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Duncan Gaudie & Iain McCulloch
C
lients often proudly report their percentages at scanning but rarely
those at weaning.
What happens to the missing lambs that never
made it from being scanned to birth
?
Abortion in sheep is sadly a well
recognised problem on most farms but it should not be accepted as an
inevitable part of the lambing process.
OVINE
ABORTION
The most common causes of abortion in
sheep are:
l
Enzootic Abortion (Chlamydophila abortus)
l
Toxoplasmosis
l
Listeria
l
Camplyobacter
l
Salmonella
l
Border Disease
Toxoplasmosis and Enzootic Abortion are
responsible for over 80% of the abortions
diagnosed by the Veterinary Laboratories
Agency (VLA) each year and can also lead
to weak and sickly lambs which die soon
after birth.
Toxoplasmosis
The cause of Toxplasmosis is a small organism
called a protozoa which is spread via cat
faeces left in, or near feed. The sheep ingest
the organism and it is then replicated in the
sheep’s gut before being passed out again
in the dung.
If ewes are infected in early pregnancy it
may result in embryonic death and resorption
of the embryo. Infection during mid-pregnancy
may result in foetal death and lead to
mummies, whilst infection in late pregnancy
may result in abortion of freshly dead lambs
or the birth of weakly lambs which die soon
after birth.
The cat is such an important part of the cycle
that it is virtually impossible to keep your farm
clean of this infection.
Killing off the farm cat also does not work
(and is not necessary!) as generally the
infection is only spread by each individual
cat for 2 weeks whilst it is young. Bought in
feed and pasture could also be contaminated
with cat faeces.
9
LIVESTOCK MATTERS
WORKING
TOGETHER
FOR A HEALTHIER FUTURE...
A N I M A L H E A L T H