This is the second presentation in a 5-part webinars series on sheep and goat health.

1. 2014 WINTER WEBINAR SERIES
SHEEP & GOAT HEALTH
PART II:
PREVENTATIVE HEALTH MANAGEMENT
SUSAN SCHOENIAN & JEFF SEMLER – UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND EXTENSION

2. PREVENTATIVE HEALTH TOPICS
1.
2.
3.
4.
Vaccinations
Parasite control
Hoof care
Nutrition

3. TO VACCINATE OR NOT TO VACCINATE
WHY?
WHY NOT?
• Manage disease risk.
• Prevent and control disease.
• Disease risk is high.
• Insurance against disease
outbreak.
• Cost-effective.
• Increase value of animals.
• Disease risk is low.
• Not cost-effective.
• Not effective.
• No approved vaccine.
• It will introduce disease to
your farm.
• You’re not going to do it
right!

4. THERE ARE MANY DISEASES FOR WHICH
YOU CAN VACCINATE SHEEP AND GOATS.
1. Clostridial diseases
2. Abortion
3. Caseous
lymphadenitis
4. Soremouth
5. Footrot
6. Epididymitis
7. Pneumonia
8. Rabies

5. IT IS GENERALLY RECOMMENDED THAT SHEEP AND
GOATS BE VACCINATED FOR CLOSTRIDIAL DISEASES.
Clostridium Species
Disease
Neurotoxic clostridia (toxic to nerves)
Clostridium tetani
Clostridium botulinum
Tetanus, “lock jaw”
Botulism
Histotoxic clostridia (toxic to tissues)
Clostridium chauvoei
Clostridium septicum
Clostridia novyi Type A
Clostridia novyi Type B
Clostridium haemolyticum (C. novyi type D)
Clostridium sordellii
Blackleg
Malignant edema
Braxi (sheep)
Big head of rams
Black disease (necrotic hepatitis)
Bacillary haemoglobinuria or red water
Gas gangrene
Enterotoxemia (toxins absorbed from intestines)
Clostridium perfringins Type B
Clostridium perfringins Type C
Clostridium perfringins Type D
Lamb dysentery
Struck
Pulpy kidney, overeating disease, “classic” overeating

6. THERE ARE TWO PRIMARY CLOSTRIDIAL
VACCINES USED BY SHEEP AND GOAT PRODUCERS.
3-WAY (CDT)
8-WAY (COVEXIN-8)
1.
Clostridium perfringins Type C
1.
Clostridium perfringins Type C
2.
Clostridium perfringins Type D
2.
Clostridium perfringins Type D
3.
Clostridium tetani
4.
Clostridium chauvoei
5.
Clostridium septicum
6.
Clostridium novyi Type A
7.
Clostridium novyi Type B
8.
Clostridium haemolyticum
3.
Clostridium tetani

7. VACCINATING FOR CLOSTRIDIAL DISEASES
FIRST TIME MOMS
(OR UNKNOWN STATUS)
• Vaccinate 3 and 6 weeks
prior to parturition
LAMBS AND KIDS
FROM VACCINATED DAMS
• Vaccinate at 8 to 12 weeks of age
• Repeat in 3-4 weeks
MATURES EWES AND DOES
• Vaccinate 1 month prior to
parturition
LAMBS AND KIDS
FROM UNVACCINATED DAMS
• Vaccinate at 4 weeks of age
• Repeat in 3-4 weeks
RAMS, BUCKS, AND WETHERS
• Annual booster
PURCHASED FEEDER LAMBS, KIDS
• Vaccinate twice 3-4 weeks apart
(type D overeating)

8. SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR TETANUS
• It is recommended that lambs and kids have immunity to
tetanus when they are docked, castrated, and/or disbudded,
especially if elastrator rings are applied.
• It is recommended that these procedures be done at an early
age, less than 2 weeks.
• If the dam was vaccinated for tetanus via CDT or 8-way (at least
two weeks prior to parturition), the offspring will be protected,
if they consumed enough colostrum (10% of live weight).
• If the dam was not vaccinated during late gestation, the tetanus
antitoxin (300 IU) should be given at the time
these procedures are performed.
• The antitoxin provides immediate, short-term protection.
• The antitoxin and toxoid can be given at the same time (not
mixed!).

9. OPTIONAL VACCINATIONS
1. Soremouth
2. Abortion
3. Caseous
lymphadenitis
4. Footrot
5. Epididymitis
6. Pneumonia
7. Rabies

10. VACCINATING FOR SOREMOUTH (ORF)
• Vaccinate only if the disease (virus) is already
present on your farm or if the risk of getting
soremouth is high.
• It is a live vaccine that is applied topically to a
scarified, wool/hairless protected area on the
animal (e.g. flank, inside ear, under tail)
• Vaccinations protocols vary
• Well in advance of lambing/kidding
• New kid/lamb crop (> 1 week of age)
• 6 weeks before a show
• 21-day slaughter withdrawal

11. VACCINATING FOR CASEOUS LYMPHADENTITIS (CL)
• Reduces incidence and severity of disease.
• Vaccinate only if flock has a confirmed history of CL.
• Should not vaccinate naïve flocks/herds: vaccinated
flocks/herds will test positive for CL in blood.
• High incidence of injection-site lesions or abscesses.
• Can be given in combination with clostridial vaccines.
• 60-day slaughter withdrawal.
• Sheep vaccine should not be used on goats.
• There is a new CL vaccine for non-lactating goats (Texas
Lab); however it has a conditional license (state regulated
– not available in all states).

12. VACCINATING FOR ABORTION
The most common causes of abortion in ewes and does are chlamydia, campylobacter, and toxoplasmosis
• Vaccinate if Chlamydia (Enzootic abortion) or
Campylobacter (Vibrio) abortion are
confirmed or suspected or health status of
replacements is unknown or suspect.
1. Chlamydia (EAE)
• Vaccinate 60 and 30 days prior to breeding
• Booster annually
2. Campylobacter (Vibrio)
• Vaccinate 30 days prior to breeding
• Booster 60 to 90 days later
• Re-vaccinate annually
3. No vaccine for toxoplasmosis (in US).
• Not approved for goats.
.

13. VACCINATING FOR RABIES
• Vaccinate if required, risk is high, or animals have frequent contact with people.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Fairs, shows, and festivals.
Petting farms, agrotourism.
Vegetation control in public areas.
Exposure to wildlife and strays
Prevalence of rabies in area.
High value animals or pets.
Raw milk is consumed from animals.
• Only a veterinarian can give.
• A rabies (killed) vaccine is licensed for sheep, but not goats.
• Be sure to vaccinate all dogs and cats on premises.

14. OTHER VACCINES FOR SHEEP AND GOATS
Foot rot
• Reduce incidence of foot rot
• Injection-site abscesses common
• Currently unavailable
Epididymitis
• Vaccination will interfere with testing
• Not recommended
Pasteurella (pneumonia)
• Mannheimia Haemolytica-Pasteurella Multocida
• 2 shots, 2-4 weeks apart
• Approved for sheep and goats.
• In Cornell study, vaccination with PI3
did not reduce incidence of pneumonia
in lambs.

15. INTERNAL PARASITES ARE THE MOST SIGNIFICANT
HEALTH PROBLEM AFFECTING SHEEP AND GOATS.
TWO PARASITES ARE OF PRIMARY CONCERN.
HAEMONCHUS CONTORTUS
BARBER POLE WORM
EIMERIA SPECIES
COCCIDIA

16. CONTROLLING STOMACH WORMS WITH MANAGEMENT
• Pasture rest and rotation
• Clean pastures (e.g. annuals)
• Nutritional (protein)
supplementation
• Season of lambing/kidding
• Browsing, taller forages
• Managing grazing height
• Multi-species grazing
• High tannin forages
• Genetic selection

17. CONTROLLING STOMACH WORMS WITH DRUGS
• Use FAMACHA© system and Five Point
Check© to determine which animals need
deworming.
• Dose according to an accurate weights.
• Use oral drench products.
• Deposit drug over tongue using syringe with
long, metal nozzle.
• Give goats higher doses of drugs (usually 1.5
to 2x sheep dose).
• Test for anthelmintic resistance by doing
before and after fecal egg counts or submit
sample for DrenchRite® test.

18. FAMACHA© SYSTEM
• Anemia (pale mucous membranes) is the primary
symptom of barber pole worm infection.
• The diagnostic test for barber pole worm infection
is a blood test: packed cell volume (PCV).
• FAMACHA© card is a color eye chart that estimates
level of anemia (PCV).
• Each score gives a
treatment (deworming)
recommendation.
1
No treatment

2
No treatment

3
Yes or no
?
4
Treatment
!
5
Treatment


19. FIVE POINT CHECK©
• An extension of the FAMACHA© system: a decisionmaking tool for all parasites that commonly affect
small ruminants.
• Especially useful when deciding to deworm animals
with FAMACHA© scores of 3 (?) or when/where
other worms are a problem.
• Involves 5 checkpoints on the body.
1. Eye (FAMACHA© score)
2. Jaw (bottle jaw)
3. Back (body condition score)
4. Rear/tail (fecal soiling, diarrhea)
5. Nose (sheep) – nasal bots
Coat condition (goats)

20. Check Point
Observation
Possible diagnoses
Anemia
1-5 (FAMACHA© card)
Barber pole worm (Haemonchus)
Coccidia (Eimeria)
Liver fluke
Hook worms
Other worms and causes
Body condition score
1-5 (BCS card)
Barber pole worm (Haemonchus)
Brown stomach worm (Teladorsagia)
Bankrupt worm (Trichostrongylus)
Nodular worm (Oesophagostomum)
Other worms and causes
3 TAIL
Fecal soiling
(0-5) Dag score card
Brown stomach worm (Teladorsagia)
Bankrupt worm (Trichostrongylus)
Coccidia (Eimeria)
Nodular worm (Oesophagostomum)
Other worms and causes
4 JAW
Submandibular edema
Soft swelling under jaw
“Bottle jaw”
Barber pole worm (Haemonchus)
Coccidia (Eimeria)
Liver fluke
Hook worms
Other worms and causes
Nasal discharge
Nasal bot fly
Lungworms
Pneumonia
Other causes
Coat condition (1-3)
Barber pole worm (Haemonchus)
Brown stomach worm (Teladorsagia)
Bankrupt worm (Trichostrongylus)
Nodular worm (Oesophagostomum)
Other worms and causes
1 EYE
2 BACK
5
NOSE (sheep)
COAT (goat)

21. COCCIDIOSIS
PREVENTION
TREATMENT
• Management
• Amprolium (Corid)
• Coccidiostats
• Sulfa drugs

22. PREVENTING COCCIDIOSIS WITH MANAGEMENT
• Good sanitation
• Dry, well-bedded barns
(plenty of bedding)
• Clean, well-rested pastures
• Clean feed and water
• Clean buckets, bottles, and teats.
• Prevent overcrowding
• Optimal nutritional intake
• Adequate colostrum intake
• Don’t mix different aged lambs/kids
• Minimize stress

23. PREVENTING COCCIDIOSIS WITH COCCIDIOSTATS
• In water
(3-5 day Tx)
1. Amprolium (Corid®) [Rx]
2. Sulfa drugs [Rx]
• In feed or mineral
(min. 30 day Tx )
1. Lasalocid (Bovatec®)
2. Monensin (Rumensin®)
3. Decoquinate (Deccox®)

24. CONSIDERATIONS WHEN USING COCCIDIOSTATS
• Intake can be variable and inconsistent.
• Coccidiostats have little effect on existing infections.
• Must be given at least 30 days before period(s) of risk.
• Can feed 30 days pre-partum to reduce contamination of lambing and kidding
environment.
• Do not use year-round; coccidia can become resistant.
 Can be toxic, especially Rumensin® if not mixed properly in feed or mineral.
 Rumensin® is toxic to equines. Bovatec® and Deccox® less so, but . . .
• Prolonged or excessive use of amprolium (Corid®) can cause polio (rare).
• Coccidiostats have additional potential benefits: improved growth and feed efficiency,
prevention of free gas bloat, prevention of abortions caused by Toxoplasma gondii.

25. TREATING CLINICAL COCCIDIOSIS
• Should individually treat , especially young and
unweaned animals that are not consistently
consuming feed or water.
• Treat with oral preparations of amprolium
(Corid®) or sulfa medications (e.g. Albon®,
Di-methox®, or Sulmet®).
• Sulfa medications are preferred, because they are more
broad spectrum and there is less resistance.
• Though anti-coccidial drugs can be purchased OTC,
treatments are not FDA-approved for sheep or goats;
thus, a veterinary prescription (Rx) is required.
• Treat for 5 days.
• Dewormers have no effect on coccidia!

26. SERICEA LESPEDEZA (HIGH TANNIN FORAGE)
A “NATURAL” COCCIDIOSTAT AND “DEWORMER”
• Sericea lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata) may be
effective in reducing parasite loads in sheep and goats.
http://www.acsrpc.org/Resources/sericea.html
• Sericea lespedeza (leaf meal) may also be effective
at preventing and controlling coccidiosis.
http://www.acsrpc.org/Resources/PDF/SL_coccidia.pdf
• Simms Brothers is the exclusive source of certified
AU Grazer® sericea lespedeza seed and pellets.
http://simsbrothers.com/
 According to research, sericea lespedeza may decrease growth rates and alter
mineral status of animals.

27. COPPER FOR WORM CONTROL
• Copper oxide wire particles (COWP) have demonstrated efficacy
against the barber pole worm.
• Researchers believe copper has a direct effect on internal parasites;
copper also helps to boost the immune system.
 Sheep are very susceptible to copper toxicity. Goats are more
tolerent of excess copper and have higher dietary requirements.
• The copper in COWP is poorly absorbed; thereby, reducing
the risk of copper toxicity.
• Copper nutrition is very complicated. There are several
antagonists: molybdenum, sulfur, and others.
http://www.acsrpc.org/Resources/COWP.html

28. COPPER FOR WORM CONTROL
• Copper boluses (Copasure®) are used to
treat copper deficiency in cattle.
• Copasure® boluses (12.5 and 25 g
boluses) can be repackaged into smaller
doses for sheep and goats.
• As little as 0.5 g has been shown to be
effective. Up to 4 g has been given to an
individual animal.
• For parasite control, dosage is by age not
weight.
Example
• 0.5 g for a kid
• 1.0 g for a mature goat
• Administer with a balling/pilling gun.

29. OTHER “NATURAL” COCCIDIOSTATS AND DEWORMERS
• Not really, not yet. More research needs done.
• So far, study after study has shown “natural dewormers” to be
ineffective at reducing parasite loads in sheep and goats:
diatomaceous earth (DE), herbal dewormers, garlic, paprika,
moringa juice, Tasco®, pumpkin seed, etc.
• Maybe natural dewormers “work” by disrupting the free-living
stage of the parasite or by improving immune function in the
animal; thereby, reducing the number of animals that require
deworming.
• If you use a “natural dewormer” or coccidiostat, be sure to
regularly monitor animals for clinical signs of parasitism and
the need for deworming with a synthetic anthelmintic.

30. HOOF CARE
• Hoof care is an important aspect of
sheep and goat production.
• Hoof health can affect an animal’s
performance, disease resistance, and
welfare.
• Hooves should be regularly checked
for signs of disease and excess growth.
• Animals with excessive or abnormal
hoof growth and/or chronic hoof
disease should be culled.

31. HOOF TRIMMING
• The frequency (need) for hoof trimming
varies by genetics and environment and
ranges from every few months to more
than a year.
•
•
•
•
•
Goats > Sheep
Wet climate > dry climate
Light hoof color > dark hoof color
Housed animals > pastured animals
High nutrition > low nutrition
• Proper hoof trimming helps to prevent
infection and promote proper hoof
growth, especially in younger animals.
• Overzealous hoof trimming can provide
entry points for bacteria.

32. WHEN TO TRIM HOOVES
• To minimize handling and
stress, it is best to trim feet in
conjunction with other
management practices, e.g.
shearing.
• You shouldn’t handle females
too close to close to
parturition.
• You shouldn’t trim hooves the
day of a show or exhibition.
• It is easier to trim hooves when
they are soft.

33. PROPER EQUIPMENT FOR HOOF TRIMMING
• Hoof shears
• Smooth vs. serrated
• Rotating handle
• Hoof knife
straight vs. curved
• Brush
• Tight-fitting gloves
for safety and comfort

34. PROPER RESTRAINT FOR HOOF TRIMMING
MANUAL
ASSISTED
• Tip sheep on its rump
• Tilt or squeeze table
• Deck chair
• Half or full tilt
• Tied to gate
• Manual vs. automatic
• On milking or trimming stand
• Elevated work platform with head gate

35. HOW TO TRIM HOOVES
• Inspect hoof.
• Remove mud, manure, and debris from hoof.
• Trim outer and inner areas of hoof until it is level
with the fleshy center portion of the toe.
• Cut away excess areas of hoof wall
• Use hoof knife to remove pockets and growth that
the shears cannot.
• Spray trimmed hooves with 20% zinc sulfate
solution.
• Disinfect tools between animals.
Hoof trimming by Richard Brzozowski
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Ar7D-GARhI

36. OTHER PREVENTATIVE PRACTICES FOR HOOF HEALTH
• Foot bathing
• Foot soak pad
• Spread hydrated lime around heavy
traffic areas.
• Avoid putting/having animals in wet,
heavily contaminated areas.
• Do not feed a diet that is deficient
in zinc.
• Access to hard surfaces to help hooves
naturally wear down.
• Cull problem animals.

37. GOOD NUTRITION HELPS TO PREVENT
MANY HEALTH PROBLEMS
• Adequate intake of colostrum
• Optimal nutrition.
• Balanced rations.
• Good mineral nutrition.
• Good quality forages.
• Supplementation during periods of
inadequate or poor quality forage.
• Body condition scoring to determine
adequateness of feeding program.
• Fresh, clean water at all times.

38. NEXT WEBINAR
THURSDAY, FEB 13
7 PM EST
TOPIC
DIAGNOSIS AND
TREATMENT OF
DISEASE