OSU Sheep Team

Becky Talley, Sheep Industry News Associate Editor
In February of last year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) officially announced the discovery of a Nor98-like scrapie case in a ewe from a flock in Wyoming. This was the first case of scrapie consistent with Nor98 discovered in the United [...]

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Bob Hendershot, USDA NRCS, Grassland Conservationist
(Originally Published in Sheep Team Newsletter October 2003)
Toxic levels of prussic acid or otherwise known hydrocyanic acid (HCN) form naturally in the leaves of many annual warm season grasses as well as a few other plants.  Johnson grass, sorghum, sudangrasses, sorghum-sudan hybrids and even the leaves of wild cherry trees [...]

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(Originally Published in Sheep Team Newsletter February 2005)
The most common way that new diseases are introduced into a flock is through new animal additions. New animals and animals returning from exhibitions should be quarantined from resident animals for four weeks to allow for incubation periods of certain diseases.
Isolation areas (buildings and pens) should not share [...]

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William P. Shulaw, Extension Veterinarian
(Originally Published in Sheep Team Newsletter December 2003)
Although the cattle producers are becoming increasingly knowledgeable about Johne’s disease, many sheep producers are still relatively unaware of this disease.  The National Animal Health Monitoring System’s (NAHMS) 2001 Sheep study (as reported in April 2003) indicates that about 68% of sheep producers [...]

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William P. Shulaw, Extension Veterinarian
(Originally Published in Sheep Team Newsletter October 2003)
What is it?
Caseous lymphadenitis is the technical name for the disease of sheep and goats that is often referred to as CLA, CL, contagious abscesses, “cheesy gland” or “boils”.  It is an infection primarily of the lymph nodes but it can affect internal [...]

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William P. Shulaw, Extension Veterinarian
(Originally Published in Sheep Team Newsletter August 2003)
Wet weather this spring and summer has certainly created ideal conditions for foot problems in sheep.  Nearly continuous exposure to moisture softens the hoof’s horny tissues and makes it more vulnerable to irritation, injury, and infection.  Those flocks that are affected by classic [...]

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Clif Little, Ag/NR Agent, Guernsey County
(Originally Published in Sheep Team Newsletter June 2004)
Wet weather may contribute to fly infestations on livestock. Young lambs and sheep are particularly vulnerable. Wet soiled wool, wounds and dying tissue attract blow and bottle flies in the spring. Young animals may become infested very quickly. Flies usually deposit eggs [...]

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William P. Shulaw, Extension Veterinarian
(Originally Published in Sheep Team Newsletter April 2003)
In the last issue of the newsletter we described the basic signs and causes of mastitis in ewes.  Mastitis caused by bacteria can be acute or chronic.  Acute mastitis often results in obvious signs in the ewe such as being off feed, feverish, and [...]

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William P. Shulaw, Extension Veterinarian
(Originally Published in Sheep Team Newsletter April 2003)
Every year some flocks will have ewes that deliver a live healthy lamb(s) that subsequently 1) suffers starvation, 2) must be bottle raised, or 3) grows poorly.  There are several possible causes for this observation.  Poor mothering ability; poor nutrition of the ewe; [...]

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