Posted by Administrator on June 23 2010 16:55

A form of rickets Bent leg is a form of rickets and is due to a malfunction of bone metabolism during growth. It occurs during the rapid growth phase of the lamb, usually between 6 and 12 months of age. It occurs primarily in rams, but can occur in ewes. It is more common in Rambouillet and related breeds. Similar conditions occur in cattle, horses, dogs, poultry, and people. It can be prevented by 1) feeding balanced rations; 2) avoiding the use of too much high energy or high protein feeds (r... [More]

Posted by Administrator on June 23 2010 16:08

Also called hairy-shaker disease or fuzzy lamb syndrome Border disease is often seen in the newborn lamb which has a hairy coat and trembles uncontrollably. It is caused by a virus and causes a wide variety of symptoms depending upon the stage of pregnancy when the ewe becomes affected. Sheep affected by border disease are characterized by open ewes, abortion, weak and frail lambs, abnormal hair coat, and nervous symptoms that cause the lamb to shake. The most common clinical symptom is abortio... [More]

Posted by Dr. Sara Barber on June 26 2009 11:13

  Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs that can be caused by a variety of pathogens, both bacterial and viral. Clinical signs of pneumonia include decreased appetite, coughing, thumping, fever and nasal discharge. There are several factors that can contribute to pneumonia. Added stresses from the environment, such as temperature fluctuations, dusty conditions, overcrowding and manure buildup can all contribute to the development of pneumonia. It is also important for lambs to build the... [More]

Posted by Dr. Sara Barber on June 26 2009 10:51

  Review of Herd Health Recommendations Prevention is the name of the game when it comes to disease prevention in sheep. There are several reproductive diseases are a common cause of abortion in sheep. Campylobacter fetus (Vibrio) causes abortions in late pregnancy. Vibrio is commonly transmitted by ingestion of contaminated feed or contact with an infected fetus. These abortions occur 7-25 days post-infection. The main way to bring Vibrio into an uninfected herd is to buy sheep that are... [More]

Posted by Dr. Sara Barber on June 26 2009 09:49

  Adults: Two weeks prelambing, at pasture turn and 3 weeks after pasture turn out and prebreeding. Lambs: 4 and 8 weeks of age. If they are on pasture they should be dewormed 3 weeks after pasture turn-out. Fecal samples are a tool to determine how the herd’s parasite control program is working. Product Options: **The class of dewormer should be changed annually (not every time the herd is dewormed. **There are no effective pour-ons for internal parasite control in sheep. C... [More]

Posted by Dr. Sara Barber on June 26 2009 09:37

  The following program is based on lambing ewes in January and February; replacement ewe lambs in April. Allowing ewes to run on pasture and feeding out lambs in dry lot. January: Spend time with lambs and make sure they nurse. Colostrum or first milk is vital for survival Colostrix can be used if colostrum not available Vaccinate lambs for sore mouth if you have an immune herd, inject L-Se plus with tetanus, and identify lambs and ewes. Observe lambs for scours or pneumoni... [More]

Posted by Administrator on June 24 2009 14:36

  Mastitis Bovimycin: 2 cc per cwt Excenel: 2 cc per cwt MMA # 1: 10 cc Lactating Cow Tubes (Cefa-Lak, Amoxi-Mast) Banamine (if fever): 1 cc per cwt Retained Placenta MMA # 2: 5 cc per cwt Lutalyse: 2 cc Bovimycin: 2 cc per cwt Excenel: 2 cc per cwt Banamine (if fever): 1 cc per cwt Pneumonia Nuflor: 3 cc per cwt Excenel: 2 cc per cwt Bovimycin: 2 cc per cwt LA-200: 4.5 cc per cwt Banamine (if fever): 1 cc per cwt Baby Lamb Scours Excenel: 2 cc per cwt Tevocin S: 1 cc p... [More]

Posted by Administrator on June 24 2009 10:53

Iowa State University Recommendations for Sheep Selection Programs   Sheep producers can improve their flocks by selecting superior replacements from high-producing ewes and culling inferior, low-producing females. Records of previous performance must be used to increase the accuracy of selection and culling decisions. The most progress will be made if these decisions are based on objective information and records. The information in this fact sheet outlines a nationally recommended sel... [More]

Posted by Administrator on June 24 2009 10:05

North Dakota State University The lambing season can be the most exciting time of the year for a sheep producer.   The long awaited opportunity to evaluate that new ram or great set of replacement ewes finally arises. So, when the first two ewes abort, the next ewe has a tillborn lamb and the fourth ewe has a set of twins that are weak at birth and soon die, the experience can be very depressing and frustrating. These are all signs of  an infectious abortion outbreak that should mot... [More]

Posted by Dr. Sara Hooge on June 22 2009 14:03

It’s time to prepare for breeding season again. A complete herd management program and a good health program that includes vaccinations and deworming can lead to the best reproductive performance in your sheep. Rams should not be overlooked. The rams by this time should have a good body condition score for breeding. A nutrient supplement should be added 7 weeks prior to breeding, because it takes seven weeks for sperm production to occur. Condition is important because rams that are over-... [More]