What common disease in sheep causes muscle degeneration in lambs?

White muscle disease is a condition that primarily affects young lambs, leading to muscle degeneration due to a deficiency of selenium and vitamin E in their diet. This disease is characterized by the degeneration of skeletal and cardiac muscle, which can result in severe physical impairment and even death in affected lambs.

The condition is particularly concerning because it can occur quite suddenly, often hitting a group of lambs rather than just one or two individuals. Effective prevention primarily revolves around ensuring adequate selenium and vitamin E levels in the diet, especially if the soil in which the animals are raised is known to be deficient in these essential nutrients.

Foot rot, though a significant issue in sheep, typically affects the hoof structure and does not cause muscle degeneration. Soremouth is a viral infection affecting the skin, and enterotoxemia is related to overeating and toxin production from certain bacteria rather than muscle degeneration.