Vaccination Program Sheep

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Vaccination ProgramSheep Goats
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CD-T

• The only universally recommended vaccine for
  sheep and
• CD-T toxoid provides three-way protection against
  enterotoxemia (overeating disease)
• caused by Clostridium perfringins types C and D
• and tetanus (lockjaw)
• caused by Clostridium tetani

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CD-T

• Enterotoxemia type C, also called hemorrhagic
  enteritis or "bloody scours," mostly affects
  lambs and kids during their first few weeks
• causes a bloody infection of the small intestine
• precipitated by a change in feed, such as
  beginning creep feeding or a sudden increase in
  milk supply
• Enterotoxemia type D, also called "pulpy kidney
  disease," usually affects lambs and kids over one
  month of age
• generally the largest, fastest growing lambs/kids
  in the flock
• precipitated by a sudden change in feed that
  causes the organism, which is already present in
  the young animal's gut to proliferate, resulting
  in a toxic reaction
• type D is most commonly observed in animals that
  are consuming high concentrate diets, but can
  also occur in lambs/kids nursing heavy milking
  dams

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CD-T

• To confer passive immunity to lambs and kids
  through the colostrum, ewes and does should be
  vaccinated 2 to 4 weeks prior to parturition
• Females giving birth for the first time should be
  vaccinated twice in late pregnancy, about four
  weeks apart
• Maternal antibodies will protect lambs and kids
  for about two months, if offspring have ingested
  adequate colostrum
• Lambs/kids should receive their first CD-T
  vaccination when they are 6 to 8 weeks old,
  followed by a booster 2 to 4 weeks later
• If pastured animals are later placed in a feed
  lot for concentrate feeding, producers should
  consider re-vaccinating them for enterotoxemia
  type D

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CD-T

• Lambs and kids whose dams were not vaccinated for
  C and D can be vaccinated at two to three days of
  age and again in two weeks
• The later vaccinations will be more successful
  since colostral antibodies interfere with
  vaccinations at very young ages
• A better alternative may be to vaccinate
  offspring from
• non-vaccinated dams at 1 to 3 weeks, with
  booster in 3 to 4 weeks
• -- Anti-toxins can provide immediate short-term
  immunity if dams were not vaccinated or in the
  event of disease outbreak or vaccine failure
• -- Lambs and kids whose dams were not vaccinated
  for tetanus should be given the tetanus
  anti-toxin at the time of docking, castrating,
  and disbudding, especially if elastrator bands
  are used
• Rams and bucks should be boostered annually
  with CD-T.

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Sore Mouth

• Sore mouth (contagious ecthyma, orf) is a viral
  skin disease commonly affecting sheep and goats
• Producers can use a live vaccine that causes sore
  mouth lesions at a location (on the animal) and
  time of the producers choosing
• Ewes should be vaccinated well in advance of
  lambing
• To use the vaccine
• Select a wool-less area on the animal, scarify
  it, re-hydrate the vaccine, and apply it to the
  scarified spot with an applicator
• Ewes can be vaccinated inside the ear or under
  the tail
• Lambs can be vaccinated inside the thigh
• Sore mouth vaccine is a "live" vaccine and sore
  mouth is highly contagious to humans
•  Gloves should be used
• Flocks which are free from sore mouth should
  probably not vaccinate because the vaccine will
  introduce the virus to the flock/premise
• Once soremouth vaccination is begun, it should be
  continued yearly

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Foot Rot

• Foot rot is one of the most ubiquitous diseases
  in the sheep and goat industry
• It causes considerable economic loss due to the
  costs associated with treating it and the
  premature culling of affected animals
• There are two vaccines for foot rot and foot
  scald in sheep
• Neither product prevents the diseases from
  occurring, but when used in conjunction with
  other management practices such as
  selection/culling, regular foot trimming, foot
  soaking/bathing, etc., can help reduce infection
  levels
• Foot rot vaccines should be administered every 3
  to 6 months and especially prior to anticipated
  outbreaks of hoof problems (i.e. prior to the
  wet/rainy season).

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Caseous Lymphadenitis

• caseous lymphadenitis (CLA, cheesy gland,
  abscesses) affects the lymphatic system
• results in formation of abscesses in the lymph
  nodes
• highly contagious
• when it affects the internal organs, it becomes a
  form of chronic wasting disease
• cost of CLA to the sheep and goat industry is
  huge
• CLA vaccine is convenient to use because it can
  be combined with CD-T
• CLA vaccine should only be used in flocks which
  do not already show signs of CLA infection.

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Abortion

• There are vaccines (individual and combination)
  for several of the agents that cause abortion in
  sheep
• enzootic (EAE, Chlamydia sp.)
• vibriosis (Campylobacter fetus)
• Abortion vaccines should be administered prior to
  breeding
• Risk factors for abortion include an open flock
  and a history of abortions in the flock
• Unfortunately, there is no vaccine for
  toxoplasmosis, another common cause of abortion
  in sheep
• Since the disease-causing organism is carried by
  domestic cats, the best protection is to control
  the farm's cat population by spaying/neutering
  and keeping cats from contaminating feed sources

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Rabies

• Risk to sheep and goats is usually minimal
• Consider rabies vaccination
• if the flock is located in a rabies-infected area
• If livestock have access to wooded areas or areas
  frequented by raccoons, skunks, foxes, or other
  known carriers of rabies
• If the flock has frequent interaction with other
  livestock
• The large animal rabies vaccine is approved for
  use in sheep
• No rabies vaccine is currently licensed for goats
• All dogs and cats on the farm should be routinely
  vaccinated for rabies
• Producers should consult with their veterinarian
  regarding rabies vaccination

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Vaccines

• In order for vaccination programs to be
  successful
• label directions must be carefully followed
• vaccines need to be stored, handled, and
  administered properly
• only healthy livestock should be vaccinated
• Important to note that vaccines have limitations
  and that the immunity imparted by vaccines can
  sometimes by inadequate or overwhelmed by disease
  challenge
• With the increasing role of small ruminants in
  small farms and sustainable farming systems and
  the rapid growth of the meat goat industry,
  hopefully animal health companies will develop
  and license more vaccines for sheep and goats
• Scientists are working on vaccines to protect
  small ruminants against worms.

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Parasite ControlSheep Goats

• Sheep and goats are susceptible to worms due to
  their close grazing behavior and slow-to-develop
  immunity
• Goats are more susceptible than sheep when
  forced to graze (versus browse)
• Parasites that cause the most damage are stomach
  worms and coccidia
• Stomach worms can cause substantial death loss,
  if left unchecked
• The barber pole worm (Haemonchus contortis) is
  the stomach worm of primary concern
• It is a microscopic, blood-sucking parasite that
  pierces the lining of the abomasum (the
  ruminant's "true" stomach) and causes blood and
  protein loss and anemia
• evidenced by pale mucous membranes (lower eye
  lid, gums, etc.) and/or "bottle jaw," an
  accumulation of fluid under the jaw
• barber pole worm is difficult to control because
  it has a short, direct life cycle, is a prolific
  egg producer, and can go into a hypobiotic
  (hibernating) state, until environmental
  conditions are more favorable for its life cycle
• barber pole worm likes warm, moist conditions
• The small brown stomach worm (Ostertagia
  circumctinca) is the stomach worm of secondary
  concern
• It also burrows into the wall of the abomasum
• it causes digestive upset and scouring (diarrhea)

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• Primary mode of transmission for stomach worms is
  grazing
• pasture management is an important aspect of
  control
• pasture control strategies include the use of
  clean or safe pastures, mixed species grazing,
  and pasture rotation
• clean pastures include
• those which have not been grazed by sheep or
  goats for six months
• those which have been grazed by cattle or horses
• fields in which a hay or silage crop has been
  removed
• fields which have been rotated with row crops
• fields which have been newly planted or renovated
• Pasture rotation will help to control parasites,
  but only if the pastures are rested sufficiently
  long - at least 70 days since the last sheep
• In extreme cases where pastures are severely
  contaminated, zero grazing (confinement) will
  offer relief from stomach worms

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Anthelmintics

• Anthelmintics should be used wisely and sparingly
• Frequent use of anthelmintics will enable the
  worms to become resistant to the drugs
• It is also costly and may lead to a false sense
  of security
• Sheep and goats should be dewormed strategically
• Most important time to deworm a sheep or goat is
  prior to (or at the time of) parturition
• When a ewe/doe lactates, her immunity to
  parasites is compromised
• She is also the primary source of infection to
  her newborn lambs/kids
• Deworming ewes/does prior to turning them out to
  spring pasture is also a good strategy because it
  helps to reduce the contamination of the pasture,
  as the worms resume their life cycle with the
  onset of good weather

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Anthelmintics

• Some veterinarians have advocated multiple
  anthelmintic treatments in the spring to control
  the "summer" explosion of worms that occurs in a
  normal rainfall year
• Deworming the flock in the fall after the first
  frost is also a good strategy, since this is the
  time the worms will go into a hypobiotic state
• Sheep and goats should be dewormed prior to
  moving to a clean pasture
• Fecal egg counts may also be used to determine
  when the flock needs dewormed
• Drug treatments should be targeted towards the
  animals that are the most susceptible to
  parasitism
• lambs and kids, lactating ewes and does, and
  high-producing animals
• Animals not showing symptoms of parasitism (e.g.
  anemia) may be left untreated
• Animals which are more susceptible to parasites
  should be culled

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Coccidia

• All sheep and goats have coccidia
• Coccidia are single-cell protozoa that damage the
  lining of the small intestines.
• Since the small intestine is where nutrient
  absorption takes place, coccidiosis can
  permanently stunt lambs and kids
• Coccidia are species-specific, meaning the
  coccidia species that affect sheep and goats are
  different from those that affect poultry and
  rabbits
• Coccidia cause weight loss and ill health in
  lambs/kids and diarrhea, which may be streaked
  with blood or mucous
• Affected lambs/kids become weak and dehydrated
  and die
• Coccidia are more of a problem in sheep and goats
  that are in confinement or under intensive
  grazing systems
• (stomach worms are more of a problem with sheep
  and goats on pasture)

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Coccidia

• Outbreaks of coccidiosis are caused by poor
  sanitation, overcrowding (or overstocking), and
  stress
• Coccidiosis can be controlled by good sanitation,
  clean water, not feeding on the ground, and not
  overstocking pens and pastures
• Disease outbreaks can be prevented by
  administering Corid (Amprolium) in the water
  supply or by including a coccidiostat in the feed
  or mineral
• Bovatec (lasalocid) and Deccox are both
  FDA-approved as coccidiostats for lambs
• Rumensin (monensin) and Deccox are FDA-approved
  to prevent coccidiosis in goats
• Outbreaks of coccidiosis can be treated with
  sulfa drugs and Corid
• Severely affected lambs and goats will require
  supportive therapy (e.g. fluids).

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Tapeworms Lungworms

• Internal parasites of lesser concern are
  tapeworms and lungworms
• Tapeworms, which are visible in the manure, can
  cause weight loss and death in extreme cases
• Tapeworms can be controlled by administering an
  anthelmintic from the benzimidazole family (e.g.
  Safeguard, Valbazan)
• Sheep and goats become infested with lungworms
  when they consume larvae from the pasture and the
  larvae travels to the respiratory system
• Symptoms of lungworms are not easy to recognize,
  and only in extreme cases do lungworms cause
  severe respiratory distress
• The same drugs which control stomach worms will
  also control lungworms benzimidazole family
  (e.g. Safeguard, Valbazan)

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External Parasites

• Sheep and goats may also get external parasites
• The sheep tick is called a "ked" and it can
  substantially decrease pelt value
• Goats are more likely to get mange mites and lice
• Sheep and goats with "snotty" noses may have nose
  bots, a nasal passage parasite
• These various "biting" parasites can be
  controlled by administering an anthelmintic from
  the Macrolytic Lactone family or Avermectin
  family (e.g. Ivomec, Moxidectin).

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Parasite Control Products

• Anti-parasitic drugs should always be
  administered to sheep and goats orally
  (drenching), even if a pour-on or injectable
  product can be used
• Single and multi-dose drench guns are available
  for administering oral medications to sheep and
  goats
• Restrain the animal by straddling it or standing
  beside it and placing your hand under its jaw
• Syringe should be inserted into the corner of the
  animal's mouth and rested on its tongue
• Plunger should be slowly pushed so that the
  medicine goes over the tongue
• Once the animal has swallowed the syringe can be
  released
• Care should be taken not to underdose animals
• Weight should be obtained using a scale or tape
  measure to assure proper dosage
• Underdosing leads to drug resistance

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Parasite Control Products

• Drug families should be rotated on an annual
  basis to slow the rate of drug resistance
• There are three families of drugs which have been
  used to treat sheep and goats for internal
  parasites
• Benzimidazoles (white dewormers) - Fenbendazole
  (SafeGuard/Panacur), Albendazole (Valbazen), and
  Oxybendazole (Synanthic)
• Nicotinics - Levamisole (Tramisol/Levasol),
  Pyrantel (Strongid), and Moratel (Rumatel)
• Macrolytic Lactones or Avermectins - Ivermectin
  (Ivomec), Doramectin (Dectomax), and Moxidectin
  (Cydectin/Quest)
• Only Fenbendazole and Rumatel are FDA-approved
  for use in goats.

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Parasite Control Products

• Use of any animal health product which is
  inconsistent (species, route, or dosage) with its
  label constitutes "extra-label" drug use and
  requires a veterinary prescription and valid
  veterinarian-patient-client relationship
• Exaggerated withdrawals should be used whenever
  administering a drug extra-label
• Note - many anthelmintics and other drugs are
  not approved for use in sheep and goats and
  require veterinary consultation