Care and Management of Pregnant Ewes & Does MCQ
Care and Management of Pregnant Ewes & Does MCQ
Introduction
Sheep and goats play an important role in rural economy and small-scale livestock farming. Proper care and management of pregnant ewes and does is essential to ensure healthy offspring, reduce pregnancy losses, and improve overall productivity. Pregnancy is a critical period during which nutritional requirements increase and animals become more sensitive to stress, diseases, and poor management. Scientific management practices related to feeding, housing, health care, and general handling help in successful lambing and kidding. Therefore, understanding the principles of pregnancy management is very important for students, farmers, and livestock professionals.
1. Average gestation period of ewe is
A. 120 days
B. 135 days
C. 147 days
D. 160 days
✅ Answer: C
Explanation: Sheep gestation period is about 147 days.
2. Gestation period of goat is approximately
A. 140 days
B. 150 days
C. 165 days
D. 180 days
✅ Answer: B
Explanation: Goats have a gestation period of about 150 days.
3. Maximum foetal growth occurs during
A. Early pregnancy
B. Mid pregnancy
C. Late pregnancy
D. At parturition
✅ Answer: C
Explanation: About 70% of foetal growth occurs in late pregnancy.
4. Nutritional requirement is highest during
A. First month
B. Second month
C. Last trimester
D. At conception
✅ Answer: C
Explanation: Energy and protein demand increases in late pregnancy.
5. Flushing in sheep and goats means
A. Deworming
B. Vaccination
C. Extra feeding before and after breeding
D. Weaning
✅ Answer: C
Explanation: Flushing improves ovulation and conception rate.
6. Deficiency of energy in late pregnancy causes
A. Mastitis
B. Pregnancy toxemia
C. Milk fever
D. Bloat
✅ Answer: B
Explanation: Low energy intake leads to pregnancy toxemia.
7. Best housing for pregnant ewes should be
A. Crowded
B. Dark
C. Dry and well ventilated
D. Open without roof
✅ Answer: C
Explanation: Clean and dry housing prevents stress and disease.
8. Slippery floor in pregnant animals may cause
A. Bloat
B. Mastitis
C. Abortion
D. Anemia
✅ Answer: C
Explanation: Slipping can lead to injury and abortion.
9. Which mineral is important to prevent weak offspring?
A. Iron
B. Calcium & Phosphorus
C. Copper
D. Zinc
✅ Answer: B
Explanation: These minerals support bone development.
10. Vaccination during pregnancy helps in
A. Weight loss
B. Disease prevention in dam & young ones
C. Heat detection
D. Wool growth
✅ Answer: B
11. Signs of approaching parturition include
A. Loss of appetite
B. Udder enlargement
C. High fever
D. Lameness
✅ Answer: B
12. Deworming during pregnancy should be done
A. Without advice
B. Daily
C. As per veterinarian advice
D. Never
✅ Answer: C
13. Overfeeding during pregnancy may cause
A. Early birth
B. Dystocia (difficult birth)
C. Anemia
D. Diarrhea
✅ Answer: B
14. Ideal concentrate feeding in late pregnancy is
A. 50–100 g
B. 100–200 g
C. 250–400 g/day
D. 1 kg/day
✅ Answer: C
15. Clean lambing pen reduces
A. Milk yield
B. Feed intake
C. Infection risk
D. Growth
✅ Answer: C
16. Colostrum should be fed within
A. 12 hours
B. 6 hours
C. 1 hour after birth
D. Next day
✅ Answer: C
17. Colostrum is rich in
A. Fat only
B. Sugar
C. Antibodies
D. Minerals only
✅ Answer: C
18. Stress during pregnancy leads to
A. Better growth
B. Abortion or weak young ones
C. More milk
D. Early maturity
✅ Answer: B
19. Rough handling of pregnant animals should be
A. Encouraged
B. Practiced weekly
C. Avoided
D. Done before feeding
✅ Answer: C
20. Green fodder recommended during pregnancy is
A. Cereal fodder only
B. Leguminous fodder
C. Straw only
D. Dry grass
✅ Answer: B
21. Which disease vaccination is important in pregnant goats?
A. Rabies
B. PPR
C. Anthrax
D. FMD only
✅ Answer: B
22. Water requirement during pregnancy is
A. Less
B. Normal
C. More
D. Not required
✅ Answer: C
23. External parasite control helps in
A. Wool loss
B. Reducing stress and disease
C. Heat stress
D. Abortion only
✅ Answer: B
24. Exercise during pregnancy should be
A. Very heavy
B. None
C. Moderate
D. Forced
✅ Answer: C
25. Which is a sign of pregnancy toxemia?
A. Active animal
B. Loss of appetite & weakness
C. Excess milk
D. High wool growth
✅ Answer: B
26. Separate pen for advanced pregnancy helps in
A. Fighting
B. Better observation & care
C. Stress
D. Weight loss
✅ Answer: B
27. Mineral mixture should be given
A. Once a month
B. Only at lambing
C. Regularly
D. Never
✅ Answer: C
28. Sudden feed change may cause
A. Better digestion
B. Digestive disorders
C. Weight gain
D. Early parturition
✅ Answer: B
29. Navel cord should be
A. Left untreated
B. Washed with water
C. Disinfected
D. Cut immediately
✅ Answer: C
30. Best bedding material for lambing pen is
A. Wet straw
B. Dry straw
C. Plastic sheet
D. Soil
✅ Answer: B
31. Retained placenta is a problem related to
A. Kid
B. Lamb
C. Dam
D. Feed
✅ Answer: C
32. Pregnancy care improves
A. Mortality rate
B. Survival rate of young ones
C. Disease occurrence
D. Feed cost only
✅ Answer: B
33. Long-distance walking in late pregnancy causes
A. Better health
B. Stress and abortion
C. Strong kids
D. Higher milk yield
✅ Answer: B
34. Record keeping is important to know
A. Wool color
B. Expected lambing date
C. Feed color
D. Floor type
✅ Answer: B
35. Which nutrient prevents milk fever?
A. Protein
B. Energy
C. Calcium
D. Fiber
✅ Answer: C
36. Pregnant animals should be protected from
A. Clean water
B. Green fodder
C. Extreme heat and cold
D. Minerals
✅ Answer: C
37. Late pregnancy feeding mainly supports
A. Wool growth
B. Milk fat
C. Foetal development
D. Horn growth
✅ Answer: C
38. Overcrowding causes
A. Comfort
B. Stress & disease spread
C. Growth
D. Better feeding
✅ Answer: B
39. Which vitamin is important for reproduction?
A. Vitamin A
B. Vitamin E
C. Vitamin K
D. Vitamin C
✅ Answer: B
40. Lambing/kidding area should be
A. Noisy
B. Dark
C. Quiet and clean
D. Crowded
✅ Answer: C
41. Colostrum feeding improves
A. Growth only
B. Milk yield
C. Immunity
D. Digestion only
✅ Answer: C
42. Which is NOT recommended during pregnancy?
A. Mineral supplementation
B. Clean water
C. Stressful handling
D. Vaccination
✅ Answer: C
43. Foetal death may occur due to
A. Balanced feeding
B. Clean housing
C. Severe undernutrition
D. Mineral mixture
✅ Answer: C
44. Pregnancy toxemia is common in
A. Early pregnancy
B. Mid pregnancy
C. Late pregnancy
D. At mating
✅ Answer: C
45. Lamb/kid mortality reduces with
A. Poor hygiene
B. Late feeding
C. Good pregnancy management
D. Stress
✅ Answer: C
46. Which feed should be avoided in pregnancy?
A. Legume fodder
B. Moldy feed
C. Green grass
D. Concentrate
✅ Answer: B
47. Which system is best for close observation?
A. Free range
B. Semi-intensive
C. Separate maternity pen
D. Open grazing only
✅ Answer: C
48. Pregnancy care mainly focuses on
A. Wool
B. Meat
C. Dam and foetus health
D. Market value
✅ Answer: C
49. After parturition, dam should be given
A. Cold water only
B. No feed
C. Light feed & warm water
D. Dry straw only
✅ Answer: C
50. Proper care of pregnant ewes & does results in
A. Economic loss
B. Weak offspring
C. Healthy lambs/kids & higher productivity
D. Disease outbreak
✅ Answer: C
Conclusion
Care and management of pregnant ewes and does is a vital component of successful sheep and goat production. Balanced nutrition, clean and comfortable housing, regular health care, and stress-free handling during pregnancy ensure proper foetal development and safe parturition. Special attention during the last trimester and around the time of lambing or kidding helps in reducing mortality and improving survival rate of lambs and kids. Adoption of proper pregnancy management practices not only improves animal welfare but also enhances farm profitability and sustainability. Hence, scientific care of pregnant ewes and does should be given priority in small ruminant farming.
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