Good management essential for Dohne diseases

It could be weather related, the result of an unbalanced diet, or even brought in by chance by other animals, there are many illnesses that could severely impact on your Dohne sheep.

According to Suidplaas owner, Wynand du Toit, Dohne diseases and Dohne management go hand in hand. “As a Dohne farmer, it’s essential to know the disease that could affect your Dohnes, to know what causes them, and to manage your herd in such a way that the risk is minimised as far as possible.” 

He says if not, it won’t only affect the sheep, but could make the land unusable for livestock for years to come. 

“It’s also important to understand some of the challenges in South Africa to deal with many of these diseases. In some instances, vaccines currently aren’t available from state institutions responsible for them. In many cases, Dohne farmers are having to rely increasingly on the private sector for help.”

Cryptosporidiosis

This disease has popped up in the Overberg and Swartland districts, affecting a few farmers here – and it holds numerous threats to Dohne farmers. It mostly affects lambs between four and 10 days old – and it’s possible to lose up to 40% of your young lambs as a result of Crypto. The concern is, once it’s detected on your farm, it could take up to four years before you can use the camps again where these lambs first fell ill. It’s caused by Cryptosporidium parvum (tiny protozoan parasites) – and is passed in faeces and transmitted by oral ingestion. Symptoms include a lamb’s reluctance to drink from its mother, depression and diarrhea. They then become dehydrated and can die. 

Management: Management can help reduce the threat of this disease. For example, a high level of hygiene in indoor booths and camps is essential. Lambing pens can even be disinfected between ewes.

Treatment: Should your lambs pick up this disease, then oral rehydration with an electrolyte solution can assist. A new medication called Crypto Paste can also possibly assist, although it’s best to consult your local vet. 

Bloat

The considerable winter rains has resulted in a green Overberg come spring. While this is good news, it can also easily lead to deadly conditions such as bloat. This can occur when sheep graze on young pastures containing legumes and grains (often in wet conditions) – which can lead to the obstruction or blockage of the oesophagus. The first signs are a distended abdomen, and later painful signs include grinding of teeth, neck extensions, and grunting sounds. When the condition has advanced, sheep will have difficulty breathing. 

Management: Good management of your herd is the best way to avoid bloat. If you do move your animals to pasture, wait for it to dry a little. Also avoid giving your animals water before putting them on to wet pasture. Ingesting dry hay before feeding on pasture can help minimise the risk of bloating. Should you change the diet of the Dohnes, do this slowly over time. 

Treatment: In the case of mild bloat, there are options to treat your Dohnes. You can try to massage the neck to remove any blockages, aiding them to belch. Be sure to keep your animals in a standing position. There are other treatments for serious conditions – but it’s ideal to consult your vet for more.

Pasteurellosis

This is a deadly disease for sheep, and is common when sheep herds aren’t managed optimally. The bacteria that occur naturally in the nose and throat of healthy sheep move into the lungs, which causes pneumonia and septicaemia. It often occurs during dry conditions, when there’s lots of dust in the air, resulting in lung infections for the sheep. 

Management: The vaccine provided by the state institution for Pasteurellosis hasn’t been readily available for some time. As a result, there is now a new vaccine that has been released by the private sector available to farmers. Lambs need to be inoculated twice and adult sheep once a year. However, management is also important for Pasteurellosis, so ensure sheep aren’t underfed, and don’t change their diet suddenly. Reduce stress levels for the animals, including long treks and large numbers in small spaces. And handle sheep as carefully as possible.

Treatment: If sheep do develop the disease, treat them with an antibiotic as soon as possible.

Sources:

• Ethiopia Sheep and Goat Productivity Improvement Program (ESGPIP)
• Farm Health Online.com