Nutritional myopathy in feeding hoggs

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Animal Nutrition
• Sheep Production

Background:

• Nutritional myopathy, a disease affecting sheep, is often linked to deficiencies in essential nutrients like selenium and vitamin E.
• The typical overwinter diet of turnips and home-grown cereals in the Scottish Borders is known to be deficient in these vital nutrients.
• Environmental and management factors can significantly impact the expression and severity of nutritional deficiencies in livestock.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the unusual increase in nutritional myopathy cases in sheep hoggs in the Scottish Borders during the spring of 1979.
• To identify the contributing factors behind the surge in myopathy cases.
• To underscore the importance of adequate selenium and vitamin E levels in sheep diets.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of disease incidence data from the spring of 1979.
• Evaluation of the typical overwinter diet composition in the affected region.
• Consideration of environmental conditions (weather) and management practices (stocking densities) during the period.

Main Results:

• A significant increase in nutritional myopathy cases was observed in sheep hoggs.
• The prevalent diet was identified as grossly deficient in selenium and vitamin E.
• A cold, wet winter, high stocking densities, and specific management procedures were identified as compounding factors.

Conclusions:

• The surge in nutritional myopathy was likely caused by a combination of dietary deficiencies and adverse environmental/management conditions.
• Ensuring adequate selenium and vitamin E supplementation is crucial for preventing myopathy in sheep, especially under challenging conditions.
• This outbreak emphasizes the need for careful nutritional management in sheep farming to mitigate disease risks.