DEPARTMENT: AGRICULTURE

J.A. Turton

ommonand importantdiseases ofsheep and goats

C

2002

Compiled by Directorate Agricultural Information Services,Department of Agriculturein cooperation with ARC–Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute

Printed and published by the Department of Agricultureand obtainable from Resource Centre,Directorate Agricultural Information Services,Private Bag X144, Pretoria, 0001 South Africa

This publication is available on the web: www.nda.agric.za/publications

Information provided byAnimal Health for Developing Farmers

ARC–Onderstepoort Veterinary InstitutePrivate Bag X05, Onderstepoort 0110

Tel. (012) 529 9158

Some diseases occur in both sheep and goats,while others occur in one or the other

It is important to observe your animals daily sothat you can notice any changes in their health

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Diseases affecting the head and mouth

Orf• Orf, which is also called vuilbek, is caused by a virus

• It mostly affects young animals. Blisters occur, whichthen burst and form thick scabs. The sores can beinfected by bacteria, which make the animal evensicker.

• This disease can occurwhen too manyanimals are kepttogether, or as aresult of damagecaused by thornsand other sharpobjects in feed, ticksand lice.

• Treatment involves the use of locally applied antibiotics(wound powder). Nursing is also important. Keeplambs warm, and give them feed and water.

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• Prevention involves good management practices andvaccination. Prevent conditions that can lead to thedisease. A vaccine is available and could be usedwhere the disease is important.

Bluetongue• Bluetongue, also called bloutong, is more important in

sheep.

• It is caused by a virus.

• It can occur when animals are not vaccinated and arepermitted to graze near water when there are a lot ofmidges. It is spread by these small biting insects, andis therefore more common in late summer.

• In affected animals there is swelling of the head andlips. The disease is called bluetongue because thetongue can appear blue. The eyes are closed becausethey are sensitive to the sun. Affected animals do notwant to walk because their feet are sore. Sometimesthey can die suddenly.

• Treatment involves nursing: keep the animals out ofthe sun and give them water and feed.

• Prevention involves good managementand vaccination. Stable animals in thelate afternoon where possible, and donot let them graze in the areas wheremidges such as vleis are present.Vaccination requires 3 vaccinations,4 weeks apart, before the late summer.

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Plant poisonings• There are many different toxic

plants, which can cause verydifferent signs in animals.Some of them can cause skinsigns, and the animal willappear sunburnt, particularlyaround the face, will lose woolor hair, and will get crustysores around the affectedareas.

Diseases affecting the feet and legs

Foot abscesses and foot rot• Foot abscesses and footrot can be caused by:

– bacteria

– fungi

– poor management such as poor hoofcare,overgrown hooves, ticks between the claws

• The animal will appear lame in one or more legs, andthere may be swollen joints, an abscess above theclaw, redness between the claws, swelling andredness around the hooves.

• Treatment involves cleaning the hooves, antibioticsand disinfectants.

Boetebossie

• Prevention involves hoof care, footbaths, tick control,and dry housing.

Arthritis• Arthritis, which is infection of the joints, occurs when

bacteria (germs) get into the joints. This can bebecause of an infection through the blood (especiallyin young animals because of infection of the navel) orbecause of sores from tick or wire damage affectingthe joints.

• The affected joint is often swollen.

• Often the animal will be lame.

• Sometimes the skin will rupture, and fluid will come outof the affected joint.

• Treatment involves antibiotics and keeping the areaclean.

• Prevention involves good management, particularlyhygiene.

Diseases affecting the skin

Sheep-scab• Mites are little parasites that can be difficult to see with

your naked eye. There are a number of different mites,but the most important one in sheep causes sheep-scab. Infected sheep can spread the disease to other

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sheep, particularly if they are in a poor condition andduring winter.

• The signs noted are severe itching, wool or hair loss,and crustiness of the skin. Often wool is noted in themouth of sheep because they bite at the affected area,or on fences because they rub themselves.

• This is a notifiable disease, and if you suspect it youshould contact your animal health technician or stateveterinarian.

• It can be treated with registered dips or Ivomec.

• Prevention involves dipping new animals andquarantine.

Lice infestation• Lice can also cause itching and loss of hair and wool.

• They are a problem when animals are in a poorcondition or during winter.

• Treatment involves the use of a registered dip.

• Prevent lice by ensuring healthy, strong animals. Treatall new animals before introducing them to the herd orflock.

Tick damage• Ticks can cause severe damage to sheep and goats,

particularly around the udder and ears. The woundswill often get infected with bacteria, and might be

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attacked by flies. Some ticks cause more damage thanothers, such as the ones which infect animals withheartwater.

• To treat and prevent ticks you could either use a pour-on, or a plunge dip or spray dip if you have thefacilities for this. Plungedips are usually mostpractical for small-stock.

Heartwater• Heartwater is caused

by a small parasite that is spread to animals by thebont tick. It can occur in goats and sheep.

• Signs of heartwater are fever, depression and highstepping (walking) leading to convulsions and death.

• At the point of death froth is often noted at the mouth.

• The treatment for heartwater is by means oftetracycline. Read the instructions on the bottle for thedose.

• Prevent the disease in sheep and goats by keepingbreeds that are resistant to the disease. Strategic tickcontrol can be of assistance. A vaccine is alsoavailable.

Flystrike• Wounds can be infested with flies, and this is called

flystrike.

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• Treatment involves cleaning the area, removingmaggots and treating with aninsecticidal cream orpowder.

• Flies can be controlledby good kraal hygiene.Skin wounds should betreated to prevent strikedoes from occurring.

Abscesses• Abscesses are caused by bacteria. Wounds from

sharp objects around kraals, ticks, thorns and cutswhen shearing can result in abscesses.

• The signs seen are a large swelling with white toyellow contents, poor growth and weight loss.

• Treatment can involve opening up and cleaning theabscess. Antibiotics may be necessary.

• Prevention is through good hygiene and cleaning thewounds.

Diseases affecting the udder

Mastitis• Mastitis is an infection of the udder and is caused by a

bacterium.

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• It is most likely tooccur in dirty,overcrowdedconditions.

• The affected udder isred or blue to black,warm and painful. Themilk is watery andmay contain clots.The animal maybecome very sick anddie.

• Treatment involvesthe use of antibioticsand you need to strip the milk out of the udder.

• Prevention involves a hygienic environment.Vaccination is possible for some bacteria.

Gut diseases

Worms• There are many types of worms that can affect sheep

and goats. The most important type is wireworms.

• Worms are more likely to be a problem in the case ofan ineffective deworming programme, intensivesystems, wet weather and planted pastures.

• The signs seen are often bottlejaw and paleness of theeyelids and gums. Sometimes diarrhoea is also noted.

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• Weight loss, loss of appetite and death can occur.

• The treatment and prevention is bydeworming. The type of dewormerused will depend on the type ofworm involved and this differs indifferent parts of the country.

Redgut• Redgut, which is also known as rooiderm and

enterotoxaemia, is caused by a bacteria.

• It is particularly likely to occur under conditions ofstress or overfeeding on grainsor lush pasture.

• The signs seen are usuallysudden death and there isusually no time to treat theanimals.

• When you open the dead animalyou may notice that the gut is red and contains gas.

• If signs are seen early, you can treat with antibiotics.

• Prevention involves vaccination, guarding againstoverfeeding and eliminating stress.

Coccidiosis• Coccidiosis is caused by a small parasite and is most

common in goats. It occurs mainly in young animals,

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where there is overcrowding and under wet, coldweather conditions.

• It can result in severe bloody diarrhea, weight loss anddeath.

• Treatment involves anticoccidial drugs and theprovision of water with electrolytes to replace the fluidlost.

• Prevention involves good management. Avoidovercrowding, plan feed management, and practisegood kraal management. You can use feed additives ifyou are following a feedlot system to raise lambs forslaughter.

Diseases affecting the respiratorysystem

Pneumonia• Pneumonia can be caused by bacteria, viruses or milk

or dewormer getting into the lungs.

• It is more likely to be a problem with poormanagement, which includes overcrowding, dust,faecal buildup in kraals, poor nutrition and coldconditions.

• The signs seen are coughing, nasal discharge,difficulty in breathing, loss of condition, and sometimesdeath.

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• When you cut open an animal which has died you maynotice redness of the lungs and different colours andareas within the lungs.

• Treatment involves the use of antibiotics and nursing.

• Prevention is by management, which includesproviding shelter in cold weather, good nutrition(especially vitamins), reducing dust, clean kraals andavoiding overcrowding.

Diseases causing paralysis

Botulism• Botulism is caused by a bacterium.

• It is most likely to occur when there is poor-quality feedor feed containing dead animals or poultry litter.

• The signs seen are paralysis. Often the tongue isoutside the mouth because of paralysis.

• The animal will lie down, often with the head turned tothe side.

• The paralysis progressively worsens, and then theanimal dies.

• Treatment involves nursing. An antitoxin can beeffective if used in the early stages.

• Prevention is by vaccination and the provision of good-quality feed, particularly during the dry period, as wellas phosphorus supplementation in licks.

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Tetanus• Tetanus is caused by a bacterium. It is most likely to

occur with poor management such as not disinfectingwounds and poor hygiene when performing castrationor tail docking.

• The signs seen areparalysed and stiffanimals. Muscletremors are observed.The animal usually dieswithin 3 to 4 days.

• Treatment involvesnursing. Antibiotics canbe effective if used in the early stages of disease.

• Prevention is by vaccination. Management is alsoimportant, which includes good hygiene, disinfection ofwounds and treatment of wounds with wound powderand antibiotics.

Abortions• Abortions can be caused by many factors, including

bacteria and viruses.

• Management factors which can also result in abortioncan include some vaccinations used in pregnantanimals, certain deworming drugs used in the first partof pregnancy or stressful procedures such as roughhandling.

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• The kid or lamb is passed before it is ready to be born,or is stillborn after the usual term of pregnancy.

• Prevention can include vaccination and goodmanagement such as planning vaccination anddeworming strategies.

Metabolic diseasesMetabolic diseases are usually seen during the last part ofpregnancy or in the early part of lactation when the ewe isnursing the lamb. Animals should be treated by a veterinarianto prevent deaths.

Milk fever• The cause of milk fever is a low calcium content in the

blood. It is more frequent in late-pregnant (older orlactating animals which are feeding twins and whenanimals are grazing on rich green pastures).

• The signs seen are muscle tremors, weakness,depression, lying down, and a rapid pulse.

• Treatment involves giving calcium in the vein.

• Prevention involves nutritional management and closeobservation.

Ketosis• Ketosis is caused by an imbalance of energy. It is

more likely to occur when there is poor-quality feed

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For further information contactyour animal health technician, state/private veterinarian

or

Animal Health for Developing Farmers ARC–Onderstepoort Veterinary InstitutePrivate Bag X05, Onderstepoort 0110

Tel (012) 529 9158

or

Resource Centre, Department of AgricultureTel (012) 319 7141/7085

during the last part of pregnancy, in overfat females,and when stressful procedures are performed duringlate pregnancy.

• The signs are lying down, headpressing, not eating.

• Treatment must be done by a veterinarian.

• Prevention involves planning the breeding season andnutritional management.

CONCLUSION• Prevention is always better than cure! Many of these

diseases can be prevented by good management oflivestock, which includes hygiene, nutritionalmanagement and vaccination against some diseases.

• By recognising the important diseases in your area youcan know best how to prevent and treat them.