Health Management of Ewes during the Dry-period

Introduction: Health management of ewes during the dry-period is important for optimum production in sheep flocks. Health management during that period should ensure that, at lambing, ewes produce large, viable lamb(s) and have milk production adequate to ensure survival of lamb(s) until weaning. This papers presents the principles of health management of ewes during the dry-period. Some differences in health management exist among various systems, i.e. dairy sheep systems or meat producing systems, which reflect the production priorities in the various systems. Some differences also exist in relation to the season of the year when the dry-period occurs, i.e., in relation, at least partly, to the geographical latitude of the farm ́s location. Management at end of lactation and start of dry period. At that time, the mammary glands of ewes should be clinically examined, in order to identify animals with long-standing mammary abnormalities for culling. This simple health management practice would contribute to (a) smaller costs for treating chronically infected animals, (b) reduced spread of pathogenic bacteria within the flock and (c) lower incidence of post-partum mastitis, which is a significant risk factor for increased neonatal mortality. Although, there are some reports regarding the value of intra-mammary treatment of ewes at the end of lactation ("dry-ewe" treatment), there is no detailed documentation -as much as in cowsregarding potential benefits and financial value. One may suggest that if incidence of clinical mastitis during the last milking season was high (>10%), then use of dry-off intramammary treatment may be advocated.