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Module 18: Ruminant Production > Approach to Group Lamb Health > Flashcards

Approach to Group Lamb Health Flashcards

1
Q

what are important history questions when investigating a farm problem

A

Age of affected lambs

Potential causes

Seen this before?

Symptoms

When were first cases seen

Treatment and response

Breed

Ewe/ram

Ewe BCS and nutrition during pregnancy

Age group of mothers

Management at lambing

Housing

Supervision

Weather conditions/shelter

Signs in ewes

Abortions

Enteritis

Depression

Deaths

Hygiene of environment

Lamb management after birth

Colostrum

Navel hygiene

Docking/castration

Vaccination of ewes/lambs

Trace element history

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2
Q

what are important record information to get when investigation lamb problems

A

# of ewes bred

Scanning results

lambs born alive/dead

lambs turned out at … days

lambs ‘marked’ or wormed

# lambs weaned

# lambs sold or kept for breeding

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3
Q

what are peri-partum causes of mortality

A

dystocia

abortive agents

membranes over nose

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4
Q

what are neonatal causes of mortality

A

starvation

  • mastitis of ewe
  • lack of milk
  • lack of vigour
  • rejection by ewe

neonatal infection

congenital disease

hypothermia

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5
Q

how do you examine the evironment, housing and nutrition

A

indoor vs outdoor?

bedding?

navel dipping?

colostrum?

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6
Q

what are risk factors that increase neonatal death

A

Low birth weight

Low serum immunoglobulin

High litter size

Inexperienced/young mothers

Male lambs

Low ewe body condition

Being born late in the season

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7
Q

at what lamb weight does increase mortality occur

A

<3.5kg and >5.5kg

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8
Q

what are general ways to prevent lamb losses

A

Ewe nutrition

Good hygiene

  • Environment
  • Personal

Compact lambing

Adequate labour

Good lighting

Outdoors — shelter

  • Hedgerows, bushes, trees, square bales, pallets secured upright

Vaccinations

Stocking rates

  • Indoors min 1.1m^2 per ewe
  • Pens 3m^2
  • Min 1 pen per 8 ewes (natural mating)

Appropriate genetics

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9
Q

when should colostrum be given

A

within 2 hours

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10
Q

how much colostrum is needed

A

50ml/kg first feed

2-300ml/kg in first 24 hours

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11
Q

what does good quality colostrum contain and how would you check quality

A

enough IgG

fat content

viscosity, colour, colostrometer, brix (24%?)

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12
Q

what colostrum replacers can be used

A

Fresh frozen from another ewe

Frozen from other ewes:

  • Can last years
  • Do not microwave
  • Same farm only

Cow colostrum

Powdered colostrum (variable quality)

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13
Q

what are the issues with cow colostrum

A

Need 30% more volume (lower fat and IgG content)

Vaccinate cows against clostridial disease

Pool from 4 cows (due to risk fo anemia)

Risk of Johne’s disease and TB transmission

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14
Q

why do orphan lambs have high risk of mortality

A

Poor colostrum provision

Nutrition very artificial

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15
Q

how do you prevent red gut

A

Ensure fibre intake

Room temperature milk after 7 days

Continual milk supply or frequent feeds best

Wean early

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16
Q

what is the back story with lamb diseases?

A
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17
Q

describe how a lamb PM is done and what you would be looking for

A
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18
Q

how do you tell if the lamb has breathed on PM

A

Inflated lungs should be pale pink and tissue should float in water

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19
Q

how do you tell if the lamb has walked on PM

A

If not soft ‘slippers’ still cover the soles

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20
Q

how do you tell if the lamb has sucked on PM

A

Milk present in the abomasum

Check whether meconium has been passed (beware may have been stomach tubed)

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21
Q

how do you tell if there is evidence of dystocia

A

Swollen head, edema over hindquarters, meconium staining, fractured ribs, ruptured liver

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22
Q

how do you tell if the brown fat has been metabolized

A

Metabolized cardiac and renal fat has a purplish appearance

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23
Q

how do you tell if there is evidence of infectious disease

A

Pneumonia, diarrhea, navel ill, joint ill

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24
Q

how do you tell if there is Is there evidence of goitre on PM

A

The thyroid lies caudal to the larynx and as a guide should weigh no more than 0.4g/kg bodyweight

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25
how do you tell if there is evidence on congenital abnormality
Cleft palate, atresia ani, entropion, arthrogryposis, cerebellar hypoplasia
26
what other testing can you perform to investigate an on farm problem (9)
1. lamb colostrum intake (serum TP, serum ZST, IgG, GGT) 2. bacteriology, culture and sensitivity (PM, diarrhea) 3. parasitology 4. toxin isolation (clostridium perfringens) 5. virus isolation (rota, BVD) 6. serology (MV, johnes, BVD) 7. histopathology 8. ewe dietary analysis 9. ewe metabolic profiles
27
what preventative measures can be applied on farm
Colostrum management Maternal nutrition Vaccinations Hygiene Naval treatment Individual lamb treatments * Glucose, warming box, antibiotics, etc
28
what are common lamb conditions
Starvation/hypothermia Watery mouth Neonatal diarrhea Neonatal bacteremias Orf Umbilical prolapse Cow colostrum anemia
29
how long do brown fat reserves last in lambs
approx 5 hours
30
what are underlying causes of starvation and lamb hypothermia
Mismothering (young, underfed ewe, etc) Maternal mastitis Birth trauma
31
what should you do with a lamb that has a temp \<37 thats been hypothermic for over 5 hours
needs energy if not holding head up --\> glucose injection if holding head up --\> feed stomach tube
32
how do you perform a glucose injection
New needle: 19 gauge, 1 inch New syringe (50ml) 4ml/kg 50% glucose * 20ml for a 5kg lamb 6ml/kg hot boiled water * 30 ml for a 5kg lamb Mark the spot with antibiotic spray * 1 inch behind and 1/2 to the side of navel Insert needle, pointing it toward the tail head
33
when is watery mouth seen
1-3 day old lambs
34
what are causes of watery mouth
FPT (triplets, young ewe, birth trauma)
35
what does watery mouth cause
slow GIT motility and high abomasal pH --\> decreased colostrum enterotoxemia
36
what are early signs of watery mouth
Cold wet mouth Reluctance to suck Dull
37
what are later signs to watery mouth
Salivation Distended abdomen with gas and fluid (‘rattle’) Recumbency Diarrhea or constipation
38
how is watery mouth diagnosed
Typical clinical signs PME suggestive C&S for antibiotic efficacy Definitive diagnosis difficult to confirm
39
how is watery mouth prevented
Ewe nutrition (late pregnancy and early lactation) * Management at birth * Management of multiples * Adequate supplementation when needed Hygiene (environment and equipment): * Clean * Dry Prophylactic antibiotics
40
how is watery mouth treated
Oral rehydration fluids, 50ml every 3 hours (with glucose or glucose pre-cursor) Warm but keep with ewe if possible NSAIDs (combat endotoxemia) Oral/parenteral antibiotics
41
what are the causes of neonatal diarrhea
E. coli K99 Cryptosporidiosis Salmonellosis Rotavirus — different strain to calves Lamb dysentry Coccidiosis (\>3 weeks)
42
what causes lamb dysentery
Clostridium perfringens type B
43
what are the two forms of lamb dysentery
Young lambs (1-3 days old) * Sudden death * PM hemorrhagic enteritis — jejunum Older lambs (up to 3 weeks) * Abdominal pain * Hemorrhagic diarrhea * Death
44
how is lamb dysentery diagnosed
Toxins β and ε in intestinal contents but most need
45
how is lamb dysentery prevented
Vaccination of ewes pre-lambing Colostrum — early, quality, quantity
46
at what age does enterotoxigenic E coli cause scours
\<48 hours old
47
what type of diarrhea does enterotoxigenic E coli cause
secretory, severe, brown
48
how is enterotoxigenic E coli scours treated
prompt fluids antibiotics NSAIDs
49
how is enterotoxigenic E coli prevented
Hygiene Colostrum Isolate sick lambs
50
at what age does cryptosporidium parvum appear in lambs
\<3 weeks old
51
what type of diarrhea does cryptosporidium parvum cause
Profuse watery diarrhea
52
how is cryptosporidium parvum treated
Fluid therapy Halofuginone (Halocur) — not licensed, care esp when dehydrated
53
how is cryptosporidium parvum prevented
hygiene difficult to kill
54
what species of salmonella cause scours
Salmonella typhimurium or S. dublin
55
what type of diarrhea does salmonella cause
Profuse acidic diarrhea
56
what does salmonella enterotoxin cause
dull dyspneic
57
how is salmonellosis treated
fluid (intense) antibiotics NSAIDs
58
what cause neonatal bacteriemia
opportunistic infections ## Footnote Immunosuppressed (FPT, concurrent disease) High environmental contamination
59
what bacteria can cause neonatal bacteremia
E. Coli Mannheimia hemolytica Pasteurella multocida Trueperella pyrogens Staphylococcus aureus Streptococcus dysgalactiae
60
what are the causes neonatal bacteriemia
Navel ill Septic polyarthritis Spinal abscess Meningitis Septicemia Pneumonia
61
what are infection route of access (3)
1. navel ill 2. meningitis, septic polyarthritis, septicemia 3. spinal abscess
62
what can cause meningitis, septic polyarthritis, septicemia infection route of access
mouth upper resp tract umbilicus
63
what can cause spinal abscess
infected tail ring
64
what does mild navel ill appear as
Slight swelling +/- serosanguinous to purulent discharge
65
what does severe navel ill cause
Depression +/- pyrexia Failure to suckle Painful swelling +/- discharge
66
what can navel ill lead to
Hepatic necrobacillosis Peritonitis Meningitis Cystitis
67
how is navel ill treatd
Systemic antibiotics: * Penicillin, amoxicillin +/- clavulanic acid, fluorfenicol * Long course minimum 7 days, ideally 10-14 days NSAIDs
68
how is navel ill prevented
Navel treatment Colostrum Hygiene
69
what are causative agents of meningitis
Variety of causative agents, including E. coli or Staphylococcus aureus
70
at what age can meningitis appear
Most 2-4 weeks old, but any time
71
what are the signs of meningitis
Failure to suck Separation from dam Episcleral congestion Severe depression Altered gait \>\> recumbency
72
how is meningitis treated
Poor response to treatment (early antibiotics and corticosteroids)
73
what is the most common causative agent of joint ill
Streptococcus dysgalactiae
74
how is joint ill diagnosed
clinical signs culture
75
how is joint ill treated
10-14 days antibiotics Anti-inflammatories
76
how is joint ill prevented
Colostrum + hygiene
77
what is the causative agent of tick borne fever
anaplasma phagocytophilum
78
what does tick borne fever cause
Pyrexia and immunosuppression: * Can be left behind by ewe (hill sheep especially) * Pre-disposes to other infections ex. septic polyarthritis Tick pyaemia (+ Staphylococcus aureus) * 2-10 weeks old * Lameness, ill thrift
79
what pathogens can cause septicemia
ubiquitous commensal bacteria Peracute pasteurellosis: * Ex. Mannheimia hemolytica, Bibersteinia trehalosis
80
how does septicemia present
sudden death
81
what can be seen on PM with septicemia
PM bacteriology, often few signs *Bibersteinia trehalosis* * Esophageal ulceration * Multiple hemorrhages in carcass * Liver — focal grey lesions
82
how is orf treated
Symptomatic Antibiotics NSAIDs Feed
83
what are congenital conditions
Border disease Schmallenberg virus Trace element deficiencies of dams Toxicities * Plants/pharmaceutical/other Hereditary
84
what is border disease virus
Similar to BVD in cattle: BVD and BDV can interchange between species High barren rates Abortion Congenital deformaties Persistently infected lambs Immunosuppression of transiently infected lambs
85
what does border disease virus cause
hairy shakers Low birth weights Weakness Limb abnormalities * Long, fine bones, immobile joints Narrow head, short mandible, domed skull Nervous signs * Tremor, ataxia, hypermetria Hair vs wool Abnormally pigmented fleece
86
what is schmallenberg virus transmitted by
cullicoides
87
what does schmallenberg virus cause
Hydranencephaly Arthrogryposis ‘Dummy’ lambs: * Blindness * Ataxia * Recumbency * An inability to suck * Sometimes seizures
88
what does blue tongue virus cause
‘Dummy lambs' Blindness Hydranencephaly
89
what does akabane virus (AUS) cause
arthrogryposis hydraencephalopathy
90
what does copper deficiency in ewes cause
Swayback
91
what are the clinical signs of copper eff in lambs
Stillbirths, recumbency, weakness leading to swaying/stumbling
92
how is copper deficiency diagnosed
Blood or liver copper Histopathology of lamb brain/spinal cord
93
what does selenium deficiency in ewes lead to in lambs
White muscle disease
94
what are the clinical signs of selenium deficiency in lambs
Stillborn or weak lambs, sudden deaths, lameness/stiffness
95
how is selenium deficiency diagnosed
Glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx), vitamin E, creatinine kinase, PM/histopathology
96
what are clinical signs of iodine deficiency
Stillborn or weak lambs, poorly fleeced, goitre
97
how is iodine deficiency diagnosed
Thyroid:body weight ratio, and/or thyroid iodine content
98
how are the clinical signs of cobalt deficiency in lambs
Reduced lamb vigour/activity
99
how is cobalt deficiency diagnosed
serum vit B12 liver cobalt
100
what are hereditary conditions in lambs
Entropion Atresia ani Ventricular septal defect Epidermolysis bulls (redfoot) — Suffolk, Welsh mountain, Scottish blackface Oral lesions, ears, distal limbs Dandy walker malformation — Suffolk Hydrocephalus Hereditary chondrodysplasia (spider syndrome) — Suffolk, Hampshire Arthrogryposis — Suffolk Cerebellar abiotrophy — Charollais
101
how are lamb umbilical prolapses treated
Keep clean Broad spectrum antibiotics NSAIDs Disinfect Make hernia slightly bigger if necessary Carefully replace Suture
102
what is cow colostrum anemia neonatal isoerythrolysis
Antibodies to sheep RBCs Small number of cows affected Lamb anemia 5-12 days of age
103
how is neonatal isoerythrolysis diagnosed
History PCV PM (bone marrow)
104
how is neonatal isoerythrolysis prevented
Screening test available for cow colostrum Prevent by pooling colostrum from \>4 cows

Module 18: Ruminant Production (25 decks)

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