Common Disease Prevention and Treatment Methods for Sheep Farming in Summer

In summer, with high temperatures and abundant rain, the air humidity is relatively high. When raising sheep, improper feeding and management as well as inadequate epidemic prevention measures can easily cause sheep to develop three diseases: contagious ecthyma, bluetongue, and enterotoxemia. In severe cases, these three diseases can lead to sheep death and affect the economic returns of farmers, so they must be taken seriously. Below, Qinnong Network brings the prevention and treatment methods for these three diseases. Let's take a look.

1. Contagious ecthyma

Contagious ecthyma, commonly known as sore mouth, is an infectious disease of the Poxviridae family and genus. It mainly occurs in young sheep. The pathogen spreads through pens, feeding utensils, and external wounds. After the pathogen invades, it can remain latent in the sheep's body for one week. When the disease occurs, small pox-like lesions appear on the lips, nose, and other parts. As the condition develops, pustules, ulcers, and formed wart-like thick scabs appear. Granulation tissue proliferates at the ulcers, and the mouth becomes swollen, seriously affecting the sheep's feeding and eating. Ultimately, the sheep dies due to physical weakness. The disease develops rapidly and can lead to death in two to three weeks.

Prevention and treatment methods: Do a good job in epidemic prevention measures. It is strictly forbidden to introduce sheep from epidemic areas. Newly introduced sheep should first undergo isolation and observation before being put into the flock to be raised together. Vaccinate before summer each year. The oral cavity of young sheep is relatively delicate, so care should be taken when feeding. Do not feed coarse and hard feed, otherwise it is easy to cause trauma, which facilitates pathogen infection. After the disease occurs, first disinfect all pens and feeding utensils, then isolate and raise the sick sheep, clean the affected areas with edible vinegar, and apply antibiotics. Do this twice a day, and they can recover in about a week.

2. Bluetongue

Bluetongue is a viral infectious disease. It is named because the tongue of the sick sheep appears blue. It is mainly transmitted through mosquitoes and Culicoides, and pregnant ewes can also transmit it to fetal lambs through the placenta. Its incubation period is also within one week. When the disease occurs, the sick sheep begins to show fever, with body temperature reaching as high as 42 degrees at the highest. It is listless, has no appetite or does not eat, the oral mucosa is congested, and the tongue is blue. As the condition develops, the mucosa of the tongue begins to erode, and edema appears in the head and throat, accompanied by coughing. When pregnant sheep are affected, it can cause miscarriage or stillbirth. Even if lambs are born, they are congenitally abnormal. The course of the disease is 1-2 weeks, and the mortality rate can be as high as 30%.

Prevention and treatment methods: This disease is mainly prevented. Attention should be paid to epidemic prevention work. Before summer, do a good job in eliminating mosquitoes and Culicoides, maintain the hygiene of pens, and prevent mosquito and Culicoides bites from spreading the pathogen. When the disease occurs, first clean the affected areas with a low-concentration potassium permanganate solution, then apply iodine glycerin or Bingpeng San to the ulcer surface, three times a day. Use antibiotics to prevent secondary infection and prevent strong light exposure.

3. Enterotoxemia

Enterotoxemia is an intestinal disease of sheep, caused by the massive reproduction of Clostridium welchii in the sheep's intestines. It mainly affects sheep around 1 year old and in good body condition. It generally occurs during the rainy season and is triggered by eating large amounts of green, juicy feed. The disease occurs suddenly, with no obvious characteristics. If there are symptoms, they are generally violent paddling of the limbs, body convulsions, teeth grinding, and foam from the mouth and nose, with death within two to three hours.

Prevention and treatment methods: Strengthen feeding. During the rainy season, try not to graze outside. Adjust the feed structure, try to feed less green and juicy feed, strengthen exercise, and enhance the sheep's physique. When the condition is mild, sulfaguanidine 10-25 grams can be used, along with intramuscular injection of a mixture of penicillin 1.6 million units and streptomycin 500 mg, which has a certain therapeutic effect.

The above are the common disease prevention and treatment methods for summer sheep farming brought by Qinnong Network. We hope it can help you. If you want to learn more, please stay tuned to Qinnong Network.