Sheep Diseases

[mikey]

White Muscle Disease:
the cause of white muscle disease (muscular dystrophy) is a lack of selenium or vitamin E or both.
SIGNS:-lambs born dead or weak,or lambs unable to rise or walk,or do so stiffly
-it may affect 6 to 8 week old lambs,very often the fastest gaining lambs are affected
PREVENTION:-to prevent white muscle disease,feed salt cantaining 90 ppm selenium,feed salt fortified with 100,000 I.U. vitamin E per 100 pounds salt,or inject young lambs with selenium and vitamin E on day 1 and day 10
By: R.M.Jordan

[mikey]

Enterotoxemia:
enterotoxima can kill sheep of all ages but usually kills only those that consume high levels of carbohydrates.Feedlot mortality for vaccinated lambs is .5% for unvaccinated lambs it is 5-10%.
CLOSTRIDIUM PERFRINGENS type D-one type of bacteria that causes enterotoxemia,most prevalent in feedlot or in creep fed lambs.Symptoms are sudden death,occasional pushing and staggering,and apparent blindness.Vaccinate with type D toxid on day 1 and again 12-14 days later,de worm and reduce grain until the vaccine takes effect.
PERFRINGENS type C-type of enterotoxima that usually occurs among fast gaining lambs during the first 3 weeks.Ewes vaccinated 3-4 weeks prelambing provide antibody protection in their milk.Normally,vaccine will not take on young 3-10 days old lambs that are nursing.
ACIDOSIS-high grain intake lowers the rumen ph from about 7.2 to 5.8 causing lambs to discontinue eating,pain and death.Drenching with bicarbonate is effective.
By: Professor R.M.Jordan
Dept. of Animal Science
Minnesota Extension Service -Horse/Sheep