Sheep Health and Disease

Diseases

Preventing disease reduces economic losses and improves animal welfare. For information on common sheep diseases check out the links below.

• Epididymitis in Sheep
• Pizzle Rot in Sheep
• Pneumonia in Sheep
• Johne's Disease in Sheep
• Chronic Copper Poisoning in Sheep
• Urinary Calculi in Growing Lambs

Health

Sheep producers have moved to a model that tries to maintain sheep and lamb health rather than treat sick animals. You can learn more here.

• Animal Health: Should I try copper oxide wire particles to control parasites in my lambs and sheep?
• Sheep Tail Length
• Biosecurity in the Sheep Flock
• Biosecurity - Health Protection and Sanitation Strategies for Cattle and General Guidelines for Other Livestock (Order No. 09-079)
• Pregnancy Disorders (Metabolic) in Transition Ewes (Order No. 03-017)

Deadstock Disposal

Producers have many options for disposal of deadstock, both on-farm and off-farm.

• On-Farm Euthanasia of Sheep and Goats
• Deadstock Disposal

Learn More

If you haven't found what you're looking for here, please check these external sites.

• Antibiotics For Sheep (And Other Livestock)
  A list of major antibiotics for all animals and reasons for using them.
• Coccidiosis in Lambs (PDF)
  What the signs of Coccidiosis are in lambs. Also includes some types of medications and treatment or prevention methods.
• Control of Chlamydial Abortion in Sheep
  In depth description on how to control Chlamydial abortion in sheep. Site talks about vaccines available in the United Kingdom.
• Enterotoxemia in Lambs
  Vaccinations for enterotoxemia in lambs. Includes information about and signs of the disease.
• Infectious Causes of Abortion in Sheep
  Reasons for abortion in sheep and tests to discover which infectious agents are in the sheep. Includes general precautions for infectious abortions in sheep.
• Internal Parasite Issues Impacting Grazing Flocks
  Reasons for deworming lambs and ewes and information about parasites that can cause problems in the flock.
• Johnes Disease
  Excellent site by University of Wisconsin covering all aspects of this disease.
• Mastitis
  Causes as well as actions for treating mastitis in sheep.
• Milk Fever - Hypocalcemia
  One person's experience with milk fever.
• Scrapie
  Basic factsheet from the United States Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services.
• Scrapie Canada
  Information on the national voluntary scrapie certification program. Includes information on the disease.
• Spider Syndrome
  Oklahoma state factsheet on basics of spider syndrome.
• Tail Dock Length
  Picture of ideal tail dock length.