Abortion in Sheep Flashcards
What does fat lamb production depend upon?
- Maximal conception rate.
- Minimal embryonic and foetal losses.
- Maximal neonatal lamb survival.
- Minimal losses from other causes.
Factors affecting ewe conception rate.
Nutrition of ewe.
- Early feeding (determines early growth and body size).
- BCS at tupping.
- Plane of nutrition prior to tupping.
- Trace element status.
Age and genotype of ewe.
Disease (either direct effect or causes reduction in BCS).
What is ram fertility influenced by?
Nutrition and BCS.
Age and genotype.
Disease.
Ram : ewe ratio.
Season (and out of season breeding for early lamb crop).
Weather.
Stress.
What causes infertility involving whole groups of rams?
Balanoprosthitis/vulvovaginitis.
Epididymitis and orchitis.
Orf.
Scrotal mange (increase scrotal temp.) (Chorioptes bovis). – must use topical.
Need to know about rams before can assess fit to breed?
Males influence by photoperiod.
Libido diminished by pain/disease.
CE.
Check general health and conformation.
Check for lameness.
Check for brisket sores.
CE for ram breeding?
Testis – number, size, asymmetry, lumps, scar tissue.
Epididymis – presence of epididymis and check for epididymitis.
Penis – injury, urethral fistulae, appendage, spiral deviation.
Prepuce – Trauma (shearing) infection.
Ram semen collection and examination.
- Electro-ejaculator (can only be used by a vet and may need to sedate ram).
- Vagina of a served ewe.
- Artificial vagina (AV) best option….need a ewe in oestrus.
Ewe to ram ratios.
1. ram lambs.
2. mature rams.
3, synchronised ewes.
- 1:25 for ram lambs.
- 1:40 for mature rams.
- 1:10 for synchronised ewes.
Main cause of embryonic and foetal losses?
Infectious abortion. Most zoonotic.
Immediate action for suspect infectious abortion.
- Isolate (at least until discharges dry up – 7-20d):
– ewes that have aborted.
– ewes that have a vaginal discharge.
– ewes w/ very sick/weak lambs. - Mark these ewes for easy ID!
- Retain for testing:
– Any foetal membranes.
– Dead foetuses.
– Dead lambs.
- What to look at on the foetal membranes when examining them?
- Appearance of placenta of ewe w/ chlamydophila.
- Appearance of placenta of ewe w/ toxoplasma?
- Cotyledons.
- Intercotyledonary space.
- Cotyledons.
- V thickened placenta.
- White and lobulated cotyledons.
- PM of foetus w/ Campylobacter foetus?
- What is no foetal membranes for sample and exam?
- Look for characteristic liver lesions and occasionally enlarged abomasum.
- Take paired serology from ewes.
– Chlamydophila –> ELISA.
– Toxoplasma –> LAT.
- Take paired serology from ewes.
What is the clinical picture when infectious abortions suspected?
- Were there any abortions last lambing?
- Is the flock closed?
- When is abortion occurring? Early/late gestation.
- Mummified lambs?
- What do any surviving lambs look like?
- Ewes showing clinical signs?
- Any other clinical signs in animals that have aborted or w/in the flock?:
– Enteritis (Salmonella).
– Encephalitis (Listeria).
– Septicaemia (Salmonella, Listeria).
- What happens when aborted lamb sent to lab?
- What happens when placenta sent to lab?
- What happens when maternal blood sent to lab?
- Liver culture.
Foetal fluid (serology for toxin).
Brain (histopathology). - Smear (for Chlamydophila or other bacteria.
Culture for bacteria. - Check for Chlamydophila.
Check for Toxoplasma.
Check for Border disease.
Check for Q fever.
What to do while wating for Dx?
- Supervise foetal material disposal.
- Advise on hygiene procedures.
- Collect all FMs.
- Use disinfectants.
- Use lots of fresh bedding in pens.