07/02/2026
WEEKLY RESEARCH SHARE
A multimodal pharmacological treatment of Incomplete cervical dilation and softening ('Ringwomb') in ewes: Effects on delivery outcome, survival, and animal welfare
HIGHLIGHTS
•Multimodal therapy (oxytocin, Ca/Mg, glucose) resolved 52.9% of ICDS.
•Labor over 12 hrs increases fetal mortality and reduces ewes survival.
•ICDS in multiparous ewes reflects metabolic exhaustion, not hormonal failure alone.
•Breed did not predict ICDS outcome; larger litters significantly raised fetal loss.
•Treatment mode did not affect pregnancy rate or ICDS recurrence in surviving ewes.
ABSTRACT
Incomplete cervical dilation and softening (ICDS), commonly referred to as “Ringwomb”, remains a significant cause of dystocia and neonatal mortality in sheep. This study evaluated the clinical efficacy of various pharmacological protocols and the impact of labor duration and breed on maternal and fetal outcomes in 64 ewes over a seven-year period (2019–2025). Ewes were distributed into four groups: Group A (oxytocin), Group B (calcium/magnesium), Group C (multimodal: oxytocin, calcium/magnesium, glucose and glucose precursors), and Group D (control). Results indicated that the multimodal protocol in Group C was significantly more effective in facilitating vaginal delivery (52.9%) compared to other groups (p = 0.031). Labor duration was identified as the most critical predictor of survival; fetal mortality escalated from 10.0% in interventions occurring within 6 h to 52.5% in cases exceeding 12 h (p = 0.001). Maternal survival similarly declined from 92.6% to 68.8% over the same interval (p = 0.048). While litter size significantly influenced fetal mortality (p = 0.046), ewe breed did not significantly affect clinical success or survival rates (p > 0.05). Longitudinal analysis revealed that neither the mode of delivery nor the treatment protocol impacted subsequent pregnancy rates or the recurrence of ICDS (17.5% average). These findings suggest that early intervention with a multimodal approach can effectively resolve ICDS, reducing the requirement for surgical intervention and improving overall animal welfare.
SOURCE: Small Ruminant Research, June 2026
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0921448826000635?via%3Dihub
