Sheep pneumonia and pleurisy
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 Pneumonia and Pleurisy are complex and can often go undetected unless there is a severe outbreak in your flock.
Pneumonia is a respiratory disease, causing inflammation and infection of the lungs. Often associated with Pneumonia is Pleurisy and causes the inflammation and infection of the thin layers of tissue that line the outside of the lungs and the chest cavity. This can cause adhesion to the chest cavity and can result in significant carcase trim at processing and condemnation of offal.
Check out this Short Cuts video from the Agriculture Victoria's Red Meat Value Chain team for tips on how to manage the risk of Pneumonia and Pleurisy to prevent carcase damage and loss from trim.
Sheep Pleurisy and Pneumonia: Short Cuts - A series of short videos highlighting animal health issues that affect sheep carcase quality and practical tips to avoid them.
Curious about pleurisy and pneumonia?
What even are they? Pleurisy is the inflammation of the thin layers of tissue that lines the outside
of the lungs and the chest cavity, and is commonly associated with pneumonia, which is a respiratory disease resulting in infected and inflamed lungs.
But it's a complex beast.
There are a range of contributing factors, lung infections caused by bacteria and viruses, lung worm infestations, or inhaling dust dip or drench stress and even extreme weather events.
The symptoms can include coughing, ill thrift, reduced growth and even death.
Pleurisy and pneumonia cost the industry $20 million dollars per year.
And most of that comes directly from your pocket! In reduced growth rates. Condemnation of offal and carcase trim. But you can reduce your risks.
Minimise dust wherever possible. Use good techniques for drenching and dipping and control lungworm through effective drenches.
Affected animals may benefit from antibiotics, so seek veterinary advice if you notice symptoms.
Pleurisy and pneumonia are very common, so manage the risk and be the best sheep producer you can be.
Let's keep the short cuts for the oven, not your farm!
What are the risks?
Pneumonia and Pleurisy are complex and can be caused by a combination of factors such as
- Bacteria and virus infections
- Lung worm
- Weather events, such as flooding
- Environmental conditions such as dust
- Incorrect drenching techniques resulting in inhalation of drench
- Stress
Things to consider include:
- Minimise dust where possible
- avoid yarding sheep if hot, dry and dusty, wetting down yards can help reduce the risk
- muster sheep slowly to minimise dust
- consider the dust from the feed
- Ensure staff are trained in correct drenching and dipping techniques to avoid inhalation and damage to the lungs
- Seek advice from your animal health professional such as a veterinarian, nutritionist, or consultant
- Develop an Animal Health Plan to help manage the risks
- Reduce stress on sheep by ensuring they are well managed and fit and healthy
- Ensure livestock managers are trained in correct drenching techniques
- Develop a good biosecurity plan
- introduced sheep could also be carriers of respiratory pathogens
- quarantine and monitor introduced livestock
Pleurisy and Pneumonia are more common than you think. Manage the risks and be the best the producer you can be.
Keep the Short Cuts for the oven, not the farm.
More Information
Articles – Pneumonia and pleurisy in lambs
Pleurisy in sheep at slaughter
Podcast – Sheep Connect NSW: Pneumonia in Lambs with Dr Joan Lloyd