and quality to avoid deficiency issues. Motility and metabolic disorders, such as subacute ruminal acidosis, may also lead to emaciation. A combination of a detailed flock history, clinico-pathologic findings, and ancillary tests is necessary to diagnose these conditions. Treatment approaches range from reinstating the levels of the depleted dietary compound to modifications in management practices.The different ovine production and breeding systems share the cornerstone of keeping a good body condition to ensure adequate productivity. Several infectious and parasitic disorders have detrimental effects on weight gains and may lead to emaciation. Flock health management procedures are aimed to prevent such conditions. Nutritional management is equally important to guarantee adequate body condition. Persistent bouts of low ruminal pH due to excess concentrate in the diet may lead to subacute ruminal acidosis. Pre-stomach motility disorders may also lead to ill-thrift and emaciation. An adequate mineral supplementation is key to prevent the effects of copper, selenium, and other micronutrients deprivation, which may include, among others, loss of condition. This review elaborates on the clinico-pathologic, diagnostic, and therapeutic aspects of some of these conditions, and highlights the necessity of considering them as contributors to states of wasting in sheep flocks.
Highlights
Sheep are reared in a broad variety of geographical locations and production systems across the world
Ruminal acidosis associated with ingestion of excess carbohydrate in sheep is usually
A syndrome characterized by marked distention and impaction of the abomasum of sheep has been referred to as abomasal emptying defect (AED), known as abomasal impaction, and abomasal dilatation and emptying defect [38]
Summary
Sheep are reared in a broad variety of geographical locations and production systems across the world. Sheep flocks may have different purposes, including meat, milk, and wool production, or, most frequently, a combination of two or three of them [1]. Irrespective of the breeding purpose of a flock, maintaining a good body condition is a basic pillar of the nutritional and health management in order to maximize productivity [2]. Many diseases may compromise sheep body condition, affecting either directly or indirectly food intake and/or nutrient assimilation. There are several nutritional, metabolic, and digestive motility disorders that may disrupt nutrient assimilation and cause loss of condition. A correctly managed diet, which ensures that enough quality food is offered to the animals, is key to prevent wasting due to starving and/or imbalanced mineral intake. We review some of these disorders with especial emphasis on their clinical signs, lesions, diagnostic approaches, and treatments
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