Abstract
Swayback disease of lambs occurs widely in Britain, its incidence varying from year to year, but is usually most severe in lambs born in March and April after a mild winter. It is known to be related to a copper deficiency in both the ewe and the lamb, but not all copper-deficient owes give birth to swayback lambs. The disease can be effectively prevented by administering copper compounds to ewes in susceptible flocks at mid-pregnancy (Allcroft, Clegg & Uvarov, 1959).