CASE NOTES
Two livestock owners' observations on kangaroo gait in lactating composite ewes
Sarah Maher, Animal Production Advisor, AGnVET, Wagga Wagga, Anthony Hoolihan, 'The Poplars', Porter's Retreat and Bruce Watt, Central Tablelands Local Land Services, Bathurst
Posted Flock & Herd March 2025
INTRODUCTION
Kangaroo gait is a radial neuropathy causing forelimb weakness in lactating ewes (O'Toole et al. 1989). Affected ewes move bearing most weight on the hind legs leading to a bunny-hopping or kangaroo-like gait. The condition was first reported in New Zealand (Moffatt 1978) and has since been described in other sheep-producing nations including the United Kingdom and Australia (Cadzow and Watt 2016). It typically affects larger breeds of ewe, especially if bearing multiple lambs. Most ewes recover after lactation.
HISTORY
CASE 1
The farm ran approximately 5000 breeding ewes (3000 merino and 2000 composites) on a mixed cropping and livestock enterprise south of Wagga Wagga. The farmer reported seeing 3-4 ewes, mostly composites, but occasionally merinos, affected with an abnormal gait each year for the previous 8-10 years. Most of the cases were in mature, winter-lambing ewes and were noted prior to weaning. Autumn-lambing and spring-lambing ewe lambs were not affected.
The farmer initially euthanased affected ewes at weaning as he was concerned about welfare and a poor prognosis. In 2024, the farmer was advised the ewes should recover once the lambs were weaned. Affected ewes were subsequently removed from the lambing mobs just prior to the lambs being weaned and placed in the paddock set aside for the ewes, post weaning. The farmer found that affected ewes recovered and could not be identified two months later.
Figure 1. Video of composite ewe with kangaroo gait (Sarah Maher)
Figure 2. Video of second case of composite ewe with kangaroo gait (Sarah Maher)
CASE 2
One of the authors (AH) had run a flock of prime lamb breeding ewes at Porters Retreat for the previous 25 years, commencing with approximately 1500 first-cross ewes joined to Poll Dorset rams, and increasing to 5,000 composite ewes in the previous six years. He had seen occasional cases consistent with kangaroo gait over this time. In the previous six years, he had noticed 20-30 cases per year in 5,000 ewes. Affected ewes were first identified about a month after the commencement of lambing. When mustered for lamb marking, severely affected ewes were often left in the paddock as they were unable to travel.
The condition was most prevalent in twin-bearing mature ewes lambing in the winter (although 80% of ewes bear twins). Ewes lambing in the spring seemed to be less affected. Prevalence appeared to increase with age. While affected ewes lose weight while lactating, almost all recovered by weaning. Mortality was negligible. It was not known if previously affected ewes were more likely to be affected in the following year(s).
REFERENCES
- O'Toole D, Wells GAH, Green RB and Hawkins SAC (1989) Radial and tibial nerve pathology of two lactating ewes with Kangaroo Gait Journal of Comparative Pathology 100:245-258
- Moffat S (1978) Kangaroo Gait in Ewes Proceedings of the Society of Sheep and Beef Cattle Veterinarians of the New Zealand Veterinary Association
- Cadzow and Watt (2016) Kangaroo gait in lactating ewes Posted on Flock and Herd www.flockandherd.net.au