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SHEEP-fed-barely-sprouting-fodders, page : 134
There is little doubt newly born lambs are the most vulnerable of all your flock.
POSSIBLE PROBLEMS WITH RAMS
Your ram contributes genetic material to each of your lambs therefore his health is always critical to production.
Epididymitis:
This is a disease caused by one of several organism that damage sperm-producing tissues that has, in the west, increased greatly.
Advanced signs of this problem can include swelling located at the base of the testis – epididymis, coupled with the presence of hard, lump tissue. This disease is transmitted from one ram to another via the ewes during breeding season. If the ewe should become infected she could abort, deliver still borns, or produce weak lambs.
There are tests for this disease. Treatment is more often than not unsuccessful, but if it is caught early on, when the only indication is the presence of white blood cells in the semen, then high doses of antibiotics such as tetracycline and streptomycin may do the job. This can be a way to save a valuable ram, but it requires isolation and extensive monitoring.
Recently a new vaccine was developed and it might be worth your while to consider, especially if you live in an area where this disease is established.
Orchitis:
This problem is caused by several species of bacteria, and causes inflammation of either one or both of the testicles. The signs of this disease are swelling, pain and heat in the affected testicle/s.
If one testicle is affected, the ram can still reproduce after having been treated with antibiotics such as oxytetracycline or procaine penicillin.
POSSIBLE PROBLEMS WITH RAMS
Your ram contributes genetic material to each of your lambs therefore his health is always critical to production.
Epididymitis:
This is a disease caused by one of several organism that damage sperm-producing tissues that has, in the west, increased greatly.
Advanced signs of this problem can include swelling located at the base of the testis – epididymis, coupled with the presence of hard, lump tissue. This disease is transmitted from one ram to another via the ewes during breeding season. If the ewe should become infected she could abort, deliver still borns, or produce weak lambs.
There are tests for this disease. Treatment is more often than not unsuccessful, but if it is caught early on, when the only indication is the presence of white blood cells in the semen, then high doses of antibiotics such as tetracycline and streptomycin may do the job. This can be a way to save a valuable ram, but it requires isolation and extensive monitoring.
Recently a new vaccine was developed and it might be worth your while to consider, especially if you live in an area where this disease is established.
Orchitis:
This problem is caused by several species of bacteria, and causes inflammation of either one or both of the testicles. The signs of this disease are swelling, pain and heat in the affected testicle/s.
If one testicle is affected, the ram can still reproduce after having been treated with antibiotics such as oxytetracycline or procaine penicillin.