The final quarter of 2018 saw 248 submissions of ovine carcases for post-mortem examination.
In addition, nearly 2,500 diagnostic sample and 17 foetus samples were examined in Regional Veterinary Laboratories (RVL) across the country.
From October to December, parasitic gastroenteritis was responsible for just over 17% of sheep mortalities. This was followed by enteritis, a common alimentary tract disease, and pneumonia – both at 7%.
The top 10 causes of mortality in sheep were as follows:
1. Parasitic gastroenteritis.
2. Enteritis.
3. Pneumonia.
4. Bacteraemia/septicaemia.
5. Pulpy kidney disease.
6. Poisoning.
7. Ovine pulmonary adenocarcinoma (jaagsiekte).
8. Acidosis ruminal.
9. Encephalitis.
10. Enteritis and pneumonia.
Liver fluke low
As forecast by the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine, cases of liver fluke reduced significantly, with acute fasciolosis not making the list of the most common causes of death for the first time in several years. This is due to the dry ground conditions seen last autumn – not suited to the mud snail, which hosts this infection.
There was a low number of submissions for foetal samples when compared with Q4 of 2017.
Again, dry ground conditions leading into the period “have limited the viability and spread of abortion causing agents on pasture”.
Poisoning
Interestingly, poisoning was again recorded as a common cause of death among sheep in this quarter.
Farmers should be aware of the dangers of allowing wild flowers such as rhododendron and pieris to enter grazing pasture.
Read more
The top 10 causes of sheep deaths after hard spring - RVL report
Top 10 causes of death in cattle last winter revealed
Rapid transition off forage diets saw spike in sheep acidosis
The final quarter of 2018 saw 248 submissions of ovine carcases for post-mortem examination.
In addition, nearly 2,500 diagnostic sample and 17 foetus samples were examined in Regional Veterinary Laboratories (RVL) across the country.
From October to December, parasitic gastroenteritis was responsible for just over 17% of sheep mortalities. This was followed by enteritis, a common alimentary tract disease, and pneumonia – both at 7%.
The top 10 causes of mortality in sheep were as follows:
1. Parasitic gastroenteritis.
2. Enteritis.
3. Pneumonia.
4. Bacteraemia/septicaemia.
5. Pulpy kidney disease.
6. Poisoning.
7. Ovine pulmonary adenocarcinoma (jaagsiekte).
8. Acidosis ruminal.
9. Encephalitis.
10. Enteritis and pneumonia.
Liver fluke low
As forecast by the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine, cases of liver fluke reduced significantly, with acute fasciolosis not making the list of the most common causes of death for the first time in several years. This is due to the dry ground conditions seen last autumn – not suited to the mud snail, which hosts this infection.
There was a low number of submissions for foetal samples when compared with Q4 of 2017.
Again, dry ground conditions leading into the period “have limited the viability and spread of abortion causing agents on pasture”.
Poisoning
Interestingly, poisoning was again recorded as a common cause of death among sheep in this quarter.
Farmers should be aware of the dangers of allowing wild flowers such as rhododendron and pieris to enter grazing pasture.
Read more
The top 10 causes of sheep deaths after hard spring - RVL report
Top 10 causes of death in cattle last winter revealed
Rapid transition off forage diets saw spike in sheep acidosis
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