VN May 2017

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twin-bearing ewes do not produce enough colostrum for their lambs after birth. (3) For this reason, it is imperative to ensure that ewes receive good and adequate nutrition, so that there will be sufficient colostrum available and subsequent milk produced to meet the needs of the growing lamb. (3) Look out for Part 2 in the June issue. References: 1. Dwyer CM, Conington J, Corbiere F, Holmøy IH, Muri K, Nowak R et al. Invited review: Improving neonatal survival in small ruminants: science into practice. Animal. 2016 Mar 1; 10(03):449-459. 2. Dwyer CM. The welfare of the neonatal lamb. Small Ruminant Research . 2008 Apr 30; 76(1):31- 41. 3. Nowak R, Poindron P. From birth to colostrum: early steps leading to lamb survival. Reproduction Nutrition Development . 2006 Jul 1; 46(4):431-446. Zoetis South Africa (Pty) Ltd., Co. Reg. No.: 2012/001825/07, 6th Floor, North Wing, 90 Rivonia Road, Sandton, 2196. PO Box 783720, Sandton, 2146, South Africa. Tel.: +27 11 245 3300 or 0860 ZOETIS (0860 963847). www.zoetis.co.za Reference No.: CE/ART01/03/2017/JA v

are very vulnerable to infectious diseases until they have acquired passive immunity through their dam’s colostrum. (1,2,3) The window for passive transfer of immunity is very narrow, not only because of the lamb’s intestinal closure to immunoglobulin absorption between 24 and 36 hours after birth, but also because the concentration of immunoglobulins in the colostrum decreases rapidly. (1) Insufficient intake of colostrum is a major factor affecting neonate survival. (1,3) Early colostrum intake will also enable the lamb to increase heat production by 17 %, even if body reserves are low, thereby providing increased resistance to hypother- mia. (1) In the first 18 hours of life, a lamb needs approximately 50 ml colostrum per kilogram bodyweight at an environmental temperature between 18 °C to 26 °C, which increases to approximately 280 ml colostrum/kg at 0 °C to 10 °C, however, few ewes can meet their lamb’s needs in these instances. (1,3) Even though twin-bearing ewes produce more colostrum, they do not have as much colostrum per lamb, which has serious implications for lambs already born at lower birth weights and lower energy reserves. (1,3) An estimated 10 % of single-bearing and 30 % of

compensate for the heat lost from the lamb’s transition into the external environment, lambs have to increase their heat production by up to 15 times. (3) Even though sheep are normally quite resistant to cold weather, cold stress can cause significant discomfort to lambs if they are not kept dry and adequately nourished. (2) The resultant hypothermia can cause a dramatic rise in lamb mortalities and therefore, protection and shelter from wet weather and wind chill is vital. (1,2) Lambs rely almost entirely on their physiological ability to utilise brown adipose tissue to generate heat. Interestingly, the development of these brown adipocytes is regulated by the thyroid hormones and variations in these hormones are a reflection of breed differences in lamb body temperature. (2) Smaller lambs have less body reserves, and are therefore generally weaker, slower to stand and have less drive to suckle. (1,2,3) The ability of the lamb to stand up and suckle is fundamental in ensuring that sufficient colostrum is ingested on time. (2) Standing also decreases heat loss to the ground. (1) Lambs do not receive antibodies from the ewe via the placenta therefore, neonatal lambs

African Wildlife Foundation decries ruling on South Africa’s rhino horn trade ban The following is an excerpt from a statement by Philip Muruthi, vice-president for species protection from the African Wildlife Foundation, issued after the ruling by the Constitutional Court It is a sad day for Africa’s rhino. The dismissal was made on appropriate legal grounds but from a conservation perspective, it is potentially disastrous for Africa’s imperilled rhino population. Africa’s rhino have already suffered record levels of poaching to supply the illicit rhino horn trade. With the moratorium on domestic trade lifted in South Africa, criminal gangs now have legal cover under which to operate. We have already seen the damage a legal market can do with the elephant ivory trade over the past 25 years. The legal trade has muddied the waters for law enforcement combating illegal ivory trafficking, while removing the stigma once attached to owning, buying and selling ivory. This strategy has ultimately proven ineffective in stopping elephant poaching, and there is no reason to expect a different outcome for Africa’s rhino. What’s more, a decision to legalise rhino horn trade could be interpreted as an endorsement of the erroneous belief that the horn contains medicinal properties. If legalisation is perceived as an endorsement, it could stimulate, rather than curtail, demand. As we’ve stated previously, legalising any rhino horn trade sends mixed messages to the marketplace at a time when a single, unambiguous message needs to be communicated to the millions – possibly billions – of existing and potential consumers of this product. The dismissal of the appeal is an indisputable setback for those trying to protect Africa’s rhino. We at AWF despair for what this will mean for the survival of the species. v V e t n u u s V e t n e w s V e t n u u s V e t n e w s V e t n u u s V e t n e w s FAST MAIL • BLITSPOS

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