cast sheep

[NancyO]

I know someone who told me that one of her pregnant ewes had cast itself. She looks like she will twin and is due mid-April. They found her on her side in the field and were able to get her onto her feet. Does anyone know what causes this. I did a google search and couldn't find anything. The ewe is a yearling dorset ewe, first pregnancy.

 

Thanks,

Nancy O

[kajarrel]

I've had pregnant sheep cast when they're really big and in full wool. I think they just loose their balance and can't get up. If nothing else seems wrong, I'd just assume this is the case.

 

Kim

[Rebecca, Irena Farm]

Do a search on cowped, couped, cooped, or coped sheep. You'll have to sift through a lot of irrelevant results if you don't also include something like fallen, back, and wool. Even then it's hard to get to the relevant results.

 

Also check sheepandgoat.com

[NancyO]

Thanks for your replys.

The ewe appears to be doing fine.

Rebecca: the search is definitely difficult, have found a few places where the question has been asked, but no answers to the question.

Nancy O

[Bill Fosher]

Here are some general things that I do when I find a cast ewe.

 

1.) get her back on her feet pronto.

 

2.) stabilize her while she regains her equilibrium.

 

3.) start looking for causes.

 

I have found that ewes that get cast often have lice. They're rolling around trying to scratch. It can also be a warning sign of cerebro-cortical necrosis (thamine deficiency) or listeriosis. If the sheep shows any signs of unilateral paralysis, I treat for both.

[NancyO]

Bill,

thanks for the information. I will let the owner know. She has not been cast again. Hopefully everything will be OK.

Nancy O