Basic HTML Version
S H E E P F E A T U R E
C
occidiosis is a common disease in lambs, which reduces growth
rates and depresses performance. The main sign of clinical
disease is diarrhoea; however, even at sub-clinical levels of
infection, weight gains are still compromised. So, in the interests of both
animal welfare and performance, prevention of coccidiosis rather than
treatment post-infection, is the best action to take.
Veterinary Surgeon
Fiona Lovatt
XLVets Practice
Castle Veterinary Group
County Durham
Binscarth Farms
Preventing coccidiosis in
lambs
- and protecting
weight gains
WORKING
TOGETHER
FOR A HEALTHIER FUTURE...
Castle Veterinary Surgeons
Initially lambs become infected with the
coccidial parasite by ingesting its oocysts
(eggs) from the environment - especially on
pastures which have carried infected lambs
in past seasons. Ewes can also shed low
levels of oocysts.
Once ingested, the coccidia grow and
multiply in the intestines causing considerable
damage to the cell wall lining, reducing feed
conversion rates and growth. In fact, a single
ingested oocyst can multiply to up to 16
million oocysts within three weeks, and these
are excreted into the environment where they
cause a challenge to other lambs.
Generally, very young lambs are protected
by maternally-derived immunity. So although
coccidiosis is possible from about 4 weeks
old, in my experience it is most usually seen
in lambs between about 6 weeks and
8 weeks of age. The lambs that are most at
risk of developing the disease are younger
lambs which are put into pens or turned onto
pastures which have already carried older
lambs. These younger lambs have not yet
built up any immunity and are then suddenly
exposed to an environment where oocysts
are present. The gut then becomes heavily
damaged by coccidiosis, and diarrhoea
and sometimes even death can occur.
17
LIVESTOCK MATTERS
Fiona Lovatt