Udder condition is the most common reason for culling younger ewes (between two and four years old), therefore reducing the incidence of mastitis in a flock can have a significant affect on productivity and replacement costs.
Good hygiene practice at lambing is essential in order to minimise the mastitis risk. Nutrition is also important, as low body condition and poor feeding, which reduce milk production, can cause lambs to damage the udder and therefore also increase the disease risk.
Acute mastitis, which affects between one and five per cent of ewes every year, is usually seen in the first week after lambing and at peak lactation, and can rapidly progress to death. Ewes with acute mastitis can be saved, however it is rare that the udder will function again.
Chronic mastitis affects between 1 and 15 per cent of the flock and can be tricky to spot. A ewe may not appear to be ill, the changes to the udder can be extremely hard to detect and it may occur during lactation or at weaning. It can be easier to detect chronic mastitis at the pre-tupping check rather than at weaning, as the udder is not full of milk, and the affected udder may be enlarged, hard or lumpy.
Use coloured ear tags to identify ewes that have had mastitis, so they can be culled before the next tupping.
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