Diseases of Growing Lambs - ill thrift Flashcards
[production @ grass] What is the growth rate for lambs (g/day)?
100-400 g/day
[production @ grass] When are lambs weaned?
12-20 weeks old
What is target daily DM intake for growing lambs?
2.5-3.5% BW
What are 4 common trace element deficiencies in lambs?
cobalt, selenium, copper, iodine
What are CS of cobalt deficiency?
inappetence, ill thrift, poor wool, ocular discharge, pallor of MM, [affects most or all lambs in flock]
-but these CS aren’t likely to be obvious.
How do you diagnose a cobalt deficiency?
CS, hx, liver cobalt -(body storage - last few months), Serum B12 (dietary intake), response to supplementation
Treatment of Cobalt deficiency?
short term supplements (injectable B12 or oral Co salts)
Long term = boluses or bullets
Soil or pasture dressing
What it the function of selenium?
component of glutathione peroxidase - helps w/ immune response, protects cell membranes, destroys peroxides
In what situations would selenium requirements be higher?
When: legumes fed, S intake higher, diet high in heavy metals, Vit E is low, and soil is acidic (lowers availability)
When and with who do you see white muscle disease?
Growing lambs up to 15 months, Autumn
How do you diagnose Se deficiency?
Hx, response to supplementation, Blood GSHPx (green tube, 4 samples), serum and liver selenium
GSHPx = glutathione peroxidase enzyme
What is tx for selenium deficiency?
short term = oral or SC injection - Na selenate
long term = bolus supplements (adults), inj (juveniles)
soil or pasture dressing (dubious value)
repeat treatments can be toxic!
What are clinical signs for acute selenium toxicity?
Toxic damage to CV system, dyspnoea, recumbency, diarrhea, death
What are CS for chronic selenium toxicity?
Non-specific, dull, ill-thrift, anemia, brittle hooves (sloughing in extreme cases)
What are four diseases/problems caused by copper deficiency?
Swayback, ill-thrift, steely wool, anemia
How to dx Cu deficiency?
CS, hx, plasma concentration Cu > serum conc. Cu (10 samples), conc. Cu in liver (biopsy or slaughterhouse), response to supplementation
Liver is more useful for Cu (show long term)
Where would you check conc. of Cu if looking for deficiency vs toxicity?
Deficiency = liver and blood Toxicity = kidney
How do you treat Cu deficiency?
Pasture top-dressing, lick blocks (variable usage), in-feed, BOLUS (best way to go), drenches, injectables
CS of acute Cu toxicity (24 hours post)
severe gastroenteritis, colic signs, diarrhea, collapse, death
CS of chronic Cu toxicity
(acute hemolytic anemia), jaundice, anorexia, +/- diarrhea
[stored in liver, and suddenly too much - suddenly released and leads to these CS]
What causes pneumonic pasterurellosis in lambs?
Mannheimia hemolytica
Name 4 common respiratory diseases of growing lambs. Which is the most common?
Pneumonic pasteurellosis (most common), atypical pneumonia (mycoplasma ovipneumonia), acute viral pneumonia, parasitic pneumonia (dictyocaulus filaria)
What is transmission of pneumonic pasteurellosis?
Infection by aerosol, carried on tonsils
survives in water for days/weeks
What are the CS of pneumonic pasteurellosis?
Depression (separation from flock), inappetence, hypernoea / dyspnoea, pyrexia, congested MM, serous nasal and ocular discharge Sudden death (w/in 12 hours) probably many lambs affected
