How to diagnose and treat wool-eating disorder in housed sheep?
In the spring of 2004, sheep housed in some villages on the outskirts of our county developed a disease of biting and eating each other's body wool. The wool quality of the affected sheep was damaged, with indigestion, anemia and emaciation, and in severe cases the sheep died, causing great losses to the @#@229@#@ industry. Based on the basic disease situation, feed analysis, clinical symptoms and treatment, it was diagnosed as a nutritional and metabolic disease. Through comprehensive prevention and control measures, the condition was brought under control. The report is as follows:
1 Basic disease situation
The affected sheep were mainly housed sheep, with fewer cases among semi-housed sheep. Fewer adult sheep were affected, while more lambs were affected. Sheep from households feeding a greater variety of forage and feed were less affected, while sheep from households feeding a single variety were more affected. The wool quality of the affected sheep was damaged, and individual sheep died. Treatment with anti-ectoparasitic drugs was ineffective.
2 Clinical symptoms
The affected sheep were depressed, with reduced appetite, pale conjunctiva, licking wall soil, chasing each other and biting body wool, and shedding wool. In severe cases, there was patchy wool loss on the abdomen and tail, rumen bloating, and constipation. They stretched their backs, and died from severe cachexia or omasal impaction.
3 Feed analysis
3.1 The affected sheep were mostly housed, with a single type of forage and feed, mainly crop straw, and lacking green forage.
3.2 Under housed conditions, the forage and feed lacked trace elements and minerals.
3.3 The concentrate was mainly corn, lacking protein.
3.4 Some feeds lacked salt.
4 Treatment
4.1 Where conditions permit, provide a complete-price feed, such as a prepared concentrate supplement.
4.2 Add 0.5% salt to the feed.
4.3 Add a mineral additive based mainly on monocalcium phosphate to the feed.
4.4 Add feed yeast powder or sesame cake to the feed.
4.5 Add green forage or multivitamins.
5 Experience
5.1 When raising sheep under housed conditions, due to limited conditions, farmers mainly use crop straw or grain seeds, with a single type of forage and feed and incomplete nutrition. It is recommended to provide a complete-price feed where conditions permit.
5.2 In feed formulation, attention should be paid to supplying mineral additives and vitamins. Lambs have weak rumen function and poor ability to synthesize vitamins, so they are prone to vitamin deficiency.
5.3 To increase feed palatability and supplement Cl and Na, it is recommended to add 0.5% salt.
5.4 When formulating feed, attention should be paid to maintaining a balanced calcium-to-phosphorus ratio, generally maintained at 2 to 1.3:1.
5.5 A certain proportion of protein feed should be added to the feed to prevent protein deficiency from hindering wool growth.
5.6 Appropriately increase the exercise of housed sheep to promote metabolism.
5.7 Regularly deworm the sheep, especially to remove ectoparasites.