632 Journal of Agriculture. [10 Oct., 1910^ 



FATTY DISEASE OF THE LIVER IN 

 PREGNANT EWES. 



/. A. GilrutJi, D.V.SC., M.R.C.V.S., Professor of Yet.rinary Sciences- 

 Melbourne University. 



In New Zealand for a number of years thert has been experienced 

 a considerable annual loss by flock-owners of ewes in good condition, 

 heavy in lamb, just prior to the termination of the period of gestation. 



This condition was fully investigated by me when occupying the 

 position of Chief Veterinarian of the Dominion, and it is gratify- 

 ing to be able to record that the preventive measures recommended 

 as the result of inquiry have, wherever intelligently applied, been com- 

 pletely successful. The condition now becomes interesting to Australian: 

 stock-owners as the disease appeared in at least one flock in Victoria 

 during the past year. 



The following symptoms, pathological changes, cau.ses, &c., of the 

 disease are taken from a bulletin written by me for the New Zealand 

 Department of Agriculture: — 



A N T E - P A RT U M P AR AL Y SIS. 



" This di.sease of pregnant ewes, originally investigated by me in 

 Canterbury, is found to exist throughout the Dominion, although more 

 prevalent in the South. The disease is as.sociated with circumstances 

 tending to a general gro.ssness of condition. There is always intense fatty 

 infiltration of the liver, the kidneys and other organs being also more or 

 less fatty. 



" This complaint is particularly common amongst ewes fed on dry 

 food, whether in the form of chaff, hay. or simply dry nourishing herbage, 

 which explains whv it is experienced more in the South than in the North. 



Cau,se. 



" The di-sease is undoubtedly due to dietetic influences, and is asso 

 ciated with a plethoric condition of the system, particularly the fatty 

 nifiltration of the liver, kidneys, and other organs of the body, following 

 the inordinate, rapid, and continuous formation of fat. There is no 

 question of contagious disease, or of any organic lesion from which an 

 animal may not recover, provided the necessary measures are adopted in 

 time. 



Predisposing Causes. 

 " These may be summed up as any condition which predisposes to the 

 accumulation and deposition of fatty tissue, such as breeding for mutton 

 purposes, an over-supply of fat-forming food during pregnancy, the 

 facility of securing food, twin lambs borne in the womb, &c. In fact, 

 all pregnant ewes of the heavier types are inherently liable to this con- 

 dition, especially in this country ; becoming heavy in lamb they naturally 

 only take what exercise is absolutely necessary to secure their daily food, 

 and, that being generally readily found, often supplied by hand, an 

 extraordinarily fatty condition is easily produced. 



" Several marked instances have come under my observation proving 

 the truth of these contentions, of which the following may be cited: — ■ 



" One farmer who had lost forty-.seven out of a thousand ewes before 

 the lambing was far advanced had been feeding with chaff and hay, the 

 sheep being allowed to eat what quantity they pleased. As a result, many 



