Learning Objectives

• Explain what puts a sheep at risk for pregnancy toxemia (late gestation, less room for feed (multiple fetuses), obesity).
• Describe what conditions may lead to pregnancy toxemia (inadequate nutrition, not enough energy/low blood glucose).
• Explain how pregnancy toxemia can be avoided (more frequent meals, high energy feed, equitable access to water and feed, improving overall health and body condition).
• Demonstrate knowledge of why glucose is important to physiological functioning and complications of low blood glucose.
• Describe the impact of multiple fetuses on rumen function.

Lesson Format

• Students should already have a basic understanding of the ruminant digestive system and the function of each component. The included video can be offered as additional materials for a pre-class review.
• At the beginning of class the student groups can use “Think-Pair-Share” to review the ruminant digestive system and the importance of macromolecules.
• The student will then be assigned one of the pregnancy toxemia case studies to review in their groups. The goal will be to identify the causative factors and answer the attached questions.
• The class will end with a group discussion on the cases.
• A possible post-class assessment or project could assign student diseases or disorders that affect different parts of the ruminant digestive system and how they effect the animal’s overall health.

Ruminant Digestive System Review

Case Studies

Assign each of the groups one of the pregnancy toxemia cases and have them answer the included prompts.