Veterinary Faculty, University of Thessaly, Karditsa, Greece.
Anim Reprod Sci. 2012 Feb;130(3-4):198-212. doi: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2012.01.016. Epub 2012 Jan 25.
The objectives of health management of ewes during pregnancy are as follows: (i) successful completion of pregnancy at term, (ii) birth of healthy and viable lambs, with optimal birth and potential weaning bodyweight, (iii) optimum milk production during the subsequent lactation and (iv) improved management in relation to drug residues in animal products. Knowledge of the physiological background of pregnancy in ewes: changes, mechanisms and interactions, during pregnancy is important for the overall health management of ewes during pregnancy. Health management of pregnant ewes includes diagnosis of pregnancy and evaluation of the number of foetuses borne, which will support strategies for subsequent management of the flock. Nutritional management of ewes depends upon the stage of lactation and specifically aims to (i) prevention of pregnancy toxaemia and other metabolic diseases during the peri-partum period, (ii) formation of colostrum in appropriate quantity and quality, (iii) production of lambs with normal future birth bodyweight and (iv) support of increased milk yield during the subsequent lactation. At the end of lactation, udder management of pregnant ewes includes its clinical examination, culling of ewes considered unsuitable for lactation and, possibly, the intramammary administration of antibiotics; objectives of that procedure are (i) to cure infections which have occurred during the previous lactation and (ii) to prevent development of new mammary infection during the dry period. Management of abortions includes the correct and timely diagnosis of the causative agent of the disorder, as well as the strategic administrations of chemotherapeutic agents, aiming to prevent abortions in flocks with confirmed infection with an abortifacient agent, especially if no appropriate vaccinations had been carried out before the mating season. During the final stage of pregnancy, health management of ewes includes administration of appropriate anthelmintic drugs, aiming to eliminate gastrointestinal helminthes (thus, increasing production output of ewes) and preventing the built-up of parasitic burdens in the environment (thus, reducing infection of lambs during their neonatal period). Vaccinations of pregnant ewes aim to protect these animals, as well as their offspring, especially against diseases which are a frequent cause of neonatal mortality (e.g., clostridial infections). Health management also aims to prevent the main metabolic disorders of pregnant ewes (i.e., pregnancy toxaemia and hypocalcaemia), as well as to monitor flocks for development of these disorders. Health management of pregnant ewes is completed with application of husbandry practices before the start of the lambing season. Finally, in some cases, health management may include induction and synchronisation of lambings, which is a management or therapeutic procedure.
（i）足月妊娠成功，（ii）分娩健康、有活力的羔羊，具有最佳的出生和潜在断奶体重，（iii）随后的泌乳期内最佳产奶量，（iv）改善动物产品中药物残留的管理。了解绵羊妊娠的生理背景：妊娠期间的变化、机制和相互作用对于绵羊妊娠期的整体健康管理非常重要。妊娠绵羊的健康管理包括妊娠诊断和评估所产羔羊的数量，这将支持随后对羊群管理的策略。绵羊的营养管理取决于泌乳期的阶段，其具体目的是（i）预防围产期的妊娠毒血症和其他代谢疾病，（ii）形成适当数量和质量的初乳，（iii）分娩出未来出生体重正常的羔羊，（iv）支持随后泌乳期产奶量的增加。泌乳期末，妊娠绵羊的乳房管理包括其临床检查、淘汰不适合泌乳的绵羊，以及可能对乳房内施用抗生素；该程序的目的是（i）治愈前一次泌乳期间发生的感染，（ii）预防干奶期新的乳房感染的发生。流产的管理包括对疾病的致病因子进行正确和及时的诊断，以及战略性地施用化疗药物，目的是防止在已确认感染致流产因子的羊群中发生流产，特别是如果在配种季节前没有进行适当的疫苗接种。在妊娠的最后阶段，绵羊的健康管理包括给予适当的驱虫药物，目的是消除胃肠道寄生虫（从而增加绵羊的生产产量），并防止寄生虫在环境中的蓄积（从而减少羔羊在新生儿期的感染）。对妊娠绵羊进行疫苗接种的目的是保护这些动物及其后代，特别是针对经常导致新生儿死亡的疾病（例如梭菌感染）。健康管理还旨在预防妊娠绵羊的主要代谢疾病（即妊娠毒血症和低钙血症），并监测羊群中这些疾病的发展。妊娠绵羊的健康管理在产羔季节开始前应用畜牧业实践来完成。最后，在某些情况下，健康管理可能包括诱导和同步产羔，这是一种管理或治疗程序。
