Feeding sheep silage anti-poisoning in winter

The affected sheep shows a lack of appetite, appears lethargic, has red conjunctiva, exhibits slow responses, and does not ruminate. The rumen is distended and feels soft and elastic upon palpation. Feces are soft and sour, indicating severe dehydration, with sunken eye sockets and reduced or no urine output. Body temperature remains relatively stable, ranging between 37°C and 39.5°C. The animal walks in a hunched posture, often lies down, and may flex its head and neck or arch its back. It may experience dizziness, and in severe cases, fall into a coma. If left untreated, the condition can be fatal within 3 to 5 days.

To prevent this condition, it's important to select high-quality silage, but avoid feeding only silage. Silage should not make up more than 60% of the daily diet to ensure a balanced nutritional intake.

For sheep showing mild symptoms, a gastric tube can be used to flush the rumen with warm water (37°C–40°C) until the contents are free of acid odor. Then, 200–500 ml of rumen fluid from a healthy sheep can be administered directly into the affected sheep’s rumen. For severe cases, intravenous injections of 50–1500 ml of 5% sodium bicarbonate solution, 500–1000 ml of glucose solution, and 60 ml of vitamin C are recommended. In cases of heart failure, subcutaneous injections of 2–20 ml of 2% nikethamide, 10–20 ml of 10% sodium, or 3–5 ml of 0.1% adrenaline may be necessary. Additionally, using a stomach tube, administer 10 grams of sodium bicarbonate mixed with 2000–4000 ml of warm water to neutralize lactic acid in the rumen. A herbal mixture containing 30 grams of trichosanthin, puerarin, honeysuckle, 60 grams of licorice, and 500 grams of mung beans can be prepared by grinding them into a fine powder and mixed with boiled and warmed water for administration via a stomach tube.