Lecture 1

Question 1

What is the role of veterinarian in the Australian sheep industry

Answer 1

1. Rural practice
2. Whole farm consultancy service
3. Departments of primary industries and fisheries
4. Animals health Australia
5. CSIRO

Question 2

What does a rural practice do for sheep

Answer 2

1. Make clinical diagnoses
2. Help create general flock management and preventative medicine plans
3. Biosecurity and animal welfare
4. Carry out production-improving plans (AI, ET)

Question 3

How do companies that employ vets help the sheep industry

Answer 3

1. In house research
2. Field trials
3. Technical advice to sheep industry, agriculture merchants and private vererinarians

Question 4

How do university vet schools help the sheep industry

Answer 4

1. Research
2. Referrals
3. On-farms disease investigations
4. Whole farm consultancy

Question 5

What are the general principles of flock and herd investigations

Answer 5

1. History
2. Examination of the environment
3. Examination of animals
4. Use of ancillary aids
5. Data analysis and decision making
6. Reporting and further monitoring

Question 6

What needs to be assessed when looking at history

Answer 6

1. Define the problem
2. Property profile
3. Reproductive performance and mating management
4. Other available information

Question 7

What to ask when defining the problem

Answer 7

1. Define characteristics of the animals that are effected
2. Time-line of events
3. Determine losses to date
4. Determine any prior treatment or control procedures
5. Obtain history of management of animals
6. Tact!
7. Assess ability and experience of farmer; separate owners observations from his interpretation

Question 8

What to ask when looking at property profile

Answer 8

1. Location
2. Farm size
3. Main soil type
4. Stocking rates, flock structure, sheep to cattle ratio

Question 9

When examining the environment what to look at when the animal is raised on pasture

Answer 9

1. Topography
2. Soil type
3. Feed availability
4. Water supply

Question 10

When examining the environment what to look at when the animal is raised indoors

Answer 10

1. Hygiene
2. Ventilation
3. Overcrowding

Question 11

When doing an examination of an animal from the distance what to look at

Answer 11

Size, approximate weight and variation within the flock, fleece, evidence of lameness, diarrhoea, photosensitivity, coughing

Question 12

When doing a clinical examination of an animal what to look at

Answer 12

Temperature (39.5), HR (70-90/min), RR (15-70/min), rumination rate (3-4/min), MM, hydration status

Question 13

When doing a post-mortem examination of an animal what to look at

Answer 13

Identify lesion, collect samples

Question 14

What are the use of ancillary aids used for

Answer 14

1. Parasitological tests
2. Haematology
3. Biochemistry
4. Serology
5. Microbiology
6. Histopathology
7. Pasture and soil samples

Question 15

What is welfare based on the outcomes of

Answer 15

1. % lameness
2. Weight, BCS
3. Fertility, lamb survival
4. Nutrition, trace element status

Question 16

What is involved in reporting back and further monitoring of sheep

Answer 16

1. Discuss the recommended actions with owner/manager
2. Report result of diagnosis test
3. Schedule next visit - monitor progress of any animals