Disease Management

Animal Husbandry > Sheep

Disease Management

Dipping

To control the ectoparasites the sheep should be dipped a few weeks after shearing when they have grown sufficient new wool to hold the chemical substance. There are standard designs for sheep dips and there are many products effective against ectoparasites. A footbath may also be provided at the entrance of the farm to prevent the spread of contagious diseases like foot-and-mouth and foot rot.

Shearing

Shearing is done mechanically either with clippers, a pair of scissors or by power-operated machines depending upon the size of operations. Most flocks are usually shorn twice a year, i.e. March-April after the winter and September-October after the rains. In some states like Jammu & Kashmir and Rajasthan sheep are shorn thrice a year.

Vaccination schedule for sheep

Diseases	Age and booster dose	Route	Remarks
Foot and Mouth Diseases	6-8 weeks, repeat every 6-9 months	1 ml s/c or i/m depending on vaccine	Dose as manufacturers recommendation.
Rinderpest	3-4 months, repeat every 3-year.	1 ml s/c	In endemic areas
Sheep pox	3 months	Live vaccine 1ml (IVRI vaccine) Killed vaccine 3-5 ml s/c
Tetanus	Tetanus toxoid	0.5-1 ml s/c or i/m
Haemorrhagic septicaemia	3-4 months. Repeat annually.	1 ml s/c	May/June
Anthrax	4-6 months. Repeat annually.	0.5 ml s/c	In endemic areas.
Enterotoxaemia	3-4 months. Repeat after 15 days and then annually.	2.5 ml s/c	First two doses before August.

(Source: Kerala Agricultural University, Mannuthy)

Culling

Culling of sheep is very important for the development of a good flock. It helps to remove undesirable animals and breeding from those which are most approximating the ideal sheep. About 10-20 per cent culling should be practiced annually to develop a good flock. The flock size should be maintained by replacing culled ewes by ewe lambs born in the flock.

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