Health and Care
There are a number of diseases that can affect sheep and lambs, and some of them are even contagious to people. Knowing how to recognize, limit the risk, treat, and prevent diseases is fundamental to raising a healthy sheep flock.
Make use of Penn State Extension’s resources on sheep health, including body condition scoring, feed management and delivery, preventing parasites, improving newborn lamb survival, and shearing. You’ll also find tips on managing parasites and weaning to limit stress on ewes and lambs.
Common Sheep Diseases
Several sheep diseases and parasites can affect your flock. Learning how to recognize them means you can reduce economic losses and improve animal welfare. It’s also important to learn about the spread of diseases and what you can do to minimize the spread.
Stomach worms are the most common parasites to sheep and can cause unthriftiness and loss of weight. Ticks can also cause both physical harm to sheep and transmit pathogens that cause diseases. There are more than 20 species of ticks in Pennsylvania alone; however, only a few are pests of livestock.
Sheep Health and Care
There are a variety of factors that can affect the health of your sheep. Successful sheep production depends on keeping your flock healthy and free of disease. Being able to recognize the symptoms, understand the causes and how to treat different diseases is important for anyone wanting to raise sheep. This applies to both commercial producers, homesteaders, and those wanting to raise sheep on a few acres of land.
You can use a range of techniques, such as body condition scoring, to assess the health of your flock. Producers have been using ultrasound technology for pregnancy confirmation for many years, but it can also be used to improve a flock by way of measuring carcass characteristics.
Using EBV (Estimated Breeding Values) data generated through the National Sheep Improvement Program is another avenue that many producers might overlook. It can be used to help promote genetic resistance to parasites. The genetics of your flock are also important when it comes to deciding which lambs you want to keep for replacements to improve your sheep performance.
Grazing management and good nutrition are important because they help minimize the impact of internal parasites. Protein nutrition affects a sheep’s resilience to gastrointestinal parasites, while calcium supports skeletal and nervous system functions.
Vaccines are commonly used to protect a flock against disease. It’s important to vaccinate at the right time and with the right product. How you handle the vaccines, from the time you purchase them to the time you administer them to the animals, is also crucial.
Sheep Farm Biosecurity Management
To prevent or minimize the transmission of disease within and between herds and flocks, producers should follow biosecurity management practices that include testing and screening, isolation and quarantine, immunization, selection purchasing, animal monitoring, and herd evaluation. You can measure the effectiveness of the practices followed using Penn State Extensions Small-farm Biosecurity Measures Rubric.
Guidelines are available for producers in the form of Animal Safety Quality Assurance Programs. For sheep producers, there is the Sheep Safety Quality Assurance (SSQA) program, which the American Sheep Industry Association developed, in conjunction with Colorado State University. Using research and education, the aim of the program is to ensure maximum consumer confidence in sheep products and improve management practices.
- Workshops
$90.00
Pennsylvania Sheep Shearing School
When 09/27/2024Length .75 webinar on day 1, 8 hour in-person workshop on day 2Event Format Blended | Combines In-Person w/Online ComponentMaster shearing skills, equipment maintenance, and wool handling with expert guidance. Perfect for all skill levels. Network with fellow producers and tour a working livestock operation. - Workshops
Free
Sheep and Goat Small Group Gathering
When 10/10/2024Length 1 hour, 30 minutesEvent Format In-PersonShare your insights with livestock educator Taylor Zahn, connect with fellow producers, and help shape future programs. Your input matters! - Workshops
It's a Wormy Deal: Internal Parasites and FAMACHA Certification
Length 1 hour, 30 minutesLearn sheep and goat parasite strategies and the FAMACHA certification method during this in-person event. - Online Courses
$125.00
Sheep Management and Production: Instructor Guided
Sections 8Length 25 hoursLearn basics of sheep production and operation management, including breeds, nutrition, health, grazing, and marketing. This course includes webinars and worksheets. - Webinars
Free
Winter Care for Sheep and Goats
When Watch NowLength 1 hourRecorded Dec 5, 2023Event Format On-Demand | RecordedWe will cover topics including winter barn preparation, address heightened nutrient needs in cold weather, and explore winter care for small ruminants. - Webinars
Free
Newborn Kid and Lamb Care in Cold Weather
When Watch NowLength 1 hourRecorded Jan 16, 2024Event Format On-Demand | RecordedDiscover essential tips for caring for lambs and kids in winter and early spring, including special considerations for cold or severe weather to ensure their optimal growth and well-being. - Videos
Managed Grazing to Reduce Parasites in Lambs on Pasture
Length 6:54Sheep producers struggle daily with anthelmintic resistance and the impact this resistance has on flock productivity and health. Managed grazing strategies may be one way to reduce reliance on anthelmintics to combat growing resistance concerns. - Articles
Reducing the Risks of Pathogenic E. Coli Infections
The information in this sheet is intended to provide advice for animal owners and animal caretakers whose animals may be accessible to the public. - Articles
Winter Time Farm Planning
During the winter months when I look outside the window I see the snow flying and the sun trying to peak through the clouds. When it is very cold I would much rather be inside where I am warm. - Articles
Prevent Parasites Through Grazing Management
Grazing management and genetic selection can help your flock minimize the impact of parasites. - Articles
Using EBV Data to Promote Parasite Resistance
Internal parasites have been an issue in sheep production for a long time. - Articles
Proper Handling of Livestock Vaccines
Looking at a group of healthy sheep peacefully grazing while their lambs bounce around the pasture can be a very satisfying experience. - Videos
Observing Newborn Lambs
Length 3:13This video provides insight into the expected behavior and health of a newborn lamb. Close observation helps to ensure lambs are healthy and consuming enough milk. - Articles
Sheep Safety and Quality Assurance Program (SSQA)
Animal Safety and Quality Assurance Programs are national programs that provide guidelines and strategies for producers which promote animal quality and safety to ensure safe food for human consumption. - Articles
Keeping Animals Healthy
Here you will find common techniques producers use to keep their animals healthy and avoid having to treat them. - Articles
Improving Newborn Lamb Survival
When livestock market prices are very good, it's important to be more concerned about newborn lamb survival. - Articles
Feeding Market Lambs for Show
Useful information on ensuring your lamb reaches its full potential at the market lamb show. Additional information covered includes concentrates, roughages, vitamins, minerals, and more. - Videos
Disease Prevention on the Farm
Diseases in your farm animals can have serious consequences for you, your neighbors, and beyond. Learn how you can prevent the spread of animal diseases. - Webinars
Free
Barn Renovations for Raising Sheep and Goats - Ventilation
When Watch NowLength 1 hourRecorded Jan 26, 2023Event Format On-Demand | RecordedLearn how renovating existing structures with the proper ventilation can positively impact the overall health and production of sheep and goats. - Articles
Have You Tested The Water Lately?
One of the most important components of a sheep's diet is water. Poor water quality can affect intake, which in turn affects animal growth and milk production. - Articles
Body Condition: One More Evaluation Tool
Body condition, or fat cover, is one more evaluation tool that sheep producers can use to evaluate their sheep flock and management practices. - Articles
Milking Sheep Production
A profitable Pennsylvania sheep milk industry needs three components: customers, processors, and distributors. - Articles
Lambing Season: Don't Forget "Clip, Dip, and Strip"
To see that your lambs get off to a good start, be sure you incorporate "clip, dip, and strip" in the lambing jug. - Articles
Livestock and Poultry Mortality Disposal in Pennsylvania
Properly managing and disposing of dead farm animals is important. Every livestock and poultry operation should have a proper dead stock disposal strategy.