Are Your Sheep Consuming Enough Calcium?

The only way to honestly evaluate a mineral program is to start with testing forages and other feeds consumed by the sheep. Nutrient levels can be assessed using wet chemistry analysis or near-infrared (NIR) analysis. Not only do you need to evaluate mineral levels in feed rations, but you should also compare ratios of some nutrients. Calcium levels become particularly important during late gestation. Lambs begin to grow rapidly during the last third of the pregnancy, and the ewe requires more calcium in her diet. Consider the calcium requirements of a 150-pound ewe, which increase from 2.4 grams per day at maintenance levels to 6.5 grams per day in early gestation and then to 8.8 grams per day in late gestation, assuming she is carrying twins.

Many forages will meet the nutritional requirements of ewes at maintenance and possibly even through mid-gestation. However, rations may need closer inspection to best balance nutrients for late gestation, lactation (milk production), or for growing lambs. Legumes are much higher in calcium than grasses and could better meet calcium requirements. However, simply changing forages is not the answer to better meeting nutritional requirements. Keep in mind that the sheep's diet needs to be balanced with other nutrients, including protein and energy.

Another major consideration when looking at calcium is the ratio of calcium to phosphorus in the sheep's diet. The recommended ratio of calcium to phosphorus from the Sheep Production Handbook is 2:1, with higher levels tolerable up to 7:1 if the ration contains adequate amounts of phosphorus.

In the case of a ewe carrying twins in late gestation, calcium levels that are too low can result in hypocalcemia, also known as milk fever. Clinical signs include weakness, lack of appetite, muscle tremors, and inability to stand. Most shepherds would consider pregnancy toxemia as the issue. However, ewes in good body condition that are consuming adequate levels of energy in their feed should not develop problems with pregnancy toxemia. So, the next consideration should be hypocalcemia. Consult your veterinarian for treatment procedures, which will likely involve administering calcium intravenously to treat the deficiency.

Incorrect calcium-to-phosphorus ratios can also lead to urinary calculi in rams and wethers. As the calcium-to-phosphorus ratio approaches 1:1, the incidence of urinary calculi increases significantly. This results when mineral deposits block the urinary tract. Affected sheep have difficulty urinating and often stomp their feet or kick at their belly. This condition is sometimes called water belly because the blocked urinary tract can cause the bladder to rupture and result in death. This issue often affects feedlot lambs, but can be prevented by adding ammonium chloride at a rate of 0.5% of the total diet. Ammonium chloride acts by acidifying the urine, which helps prevent the development of mineral deposits. A constant supply of clean, fresh water and access to salt also helps to prevent urinary calculi.

In young and rapidly growing animals, calcium works along with phosphorus and vitamin D to produce strong bones. A lamb can develop rickets from deficiencies or imbalances of any of these nutrients, although it is most often caused by phosphorus or vitamin D deficiencies. Rickets appears as swollen ends of the leg bones and lameness. Fractures frequently occur when lambs suffer from rickets.

Calcium and the calcium-to-phosphorus ratio are critical to sheep nutrition, but calcium is just one of many minerals essential to the overall health of the flock. Always consult with your local veterinarian or a nutritionist to balance rations. Properly balanced rations can lead to improved growth and reproductive performance within the flock, ultimately resulting in higher profitability.