This report outlines various health issues seen in flocks and herds across Tasmania during November 2018.

Two outbreaks of Mycoplasma ovis anaemia were observed in one southern Tasmanian flock. Mycoplasma ovis is usually seen in lambs several weeks after lamb marking. Signs include lameness, pale gums and deaths. The bacterial infection is spread via lamb marking equipment and insects and will destroy the animal’s red blood cells, resulting in anaemia. To treat, leave lambs alone on good feed and water for 4-6 weeks. Yarding and handling infected lambs can precipitate deaths when animals are severely anaemic. It is also possible to treat the whole mob by administering an oxytetracycline antibiotic.

The recent report shows that Ovine Johne’s Disease (OJD) is still occurring in Tasmania with a recent outbreak confirmed in one flock in southern Tasmania. It is critical that all lambs not targeted for slaughter (e.g. ewe lambs, ram lambs) are vaccinated at marking or weaning each year with the Gudair vaccine. Signs of OJD include weight loss in adult sheep and scouring (not in every case), sheep not responding to drench and death generally within weeks of first signs being observed. Vaccination will reduce losses to very low numbers.

View the whole report Livestock Health Monitoring Report November 2018

Carcass on the left is from a sheep affected by OJD, and the carcass on the right is a from an unaffected sheep from the same mob.