Malnutrition cause of sheep deaths

Studies conducted by the Icelandic Food and Veterinary Authority (IFVA) have revealed that malnutrition was the cause of death of thousands of sheep in Iceland this spring, in a case which left farmers baffled.

Although other underlying causes cannot be ruled out, the findings show that the hay eaten by the sheep in question had not been sufficiently rich in energy and that they subsequently died of malnutrition.

The IFVA is now preparing the ground for further research into the case.

Malnutrition cause by poor hay was one of the initial suspected causes, but other theories also emerged, such as disease or even sulphur poisoning from volcanic ash.