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The Rural Voice, 1991-04, Page 18AGRICULTURAL EMPLOYMENT SERVICES Provide employment planning assistance to the agricultural industry Recruit workers for agricultural employment Assist worker orientation and transportation Promote good employment standards Provide information about government employment programs OWEN SOUND WALKERTON 371-9522 881-3671 CANADIAN CO-OPERATIVE WOOL GROWERS LIMITED ACCEPTING WOOL CLIPS ON CONSIGNMENT V1V..311 * Skirted Fleeces * Well Packed Sacks For more information contact RIPLEY WOOL DEPOT John Farrell R.R. 3, Ripley, Ontario 519-395-5757 14 THE RURAL VOICE DIAGNOSTICS WHITE MUSCLE DISEASE IN LAMBS AND GOAT KIDS by DR. S. E. SANFORD VETERINARY LABORATORY SERVICES Lambs: White muscle disease (WMD), a nutritional myopathy of several farm animal species, is well known and recognized in beef and dairy cattle, pigs, horses, and poultry. However, although WMD is probably more prevalent in sheep in more areas of the world than it is in cattle, its recognition in sheep flocks often seems to lag behind that in other species. In sheep, WMD most frequently affects lambs two to four weeks old. "Rigid lamb disease" and "stiff lamb disease" are other names used to describe WMD in lambs. These names graphically illustrate the more obvious clinical signs exhibited by lambs recently turned out onto pasture in the spring. The disease, however, can affect lambs from one day to two months and older, and can even affect weaned and yearling lambs put onto aftermath pastures or into feedlots. Apart from the stiff or rigid gait, lambs may die acutely, especially if the heart muscle is also affected. Muscles of the thigh and shoulder, and also the back and neck are most often involved. The name "white muscle" comes from the pale appearance of these muscles in clinically affected lambs. The muscles may also become mineralized (calcified) and have a chalky white appearance. If the respiratory muscles are involved, lambs may have difficulty breathing, and this can be mistaken clinically for pneumonia. Incidental- ly, pneumonia can occur as a second- ary problem if the tongue and/or mus- cles used for eating and swallowing are affected; in which case food can "slip down the wrong hole" resulting in an aspiration pneumonia and death. Goat Kids: Although less well docu- mented, WMD does occur in goat kids. It affects kids of a similar age group and follows the same general pattern as WMD in lambs. The over- all occurrence of WMD in goats ap- pears to be less than that in sheep and other farm animal species, or possibly goats are somewhat less susceptible under similar conditions that precipi- tate WMD in other species. Cause and prevention of WMD: WMD is caused by a deficiency of vitamin E and/or selenium. The soil in the entire Great Lakes basin, which includes most of southern Ontario, is deficient in selenium. Furthermore, forage crops stored over winter be- come deficient in vitamin E, thereby creating ideal conditions for WMD in the spring. Selenium deficiency has also been reported to cause impair- ment in reproductive performance in some sheep flocks. WMD can be prevented by pro- viding vitamin E and selenium to ewes and lambs. Injections of vitamin E and selenium are recommended for newborn lambs and goat kids. It is better to inject lambs and kids in the neck area rather than in the muscles of the rear leg. There is a possibility of damaging the sciatic nerve and caus- ing paralysis by injecting in the rear leg. Selenium can be added to the diets of ewes and lambs at the recom- mended rate of 0.3 mg/kg. Cautions and precautions: Produ- cers are advised to consult their veterinarian before embarking on these procedures, especially if they are relatively new or inexperienced, and are unfamiliar with the procedure or the product to be used. Above all, always follow the manufacturer's label recommendations. Vitamin E and selenium can be very toxic when used in excess of the recommended levels. Also follow the manufacturer's label recommendations for storage; avoid freezing any vitamin E and selenium product. Use sterile needles to avoid infection at the injection site. Next month: Floppy Kid Syndrome.0 We invite interested persons to take a tour of the facilities at the Diagnostic Laboratory at Huron Park. We would ask that you make prior arrangements by phoning 228-6691, Ext. 276.