Evaluating the Welfare of Small Ruminants

Plummer, Paul J.; Hempstead, Melissa N.; Shearer, Jan K.; Lindquist, Taylor M.

doi:10.1016/j.cvfa.2020.11.001

Cited by 6 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 61 publications

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“…Finally, the overall health of the rams and ram lambs should be evaluated prior to the breeding season, with special attention paid to lameness and hoof integrity. Rams and ram lambs should have a locomotion score of 0, where 0 is an animal that has normal locomotion and is not lame, 1 is an animal that has a clear shortening of gait with a clear head movement when the affected limb touches the ground, 2 is an animal that has clear gait shortening with strong head movement and not bearing or supporting any wight on the affected limb, and 3 is an animal that is reluctant to stand or move [ 40 , 41 ]. Another important aspect of the pre-breeding health assessment includes evaluation of the presence of abnormal ocular and nasal discharges, skin wounds, lesions and abscesses in the skin or lymph nodes that could indicate caseous lymphadenitis ( Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis ) [ 42 ], abnormal urinary secretions [ 43 ], respiratory problems such as pneumonias and pulmonary abscess [ 44 ], scours and fecal soiling that could indicate parasitic or bacterial diseases, ruminal movements as well as the general appearance and behavior of the animal.…”

Section: Breeding Soundness Evaluationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reproductive Management of Rams and Ram Lambs during the Pre-Breeding Season in US Sheep Farms

Maquivar

Smith

Busboom

2021

Animals

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In sheep farms, achieving economic and productive efficiency and sustainability goals is directly related with the reproductive management of the animals. Genetically, the male contribution to the offspring is 50%, but in practical terms, there is a greater potential impact of the ram on reproductive results, because one male has the potential to affect a large group of females and therefore greatly affects the entire flock. Unfortunately, the selection of males for breeding in the US sheep industry has been traditionally conducted based on phenotypical traits, without a genetic/reproductive evaluation, and/or health assessment or records. Therefore, it is important to establish integrative management practices to select the rams and ram lambs to be used in the breeding season. Among these practices are genomic testing, a comprehensive breeding soundness evaluation and assessment of health status and records of the males before the breeding season, to detect and correct potential issues.

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Section: Breeding Soundness Evaluationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reproductive Management of Rams and Ram Lambs during the Pre-Breeding Season in US Sheep Farms

Maquivar

Smith

Busboom

2021

Animals

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“…Whilst lameness in our sample of ewes was uncommon, we argue the chronicity of damaged and misshapen feet to be of significant health and welfare concern, particularly considering the potential for infectious disease and locomotion disorder. Additionally, chronically damaged or misshapen feet and the resultant irregular gait may cause long term irreversible damage to the bone structure of the foot and lower leg [ 28 ]. In line with current advice [ 29 ], we do not advocate the use of foot-trimming to improve hoof conformation in sheep, unlike in cattle.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

New Insight into the Prevalence and Risk Factors for Three Distinct Hoof Conformation Traits in UK Commercial Sheep Flocks

Best

Roden

Phillips

et al. 2021

Veterinary Sciences

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Lameness in sheep continues to be a global health, welfare and economic concern. Damaged, misshapen or overgrown feet have the potential to cause lameness either directly, or indirectly. There is a lack of understanding of the predisposing factors for different hoof conformation traits in sheep. Our exploratory study aimed to investigate the prevalence of, and risk factors for, three distinct hoof conformation traits relating to the sole and heel, hoof wall, and hoof wall overgrowth. Feet of 400 ewes from four UK commercial sheep farms were inspected at four time points across 12 months. For each conformation trait, a four-point ordinal system was used to score each individual claw, and foot-level scores were calculated. We present 92.4% of foot-level observations to be affected by ≥1 conformation traits. Whilst hoof conformation traits were correlated to some degree, a unique set of sheep-, foot- and farm-level factors were associated with each distinct conformation trait. We provide, for the first time, key insight into the multifaceted and multifactorial aetiology of hoof conformation in sheep, building upon previous landmark studies. Our results inform hypotheses for future prospective studies investigating the risk factors for adverse hoof conformation in sheep.

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“…It can also result from the extension of periarticular infection due to direct trauma or contamination of the joint, or from haematogenous spread from another site. Arthritis caused by haematogenous spread from another part of the body is known as secondary arthritis (Kliegman et al., 2022; Plummer et al., 2021). The age range for infectious (septic) arthritis in calves is 1 day to 3 months.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Shape analysis of the carpal joint in healthy and septic arthritis in newborn calves

Koçak,

Özaydin,

Gündemir

2024

Anat Histol Embryol

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Septic arthritis is common in newborn calves due to poor birth and housing hygiene. This study investigated the pathological deformities caused by arthritis in the carpal bones of calves using geometric morphometry. The changes in the carpal joint bones of newborn calves with septic arthritis were examined through shape analysis. The study included 20 healthy Simmental calves and 30 Simmental calves with septic arthritis. Dorso‐palmar x‐ray images of the carpal joint were taken, and geometric morphometry was performed on these images using 25 landmarks. The first principal components (PC1) represented 26.92% of the total variation, while PC2 represented 13.84%. One of the most significant shape changes with increasing PC1 occurred in the os carpi intermedium. The study found that it was statistically possible to discriminate between radiometric carpal joint images of Simmental calves in the control and arthritis groups using geometric morphometry. In newborn calves with septic arthritis, the trochlea radi was located more proximally. There was an enlargement of the os carpi intermedium and a tendency towards the os carpi ulnare in female calves with septic arthritis. These results indicate significant bone deformation due to septic arthritis. Geometric morphometric methods can be clinically useful, as demonstrated in this study. Researchers can statistically explore these shape analyses, opening new avenues for research in this field. This method not only enhances our understanding of morphological changes but also provides a framework for clinical investigations and discoveries in related areas.

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Evaluating the Welfare of Small Ruminants

Cited by 6 publications

References 61 publications

Reproductive Management of Rams and Ram Lambs during the Pre-Breeding Season in US Sheep Farms

Reproductive Management of Rams and Ram Lambs during the Pre-Breeding Season in US Sheep Farms

New Insight into the Prevalence and Risk Factors for Three Distinct Hoof Conformation Traits in UK Commercial Sheep Flocks

Shape analysis of the carpal joint in healthy and septic arthritis in newborn calves

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