WHAT IS TAKES TO BE A GOOD SMALL RUMINANT VETFROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF A NON-VET

SUSAN SCHOENIANSHEEP & GOAT SPECIALISTUNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND EXTENSIONWESTERN MARYLAND RESEARCH & EDUCATION CENTERSSCHOEN@UMD.EDU - WWW.SHEEPANDGOAT.COM

http://www.slideshare.net/schoenian

WHAT DO PRODUCERS AND VETERINARIANS WANT?

ProducersTimely access to

information and services.

Access (legal) to drugs.Value for their dollar.

VeterinariansTo be put in situations

where they can help their clients and patients.

Ensure legal and proper use of animal health products.

To be fairly compensated for their services.

CURRENT SITUATION A veterinary education is very expensive. Only a small percentage of graduates from US

veterinary schools go on to work with food animals.

Many graduates have limited knowledge and experience with large animals, especially small ruminants.

Many small ruminant producers do not utilize the services of veterinarians, especially in the area of whole flock/herd management.

We need more veterinarians who are willing to work with sheep and goat producers and who are knowledgeable about small ruminant health and production.

IN 2011, 28.2% OF SHEEP OPERATIONS WERE VISITED BY VET.IN 2009, 34.8% OF GOAT OPERATIONS HAD CONSULTING VET.

Reason Percent operationsSheep disease diagnosis 46.9Sheep disease prevention 45.3Sheep nutritional information 12.3Sheep production management practices 12.4Lambing problems 34.7Lameness 9.1Other 5.6Any reason, including health certificate, breeding soundness exam, and pregnancy check

51.8

WHY THIS NEEDS TO CHANGE Small ruminant producers can

benefit from the veterinary-client-patient relationship.

Producers can’t (shouldn’t) do everything where animal health is concerned.

Without the services of a veterinarians, animal welfare is sometimes compromised.

Small ruminant producers are a potentially untapped client-base for many veterinarians, especially mixed-animal practitioners.

WHY THIS HAS TO CHANGE: DRUGS Few drugs are approved for use in sheep, even fewer

for goats. Extra-label drugs are often required to treat and

manage disease in a sheep flock, goat herd, or feedlot.

Only a veterinarian can use and/or prescribe drugs extra-label.

Laws and policies regarding drug use in livestock are only going to get stricter. The new Veterinary Feed Directive (January 2017) will

require prescriptions for antibiotics that are put in the feed or added to the water. Some water drugs (e.g. DiMethox®) are being transitioned from OTC to Rx.

Both producers and veterinarians are harmed by illegal use of animal health products.

WHY THIS HAS TO CHANGE: PUBLIC

The public is demanding stricter control of antibiotics and other animal health products.

The public is demanding that their food be produced with fewer drugs and chemicals.

The public is increasingly interested in how their food is produced, including how animals are raised.

It will take partnerships between producers, government, veterinarians, and other service providers to successfully manage animal health in these changing times and ensure that reasonable policies are enacted and consumers are satisfied.

PARTNERSHIP: DIFFERENT ROLES

Producer Deworming and injections Vaccinations (except rabies) Docking, castrating, and disbudding Obstetrics Disease diagnosis Sample collection (fecal, blood, tissue, skin) Simple “surgeries,” treatments, and first

aid. Rx treatments as prescribed by

veterinarian Field “necropsy”

Veterinarian More complicated obstetrics, especially for

new and less experienced producers. Later docking, castrating, and dehorning. More complex disease diagnosis Conduct, suggest tests for disease diagnosis Sample collection (blood, tissue) Prescribe drugs for treatment Surgeries, such as caesarian section Necropsies Emergency care

FLOCK/HERD HEALTH MANAGEMENT VS. EMERGENCY CALLS

Emergency treatment Producer calls veterinarian at last

minute.Animal dies – it is vet’s fault or veterinarian is not available

Veterinarian may not have specific knowledge of farm and enterprise.

Some emergency calls are necessary.

Flock/herd health management

Veterinarian is part of management team; visits farm periodically, establishes veterinary-client-patient relationship.

Veterinarian is familiar with operation: nutrition, management, etc. – can make better recommendations.

Places emphasis on prevention rather than treatment of disease.

Cost savings in the long run.

KNOW THE GOAL OF THE ENTERPRISE AND FARM

PetsGrazing managementHobby4-H or youth projectSmall farm - for profitLarge farm - for profitDiversified farm

KNOW THE PRODUCTION EMPHASIS AND END PRODUCT(S)

Seedstock - show Seedstock - commercial 4-H and youth projects Commercial – market animals

(feeder or slaughter) Commercial - meat (and wool) Commercial - dairy Commercial - feedlot or grazing

KNOW THE PRODUCTION PHILOSOPHY Low input Intensive Certified organic

Organic philosophy Natural Animal-welfare approved

Humane certified Grass-fed, pasture-raised,

free-range Zero grazing (confinement) Other certifications

ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT FEEDING & NUTRITION

Feed is the largest cost in a sheep or goat operation, especially feeding enterprise.

Good nutrition is the foundation of animal health. Does the farm test feeds and forages? Does the farm weigh feed and animals? Does the farm feed balanced rations? What is the suplementation program? Does the farm grow or buy feed? Where does the farm buy feed? Has soil and water been tested?

FIND OUT WHAT MOST COMMON HEALTH PROBLEMS ARE

Internal parasitesWorms (which specie?) and/or coccidiaClinical or sub-clinical?

Foot problemsFoot rot or scald

MastitisClinical or sub-clinical, hard bag (OPP, CAE)

MetabolicPregnancy toxemia, enterotoxemia, floppy kid, other

Respiratory Other

LEARN CURRENT ANIMAL HEALTH PRACTICES

Parasite controlDeworming practicesUse of fecal egg countsUse of FAMACHA©Use of coccidiostatsOther parasite control

strategies

Vaccinations Clostridial diseases

Enterotoxemias, tetanus, others3, 7, or 8-way vaccineVaccination schedule (pregnant dams, offspring)

Soremouth (orf) Abortions Pneumonia Caseous lymphadenitis Rabies Other

OTHER ANIMAL HEALTH PRACTICES

Footrot/scaldOPP - Maedi Visna

CAEScrapieJohne’s disease (OJD)Caseous lymphadenitis (CL)Other

ASK ABOUT BIOSECURITY

Flock/herd statusClosed, mostly-closed (only males introduced), frequent introductions, showing/exhibiting, sharing of males, breeding for other producers

Quarantine practicesPlace, duration, animal health practices (re: hoof health, internal parasites)

Disease status(es): scrapie, OPP, CL, JD, footrot, orfVisitors Other practices

ENCOURAGE PRODUCERS TO SET BENCHMARKS

Pregnancy rates# females exposed / # females ewes lambing

Lambing/kidding percentage# lambs/kids marketed/ # females exposed

Pre-weaning death losses (< 10%) Post-weaning death losses (<5%) Ewe/doe replacement rate (<20%) Other performance measures

ENCOURAGE PRODUCERS TO DO TESTING

NecropsiesTissue analysis / culturesDisease - OPP, CAE,

scrapieForage, feed, water, and

soil

TALK LIKE A PRODUCERCorrectly identify breeds

(or don’t mention breed).Don’t have a “favorite” breed

Learn market terminology.Complain about weather

and prices.

WHAT PRODUCERS NEED TO DO Value role of veterinarian in flock/herd health

management. Be willing learn from veterinarian(s). Commit to use drugs properly and legally Commit to a high level of animal welfare. Provide proper handling and restraint of animals

during on-farm consultations and treatments. Be willing to transport individual animals to clinic, Share knowledge and experience Follow-up on specific cases; let vet know what

happened.

WHAT VETERINARIANS NEED TO DO Keep up-to-date on sheep and goat health and

management. Take advantage of continuing education

opportunities. Be available Follow-up with clients; find out what

happened. Be visible in industry. Be willing to learn from producers. Demonstrate that having a veterinarian as

part of the farm management team improves profitability.

REACH OUT TO PRODUCERSWeb siteSocial mediaNewslettersOpen houseHost educational programsSpeak at educational

programs Interact with industryRaise sheep, goats

CONSIDER OFFERING ADDITIONAL SERVICES

Parasite controlFecal egg counting

Monitor pasture contaminationTo select resistant animalsTo determine drug efficacy*

Larvae ID

ReproductionBreeding soundness

examsemen evaluation

Pregnancy diagnosisAssisted reproduction

Artificial insemination (AI)Embryo transfer (ET)

THANK YOUR FOR YOUR ATTENTION.

ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?

SUSAN S CHOENIANSheep & Goat Specialist

sschoen@umd.edu www.sheepandgoat.