Sheep arthritis
Short Cuts is series of short videos highlighting animal health issues that affect sheep carcase quality and practical tips to avoid them.
There are 8 short videos covering the following topics:
- Sheep Vaccination
- Sheep Arthritis
- Bruising and Injury
- Sheep Pneumonia and pleurisy
- Sheep Measles and Worms
- Liver Fluke
- Grass seeds
- Cheesy Gland
Sheep Arthritis is the inflammation of joints. It is caused by bacteria entering the umbilical cord or through a wound. Sheep arthritis can result in ill thrift, animal welfare issues and significant carcase trimming costing potential income.
Check out this Short Cuts video from the Agriculture Victoria’s Red Meat Value Chain team for tips on how to prevent and minimise the risk of arthritis in your flock and economic loss through carcase damage.
Sheep Arthritis: Short Cuts - A series of short videos highlighting animal health issues that affect sheep carcase quality and practical tips to avoid them.
Arthritis it's more than just an old person’s disease.
It can result in the trimming of three kilograms or more of carcase weight from your lambs or sheep, and it will hurt your on farm performance as well.
The estimated cost to the industry is close to $40 million dollars per year.
But you might ask yourself.
What can I do about it?
Arthritis is caused by bacteria entering the body through the umbilical cord or a wound.
So there is actually a lot that we can do.
Good hygiene for all procedures including lamb marking and shearing, tails docked at the third joint with good technique and hygiene for faster healing.
There is also a vaccine which can prevent one of the strains of arthritis.
Arthritis is more common than you might think.
Simple changes can help you reduce your risks.
Be the best sheep producer you can be.
Let's keep the shortcuts for the oven, not your farm.
Things to consider:
- Prevention is the key. Minimise the opportunity for bacterial infection by practicing good hygiene during marking, shearing and mulesing.
- seek advice from your animal health professional such as a veterinarian or consultant.
- some types of sheep arthritis can be prevented with a vaccine. Seek veterinarian advice to identify arthritis and consider if a vaccination program is possible.
- consider current management practices and make necessary adjustments.
- develop an Animal Health Plan to keep you and your team informed on track to be able to practice good hygiene with livestock husbandry activities such as shearing, marking, vaccinating etc.
- check agricultural and veterinary chemical labels to ensure you use and store chemicals correctly. Remember to keep records of your chemical use to meet legislative requirements and to maintain your Livestock Production Assurance (LPA) accreditation.
Arthritis is more common than you think. Simple practice changes can help reduce your risks.
Keep the Short Cuts for the oven, not the farm.
More information
Article – Arthritis / Polyarthritis
Podcast – Sheep Connect NSW: Arthritis, a problem for the young ones!