Rib Fractures | Solutions to feedback

Rib fractures can be caused by increased bone fragility from nutritional deficiencies.
Some broken ribs are caused by birth difficulties, excessive force during handling and/or incorrect equipment.
On farm production losses due to rib fractures include slow maturation, ill thrift, infertility and weight loss.
Fractured ribs generally heal by themselves, causing thickening or deformation at the site of the break.
The fractured sections of rib cage are trimmed at processing, reducing carcase/dressed weights. Trimming of healed fractures, if with large calluses, can occur.

Deficiencies e.g. in vitamin D, calcium or phosphorus, causing weak bones to break.
Commonly in fast growing lambs on lush pastures.
Deficiencies can be primary (dietary deficiencies) e.g. cereal and grass hays are deficient in calcium, or secondary, e.g. lush green feed contains anti-vitamin D substances or high grain diets. It should be noted that a recent South Australian study found no association between copper deficiency and the incidence of rib fractures in lambs.
Ribs can also be broken by rough handling, e.g. lambs at birth or marking.

Many animals show no obvious signs however some may have difficulty breathing, ill thrift, anorexia, infertility and lameness.

The appearance of broken or deformed ribs at slaughter.
A veterinarian can diagnose rib fractures based on examination and blood analysis (for mineral imbalances).

Provide trace mineral mix or other oral or injectable supplement for the specific deficiency.
Adding hay to the diet if animals are grazing rapidly growing lush winter pasture or cereal crops.
Providing a source of calcium (e.g. stock lime, dolomite) when heavily supplementing ewes with grain in late pregnancy can ensure bones remain strong.
Care must be taken to prevent supplement toxicity by overdosing.

Feed livestock a complete and balanced ration.
Undertake soil and pasture tests at laboratories to determine the need for adjustments in management or for supplements.
Careful stock handling, e.g. ensure pneumatic settings are appropriate for stock and draft lambs into correct group size if needing to adjust the setting.