Sheep Flashcards
Timing for pregnancy, lactation and dry months in sheep?
Pregnancy: 5 months (Sept/Oct is tupping time)
Lactation: 4 months (March is lambing time)
Dry: 3 months (June/July is weaning, lamb produced July-Dec)
What makes up Pedigree, hill and lowland flocks?
Pedigree - pure bred hill/upland/lowland for own replacement or to sell, terminal sires
Hill - pure bred females, cross breeding females to sell (cross with leicester breeds), males for meat
Lowland - ewes often cross bred, mated with terminal sires, produce fat lambs for sale/meat
Store lambs - buy fattening lambs and finish for meat
Characteristics of sheep hill breeds?
Hardy Good mothering One lamb/ewe Male offspring for meat Females kept as replacements or sold to upland farms to be crossed with long wool breeds - border or blue faced leicester
Characteristics of sheep upland breeds (long wool)?
Bigger carcass Fast growth Prolificacy Female hill sheep crossed with male long hair breed Blue face X = mile Border X = half bred Females sold to lowland farms as ewe replacements Males sold for meat
Characteristics of sheep lowland farms?
Buy in mules or half bred ewe replacements Or breed their own Cross with terminal sire breeds All lambs for meat Keep ewes for 4 crops of lambs then cull
What are the problems with the UK sheep stratification structure?
Little genetic improvement in UK flocks
Breeding based on size and appearance rather than economically valuable traits
About intensive
Ideal sheep characteristics?
Lamb vigour
Good mothering
Growth rates
Resistance to disease
How to use Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs)?
Halve the value for the offspring
Weight EBV +6 = genetic potential to be 6kg heavier (3kg for offspring)
Litter size is percentage more lambs
Gross and net margin equations? (sheep)
Gross margin = output - (variable costs + replacement costs)
Net margin = gross margin - fixed costs
What are the targets for: ewe mortality, ewe culling rate, ewe:tup ratio, replacement rate,lamb mortality scanning to birth, lamb mortality birth to turn out (1 week old), lamb mortality turn out to sale, lamb mortality overall birth to sale, lamb growth rate?
Ewe mortality: 1-3% Ewe culling rate: <30% Ewe:tup: 40:1 Replacement rate: 20-25% Lamb mortality scanning to birth: 6% Lamb mortality birth to turnout: 6% Lamb mortality turnout to sale: 2% Lamb mortality overall birth to sale: 8% Lamb growth rate: 0.2-0.25kg/day
Condition score targets for upland, lowland and hill sheep at tupping, mid pregnancy, lambing and weaning?
Tupping -> mid pregnancy -> lambing -> weaning
Upland: 3 -> 2.5 ->2.5 -> 2
Lowland: 3.5 -> 3 -> 3 -> 2.5
Hill: 2.5 -> 2 -> 2 -> 2
What is flushing? What are the static and dynamic effects?
Increase feed to ewes pre-tupping to increase BCS by 0.5 to improve number of eggs produced
Usually with grass management
May need supplementary concentrates
Static effect = ewes in better BCS have higher ovulation rate
Dynamic effect = increasing live weight gain gives higher ovulation rate
Why should the BCS be maintained/reduce by 0.5 around mid-pregnancy?
Placenta develops
If underfed = small placenta = low lamb birth weight
When does most of sheep foetal growth occur? Why is it difficult to feed ewes more towards lambing?
70% in last 5 weeks
Ewe’s rumen capacity is decreasing due to foetus size
What to feed sheep in late pregnancy? How?
Supplementary feeding usually required for last 6-8 weeks
If later lambing (April/May) may only need well managed grass
Monitor BCS and/or metabolic profiles (3 weeks before lambing)
Feed in groups - 1.2m squared per ewe, 50/pen, group by scan/BCS/lambing date
Good access to top quality forage is key - hay/silage ad lib
Max 1kg concentrate/day, 0.5kg/feed
Water!
Consider vitamins and minerals
Trough space - ad lib forage 15-20cm/ewe, concentrates 45-60cm/ewe
Best to feed 1/3 of ewes ad lib forage at once, concentrates all at once
Pen first time ambers separately
Consider floor feeding concentrates
TMR
What are common problems with sheep nutrition?
Thin Broken mouth Old Concurrent disease - worms, lameness etc Poor quality forage - acidic, mouldy, wet, low feed value Overcrowding Inadequate quantity Inadequate trough space Acidosis - max 0.5kg/feed No access to water
Problems with fat ewes in pregnancy?
More prone to pregnancy toxaemia More dystocia More likely to prolapse Large foetuses can cause dystocia Oversized lambs have higher mortality Fat is expense to put on
3 main problems if lack of/poor quality colostrum for lambs?
Hypothermia
Starvation
Infection
When do lambs start eating grass and when weaned
Start eating grass at 6 weeks old
Weaned at 12-16 weeks (some evidence better if 6-8 weeks?)
What is pregnancy toxaemia? Risk factors?
= under-nutrition/energy deficiency/hypoglycaemia/hyperketonaemia Thin Fat (don't eat enough) Stress Late pregnancy Broken mouth Often fatal unless treated early
Clinical signs and diagnosis of pregnancy toxaemia?
Separate from group Inappetent Apparent blindness Tremors of face and ears Progress to recumbency Dead foetuses Death 0-10 days Diagnosis: clinical signs and BOHB > 3mmol/l
How to treat pregnancy toxaemia of sheep? And if not improving?
Early! To prevent hypoglycaemic brain damage
Separate
Give highly palatable feed - fresh food and water
IV glucose
50-100ml 40% dextrose - can repeat after couple of hours
Propylene glycol - 50ml twice daily (max 2-3 days)
If late/not improving:
- PTS
- Abort ewe after 135d pregnancy with 16mg dexamethasone
- C section only if ewe viable, otherwise PTS
- poor prognosis
Flock prevention of pregnancy toxaemia?
Ensure adequate feeding
BCS 6-8 weeks before lambing
Feed according to number of foetuses/BCS
Monitor ketone body levels 2-3 weeks before lambing
Cull broken mouth ewes
Avoid sudden changes/stress in last 6 weeks of pregnancy
When is hypocalcaemia seen in sheep pregnancy? Risk factors?
Usually pre-lambing 6 weeks onwards (not always)
Often stress induced - handling, gathering for vaccinations etc
Changes of diet/pasture/snow/water deprivation
Acidosis with cereal diet
Older ewes
Rapid growing lush pasture
Clinical signs of hypocalcaemia in sheep?
Initial weakness and excitement Progresses to recumbency Dilated pupils Constipated Bloated Collapsed Flaccid paralysis Comatose -> death
Treatment for hypocalcaemia in sheep?
Slow IV 40-80ml 20% calcium boroglucoronate or very slow 20-40ml 40% - rapid response
SC 1ml/kg 20% CaBG (50-100ml) warm - slow response
Monitor as may relapse
History and clinical signs for hypomagnesaemia (staggers) in sheep?
History: post lambing/peak lactation, lush grass/bare pasture
Rapid onset
Sudden death usually
Neurological signs - excitable, tremors, recumbent, hyperaesthesia, convulsions, death/found dead
Treatment for hypomagnesaemia (staggers) in sheep?
IV 40-80ml 20% Calcium
SC 50-80ml 25% MgSO4
Differential diagnoses of sick/recumbent ewes at lambing time?
Hypocalcaemia Hypomagnesaemia Pregnancy toxaemia Listeria Mastitis Metritis
What drugs to use for dystocia in sheep?
NSAIDs
Epidurals
Antibiotics
Give lamb colostrum
When is a simple embryotomy done for sheep? How?
Dead lambs which are not possible to deliver per vaginum
Lots of lube
Remove forearms - cut through skin around leg above carpus, then up towards elbow, undermine attachment of shoulder to chest wall, pull leg off
Repeat other if necessary
Indications for a sheep caesarean? Contraindications?
Over sized lambs Ringwomb (failure of cervix to dilate) Vaginal prolapse Foetal monster Malpresentation
Contra: rotten lamb/smelly fluids unless can exteriorise uterus (embryotomy or euthanasia best)
Drugs for sheep caesarean section? Local methods?
Broad spectrum antibiotics (5 day coverage)
NSAID
Local anaesthetic - local infiltration (40ml total), inverted L block or paravertebral T13, L1, L2, L3, 5ml procaine/site), sacra-coccygeal epidural (with xylazine)
Method of sheep caesarean?
Incise half was between last rib and wing of ileum, 10-15cm below transverse processes
15cm incision
Skin and SC tissue with scissors
External and internal abdominal oblique, then lift transverse and peritoneum before incising (so don’t puncture rumen)
Grasp uterine horn and exteriorise
Incise 10-12cm with scissors
Remove lamb
Check for other - reach into other horn, can make another incision if needed
Suture uterus with continuous inverting pattern - catgut, clean, can do 2 layers
Peritoneum and transverse, then internal and external abdominal obliques with continuous simple catgut
Skin - ford interlocking, simple interrupted or other, nylon
Blue/yellow spray
Can give sheep oxytocin after to involute uterus and protect the sutures (1-2ml)
Feed lambs!
Risk factors for metritis in sheep?
dystocia - poor hygiene, dead lambs
Post abortion
Clinical signs of metritis in sheep?
Dull, recumbent, depressed
Toxaemia - congested mucous membranes
Red/brown or purulent vaginal discharge
Treatment of metritis in sheep? Prevention?
Antibiotics and NSAIDs
Poor prognosis
Prevent with hygiene
When is vaginal prolapse usually seen in sheep? Problems with it?
Common in last 4 weeks of pregnancy (1-2%)
Vagina or vagina and cervix, may include bladder
Inflamed swollen infected tissues, obstruction of bladder, urine retention
Can be fatal if untreated
Suggested causes of vaginal prolapse in sheep?
Prolific breeds > hill breeds Litter size Age Obesity Hypocalcaemia 35-40% will re-prolapse
Treatment for vaginal prolapse of sheep pre-lambing? And cervix post lambing? Prevention?
Retention devices - discomfort, irritation of mucosa, secondary infection
Harnesses - avoid pressure sores
NSAIDs
Long acting antibiotics
Surgery
Cervix post-lambing - same and mark for culling
Prevention - difficult as cause uncertain, cull as increased risk, put harness on before occurs next lambing, review poss risk factors
Procedure for vaginal prolapse surgery of sheep?
Epidural anaesthetic - reduce straining, analgesia, sacra-coccygeal or first intercoccygeal space, procaine (short action) or procaine and xylazine (24h+)
NSAIDs and antibiotics
Clean and assess - mild chlorhexidine
Replace prolapse - gently with palm of hand, raise back end of ewe
Suture with obstetrical tape, purse string (leave 1.5cm opening, burner
Mark ewe, remove sutures before lambing
What is a complication of vaginal prolapses in sheep? What to do?
Rectal prolapse
Epidural, replace, purse string suture
Tissue non viable - amputate rectum
Treatment of uterine prolapses after lambing?
Epidural Clean Remove or trim placenta Replace carefully and fully evert Suture Oxytocin Antibiotics NSAIDs Calcium?
Impact of mastitis in sheep?
Ewe mortality
Ewe premature culling
Lamb mortality
Lamb poor growth
Most common 2 causes of mastitis in sheep in the UK? How are they transmitted?
Staph aureus - via teat skin
Mannheimia haemolytica - via lamb’s mouth
Udder and milk clinical signs of peracute/acute/chronic/subclinical mastitis in sheep?
Peracute - cold blue +/- necrotic in gangrenous mastitis
Acute - hot, red, painful, swollen
Chronic - udder may be light with hard swellings (abscesses)
Subclinical - abnormal milk appearance (clots) and composition
Systemic clinical signs of mastitis in sheep?
Toxaemia - congested mucous membranes? Pyrexia Tachycardia Rumenal stasis Lameness Recumbency Hungry lambs
Risk factors for mastitis in sheep?
Nutrition - undernutrition in late pregnancy/lactation, low BCS, vitamin E/selenium deficiency
Concurrent disease - fluke, jones, worms, dystocia etc
Prolificacy - multiple lambs
Older ewes
Udder conformation - abnormal teat position
Udder abscesses
Teat lesions - orf, over-suckling, chilling (chapped teats)
Genetics
Hygiene
Milking practices (dairy sheep)
Treatment of mastitis in sheep?
No real evidence basis
Gangrenous - euthanasia (v poor prognosis)
Acute - systemic antibiotics (ideally based on c+s, first line amoxicillin for 5 days, tilmicosin licensed), strip udder to remove toxins, NSAIDs, IV fluids, supportive care
Chronic - cull
7 mastitis prevention points in sheep?
- Ensure adequate ewe nutrition pre and post lambing
- Wean lambs at 12-16 weeks abruptly
- Control orf
- Control concurrent disease e.g. fluke, worms
- Don’t turn out ewes with triplets
- Cull ewes over 7/with broken mouth/udder lumps/abnormal teat positions
- Ensure good bedding and hygiene in sheds
When is the sheep breeding season?
August - December
What is the difference between spring and christmas lamb management?
Spring - easy management, essential for hill and upland (limited housing, later grass growth)
Christmas - intensive management (housing essential), better lamb prices at easter market
What is responsible for the seasonality of sheep breeding?
The pineal gland
Tryptophan –> serotonin –> melatonin
Melatonin only secreted during hours of darkness
Hypothalamus is sensitive to melatonin during the late afternoon
Coincidence of hypothalamic sensitivity and melatonin = short day breeders
Oestrogen negative feedback
How many follicular waves do sheep have?
2-5
50% have 4
35% have 3
How long should a ram remain with ewes for natural service? Why?
At least 35 days
Ewes ovulate and are receptive to the ram every 16-18 days
So allows for ewes that didn’t conceive when first mated to be bred again at next heat
Can saddle the ram to see mated ewes
How is AI done in sheep and why? When?
Laparoscopy due to cervical anatomy
12-24 hours after oestrus detected
What is the ‘ram effect’?
Introduction of a ‘novel’ male or after 2+ weeks of male absence
Induces cyclicity earlier in the season
Can synchronise cycling sheep to some extent
2 peaks of oestrus activity after male introduction
First ovulation ‘silent’ for some
19 days first ovulation for others
25 days second ovulation for those who had silent ovulation
Use vasectomised ram so cannot fertilise
Breeding males then later introduced
How can sheep breeding seasonality be manipulated with melatonin?
Melatonin implant at base of ear
- Suffolk/Cross - use from mid May to late June to introduce ram in late June/July
- Mules/halfbreds - use from early June to late July to introduce ram from mid July to late August
- Day 1: 30 weeks before want to lamb - move ewes from sight/smell/sound of rams
- Day 7: Implant ewes
- Day 42: 30-40 days after implantation - introduce rams
- Delay of 14-21 days before mating, peaks at 25-35 days
- Use vasectomised ram for first 14 days to get more compact lambing period
How can sheep breeding seasonality be manipulated with progesterone sponges?
Chronogest = synthetic progesterone in a sponge, place intavaginally for 12-14d to get into bloodstream
Combine with PMSG (FSH activity) injections at time of sponge removal to stimulate cyclicity - only needed if out of season
Oestrus 36-72 hours after sponge removal
1 ram:10 ewes
Ram in 48 hours after sponge out (not earlier)
Lamb in 3 week period, most in 7 days
Also CIDR now licensed (real progesterone so can measure?)
How can sheep breeding seasonality be manipulated with prostaglandin?
Can use to cause luteolysis and induce oestrus in cycling animals
Not authorised but can use half of cattle dose
CL refractory to PG for 2-4 days
Oestrus in about 40 hours
2 PG injections 7-11 days apart induces 95% of ewes in 72 hours
Some data suggests lower pregnancy rates than progestergens
How can lambing be induced if service date known?
8ml Dexamethasone injection from day 140 after ram in
Lamb about 40 hours later
Not authorised
What BCS should rams be before breeding? How long does sperm take to develop?
BCS 3.5
60+ days
Sheep gestation length?
145 days
How many times maintenance should ewes be fed at conception-42days/42-90days/90days?
Conception-42 days: maintenance only
42-90 days: maintenance + 2MJ/day (grass/forage)
90days-parturiton: good nutrition needed for rapid foetal growth/colostrum quality and quantity/prevention of metabolic diseases, feed according to single/twin/multiple, should be 2xmaintenance by lambing time (but reduced appetite in last 2 weeks due to rumen space)
What to make sure to do when vasectomising a ram?
Store the epididymis
Identify the animal (ear tag)
What should the scrotal measurement be of a ram?
30cm
Causes of epididymitis in rams? Prevention?
Actinobacillus seminis Haemophilus somnus Histophilus ovis Treatment unsuccessful! Prevent by growing rams in small groups, graze and rotate to clean paddocks May develop to orchiditis
Physical problems with testicles which may reduce fertility?
Cryptorchidism (rig) - uni or bilateral, need lower temp for sperm to develop, don’t put with too many ewes if unilateral
Testicular degeneration - bilateral unless specific local injury
Testicular hypoplasia - uni or bilateral
What causes scrotal mange of rams? Clinical signs? Diagnosis? Treatment?
Chorioptes bovis - sheep adapted strain
Crusty scabs on lower 1/3 of scrotum
Crake and expose sore, weeping dermis
Sore as get ‘gratification reflex’ when handled
Can occur on lower legs and poll
If extensive then raises blood flow and testes temperature –> testicular degeneration and reduced sperm quality
Confirm with skin scrapes from several locations
Doramectin and diazinon sheep dip effective
What is pizzle rot (balanoposthitis)?
Affects rams and wethers - castrations affect development of area so urinate inside prepuce
Ranges from small ulcers and discharge at prepuce to scanning?? causing blockage of the prepuce and fly strike
Corynebacterium renale - also associated with off
Produces ammonia from urea in urine
Pizzle rot risk factors, prevention and treatment?
High protein concentrates and lush grass = risk factors
Access to water, salt or ammonium chloride to increase drinking and acidify urine
Isolate animals to reduce environmental contamination
Clip wool away and clean area
Systemic antibiotics and fly treatment
When do 49% of lambs die? :(
At lambing (0-48h)
What are the main causes of lamb mortality/morbidity?
Pre-partum - abortion/still birth Intra-partum: dystocia: - Birth trauma - Ruptured liver - Fractured ribs - Brain haemorrhage - Anoxia Post partum: - Hypothermia - Starvation - Infection (e.g. watery mouth, salmonella, cryptosporidium, septicaemia, meningitis, joint ill, clostridial disease) - Predation - Accidents - Congenital defects
Risk factors for lamb mortality?
Maternal factors - genotype 'mothering ability', experience, ewe health, nutrition, stress, ewe health Prenatal infections Lamb birth weight - genetics, nutrition Dystocia Colostrum/milk Hygiene - pens, lambing, equipment, navel dipping Shepherds - experience, number Weather
Problems from no colostrum?
Inadequate immune system
No energy
Die of hypothermia, starvation or infection
How much colostrum does a lamb need? How to check? When to supplement?
50ml/kg in first 6 hours (200ml)
200ml/kg in first 24 hours (1L)
Check - full belly, ewe has colostrum, watch for suckling
Supplement if needed - triplets, orphans, thin ewes, dystocia, weak lambs
What is the ideal and minimum plasma protein level of lambs from colostrum?
Ideal > 60g/L
Minimum > 45g/L
Suckling from ewe is best!
Risk factors for poor colostrum intake?
Concurrent disease - dystocia, lameness Undernutrition of ewe Breeding - mothering, lamb vigour Age of ewes Multiple births Lambing environment - stress, mis mothering, shepherding skills, poor weather
Colostrum substitute options?
Ewe colostrum - can use oxytocin to assist milking out single ewes
Goat colostrum is good - similar energy, good Ab spectrum, but CAE negative herds
Cow colostrum - 2 hours of calving, jones and TB negative, vaccinated for clostridia, less energy so need 30% more
Commercial colostrum - variable quality, often good energy and protein but poss less Ig, often dried cow colostrum
Protocol for feeding orphan lambs?
50ml/kg colostrum in first 6 hours Total 250ml/kg in first 24 hours Week 1 - 300ml milk (warm) 3-4 x daily Week 2 - 1-1.25L twice daily Hay and creep feed from week 1 Wean 4-6 weeks at 15kg 0.4m squared/lamb
When is hypothermia of lambs usually seen?
Early lambing flocks/outdoor lambing
Usually in first 6 hours
Can use brown fat for 6 hours
Normal rectal temperature for lambs?
39-40C
Risk factors for hypothermia of lambs?
Bad weather Weak Premature Triplets Dystocia Infection Poor ewe nutrition Mis mothering
What to be careful to avoid when warming/giving colostrum to lambs?
Warming a hypoglycaemic lamb without giving glucose first will cause a hypoglycaemic fit
Oral administration of fluids to hypothermic lambs can cause regurgitation and inhalation pneumonia or asphyxia
So need I/P glucose!
How to treat a lamb with hypothermia <37C? And clinical signs?
Will be severely weak, depressed, arched back, stands close to dam, recumbent Dry I/P 20% glucose 10ml/kg Warm to 37C Colostrum 50ml/kg Warm to 39C Return to ewe Monitor Shelter
How to treat a lamb with hypothermia 37-39C? And clinical signs?
Moderately weak but can still suckle and hold head up Dry Feed warmed colostrum Check ewe's milk status/health Return to ewe Provide shelter Supervise
How to do intra-peritoneal glucose injections for lambs?
Strength is 20%
10ml/kg warm
Use 19G 1’’ needle
Hold lamb by front legs
Just below and to one side of navel
Warm in box with fan heater under wire mesh
When lamb is conscious and able to suck, feed 150-200ml colostrum
Prevention of lamb hypothermia?
Breeding - breed from good mothers, hardy vigorous lambs
Ewe nutriton - lamb birth weight, brown fat, colostrum
Provide shelter
Identify at risk lambs and give special attention
Lamb coats
What causes watery mouth in lambs? Clinical signs?
E.coli - lack of colostrum or delay allows gram negative bacteria to multiply unchallenged, bacteriaemia, bacterial death releases endotoxins, lamb dies of endotoxaemia
Within first 3d of birth
Depressed, profuse salivation, swollen abdomen, collapse, dehydration, death
Risk factors for watery mouth in lambs?
High litter size Low birthweight Early castration Inadequate colostrum Poor hygiene Later in lambing period
Treatment for watery mouth in lambs?
Oral fluids - 50ml/kg every 6 hours
NSAIDs - anti-endotoxic effects
Broad spectrum antibiotics - amoxicillin/clavulonic acid, spectinomycin
Prevention of watery mouth?
Nutrition/BCS of pregnant ewes
Colostrum - check, policies
Hygiene of environment
Don’t castrate until >24h (as would sit around for few hours as painful)
Check/monitor sensitivity
Metaphylactic oral antibiotics - spectinomycin in outbreak scenarios
Policy for antibiotic use for watery mouth?
Targeted oral antibiotics for prevention of WMD may be appropriate if:
- Lambs born into groups where there ave been previously recent clinical cases
- Triplets or low birth weight lambs born into challenging environmental conditions or towards end of lambing period
But whole flock treatment of all lambs at birth should be avoided
Causes of lamb neonatal diarrhoea?
Lamb dysentery - Clostridium perfringens E.coli Rotavirus Cryptosporidium parvum Salmonellosis (typhimurium or dublin)
What agents cause joint ill (infectious arthritis) in lambs in the UK?
Streptococcus dysgalactiae
Erysipelothrix rhusiopathie
Tick pyaemia (Staph aureus)
Anaplasma phagocytophila?
Sources of infection for Strep dysgalactiae causing joint ill in lambs?
Unknown?
Theory:
- Low carriage rate in ewes (milk, report tract?, faeces)
- Direct contamination of her lambs and indirect to other lambs
- Contaminated lambing environment (bedding, equipment etc)
- Builds up through lambing
Route of infection unsure - oral? milk? faecal? bedding? respiratory? cutaneous has good evidence - exposed surfaces such as umbilicus and wounds (docking and castration)
How old are lambs affected by Strep dysgalactiae joint ill? Clinical signs?
<4wo
Mild or no pyrexia
Moderate to severe lameness
Single joint (50% of cases) or 2 or 4
Paresis, intra-vertebral joints affected
Carpal, hock, fetlock, stifle most common
Joints swollen, hot and painful
Progress to chronic thickened joints, restricted movement, poor growth
Radiographically thickening of joint capsule, osteophytic changes
Treatment of Strep dysgalactiae joint ill of lambs? (also for meningitis)
No evidence base for treatment or control
5 day course early in disease - suggested repeat once if required, euthanise if not better
Penicillin drug of choice - not sensitive to tetracyclines
NSAIDs
Dexamethasone
Prevention/control of Strep dysgalactiae joint ill in lambs? (also for navel ill and meningitis)
Move all ewes and lambs away from contaminated environment
Hygiene - turnout to pasture, clean+disinfect sheds and pens between ewes, remove placentas and afterbirths, re-bedding frequently, wear gloves when lambing, wash hands between lambing, disinfect all equipment between lambs
Ensure colostrum intake
Navel dipping in 10% iodine by 15mins old and repeat 2-4h later
Metaphylactic treatment of neonatal lambs in outbreaks but don’t continue in successive years
How old are lambs affected by Erysipelothrix rhusiopathie joint ill? Clinical signs?
6 weeks - 6 months old
Polyarthritis (fibrinous), pyrexia, lameness, stiffness
High morbidity
What type of organism is Erysipelothrix rhusiopathie? How is it spread to cause joint ill in lambs?
Ubiquitous
Commensal and pathogen
Faces, urine, saliva, nasal secretions, carrier animals, wild birds
Environmental contamination
Skin wounds - surgical castration and docking sites, umbilicus?
Post dipping
Treatment and control for Erysipelothrix rhusiopathie joint ill in lambs?
Penicillin daily for 5 days
NSAIDs
Control - clean, dry lambing environment, hygiene of wounds and navels, vaccination licensed for pigs
Clinical signs of navel ill/omphalophlebitis in lambs?
Hunched back Poor body condition Poor suckling Moist, swollen, painful navel Pus from navel Spreads to joints
Treatment for navel ill/omphalophlebitis in lambs?
Poor prognosis
Broad spectrum antibiotics for at least 5-7d (penicillin etc)
Prevention same as joint ill
What causes meningitis in lambs and what are the clinical signs?
Opportunistic bacteria, inadequate colostrum
Weak, depressed, collapsed, fitting
Congestion of blood vessels around the eyes
Prognosis poor
Clinical signs of drunken lamb syndrome? Age affected?
1-3 weeks old
Acute ataxia and uncoordinated tendency to recumbency
Death quickly follows usually within 24-48 hours
Diagnosis of drunken lamb syndrome?
Clinical signs and lab confirmation
Biochemically lambs may be weakly azotaemic and hyperphosphataemic
All have metabolic acidosis due to excess D-lactate (due to colonic fermentation)
Treatment of drunken lamb syndrome?
Sodium bicarbonate dissolved in tap water orally with parenteral long acting amoxicillin
How to treat entropion in lambs?
Treat early - check at birth
Flip out lid, sub-conjunctival injection with penicillin, staples
How to treat atresia ani in lambs?
Use small amount of local Incise skin where anus should be Identify and open blind rectum Evacuate Suture rectal wall to skin
How to treat prolapsed intestines in lambs?
Gaseous GA Surgically repair Clean intestines with sterile fluid Enlarge hole Replace Suture defect Good aftercare
Clinical signs of patent urachus in lambs and treatment?
Umbilicus swollen (ddx hernia/abscess)
Dribbling urine (ddx urolithiasis)
Surgery under GA to locate
Usually need antibiotics as infection common
What is swayback in lambs? When is it seen?
Copper deficiency
When ewes deficient in pregnancy
Clinical signs of swayback in lambs?
Still births
Weak lambs
Characteristic weakness of pelvic limbs
Delayed form in offer lambs
Which sheep breed is prone to swayback?
Scottish blackface
Treatment for swayback?
Copper injections/boluses/capsules
When is iodine deficiency seen in sheep/lambs? Clinical signs?
Ewes grazing pasture or crops with high goitrogens
Newborn lambs - hypothermia, starvation, pot bellied, weakness, death
Thyroid gland goitre in lambs
Late abortion
PM: goitre gland:bodyweight ratio
Prevention of iodine deficiency in lambs?
Treat ewes with potassium iodide 4 weeks pre-lambing or boluses
How much should 1 day old single/twin/triplet lambs weigh?
Single: 5.5-7kg
Twin: 5-6kg
Triplet: >4kg
What indicated dystocia on lamb PM?
Swollen head/tongue Meconium staining Oedema of head and shoulders Fractured limbs and ribs Free blood in carcass Haemorrhages Hepatic rupture
What indicates hypothermia/starvation on lamb PM?
No brown fat
No milk in abomasum
How to monitor weight of growing lambs?
EID and electronic scales, or traditional weigh scales and paper Pick typical group of lambs (known age) Assume 4kg birth weight 8 week weight - 300-500g/day Weaning weight - 300-500g/day Sale weight - 200-250g/day
Causes for individual/few lambs with poor growth?
Low birth weight Border disease Congenital problem Neonatal/chronic infection Inadequate milk - triplets, too little milk, bottle fed, weaned too early
Causes for poor growth in a group of lambs?
Inadequate nutrition Parasitic disease - esp anthelmintic resistance Trace element deficiencies Pneumonoa Lameness - joint ill, CODD, FR/scald Off, scab
Differentials for lambs with diarrhoea?
E.coli Salmonella Clostridium perfringens type B (lamb dysentery) Clostridium perfringens type D (pulpy kidney) Cryptosporidium parvum Coccidiosis Nematodirus battus Parasitic gastroenteritis Acidosis
When is Cryptosporidium parvum diarrhoea seen in lambs/calves? Clinical signs?
Severe outbreaks at end of lambing/calving Intensive systems Lambs 3-7d old Profuse diarrhoea (blood) Dehydration Can be fatal
Diagnosis of C parvum in lambs?
Stain faecal smear C parvum
PM histopathology (definitive)
Check for E.coli
Treatment and prevention of Cryptosporidium parvum in lambs?
Supportive treatment - house, oral fluids (50ml/kg 4-6xdaily)
No drugs licensed
Prevention - use different fields/housing for lambing and calving, move to fresh pasture in outbreak, put newborn animals to clean pasture, improve indoor hygiene
Which Coccidia species affect lambs? How infected?
Eimeria crandalis/ovinoidalis
Non disease causing strains normally in sheep
Source is from ewes or older lambs multiplying
Risk factors for Coccidia in lambs?
High stocking rates Inadequate colostrum Mixing ages Stress Concurrent Nematodirus infection
Clinical signs of Coccidia in lambs? Age affected?
4-8 weeks old Diarrhoea (can be haemorrhagic) Tenesmus Fever Weight loss Death Subclinical - poor growth
Diagnosis and treatment of Coccidia in lambs?
Faecal samples for coccidia count - not speciation to determine if pathogenic strain
House sick animals
Oral fluids (50ml/kg 4-6xdaily)
Diclurazil, toltrazuril - usually group problem so treat metaphylactically
Prevention of Coccidia in lambs?
Reduce risk factors:
Hygiene of pens and feed troughs
Stocking rates
Colostrum intake
Nutrition
Batch rearing - avoid grazing younger and older lambs together
Consider prophylactic/metaphylactic treatment at risk times
When is acidosis of lambs seen? What happens?
Consumption of rapidly fermentable carbohydrates - e.g. sudden introduction of ad lib carbohydrates
Stubble grain crops, wheat and barley
Fall in rumen pH
Lactic acid production
Rumenitis
Metabolic acidosis
Lead liver abscessation, fungal rumenitis and death
Clinical signs of acidosis in lambs?
Sudden death Dull, depressed Reluctant to move Teeth grinding Colic, bloat Ataxia, recumbent Dehydration No rumen sounds Diarrhoea
Diagnosis of acidosis in lambs?
History and clinical signs
Rumenocentesis pH <5.5
Rumen liquor no live organisms
PM
Treatment of acidosis in lambs?
IV fluids - isotonic saline plus bicarbonate Oral fluids by stomach tube Multivitamins Penicillin daily for 10 days Hay Review feeding
Causes of rumen bloat in lambs? Clinical signs?
Uncommon in sheep
Grain, oesophageal obstruction, legumes (frothy bloat)
Left side distension
Differentials to rumen bloat in lambs?
Hypocalcaemia Abdominal catastrophes Peritonitis Ascites Uroperitoneum
Treatment of rumen bloat in lambs?
Stomach tube
Simeticone
Consider rumen trochar
Clinical signs of lamb nephrosis syndrome? Age affected?
2-12 weeks old
Older lambs (>4 weeks) tend to lose condition and have diarrhoea
Stand around water troughs or field drains due to increased thirst
Diagnosis and treatment for lamb nephrosis syndrome?
Raised urea and creatinine, hyperkalaemia
Decreased albumin:globulin ratio
Metabolic acidosis
No treatment found to be effective - tend to waste away and die within a week so euthanasia preferred
Why is cobalt important for sheep?
For red cell development, amino acid synthesis, energy metabolism - constitute of vitamin B12
Clinical signs of cobalt deficiency ill thrift in lambs?
Weight loss Anaemia Slow growth Debility Watery eye discharge
Treatment of cobalt deficiency in lambs?
Cobalt rumen boluses/oral drenches
Vitamin B12 injections
Cobalt in creep feed
Pasture treatment
Clinical signs of selenium deficiency in sheep?
White muscle disease - ill thrift lambs, weakness, collapse, lame
Poor reproductive performance of ewes
Which sheep breeds are more prone to copper poisoning?
North Ronaldsy
Suffolk
Blue faced Leicester
Texels
Difference between acute and chronic copper poisoning?
Acute - ingestion of large amounts
Chronic - ingestion over long time period, stored in lysosomes in liver, capacity suddenly released into circulation, may be precipitated by stress, intravascular haemolysis and jaundice