The Shepherdess
Grace is an entrepreneur, Shepherdess, and rotational grazing enthusiast. This eclectic mix converges here on the Shepherdess Podcast where we talk about regenerative farming for profit, raising Dorper sheep, and daily life as a small-scale, regenerative farmer.
The Shepherdess
HOW TO TREAT 20 COMMON SHEEP DISEASES
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As any shepherd learns early on, things can go wrong quickly in sheep farming if you do not stay on top of your flockās health. In this episode, Iām walking through 20 problems and solutions straight from my own experience. From nose to tail, Iām sharing the symptoms I look for, the root causes behind these issues, and both the quick fixes and long-term preventative measures that have helped me avoid more loss on my farm. If you are looking for more tools in your shepherding toolbelt, this episode will leave you feeling prepared for anything your flock may throw at you.
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Introduction and some disclaimers
06:44 Recognizing and treating pink eye in a matter of days
09:10 What to do about abscesses
10:15 What nasal bots and how to get rid of them quickly
11:53 The easy fix for pregnancy toxemia (also called twin lamb disease)
14:05 Why hypocalcemia (milk fever) is indistinguishable from pregnancy toxemia and how I treat for both simultaneously
15:58 Prevention and treatment for umbilical cord bleed in lambs
18:02 A quick, catch-all supplement for undiagnosed lethargy
19:09 Quick fix for bottle jaw (plus some long-term preventatives)
22:34 Coccidiosis treatment and the extra-label product that works wonders both as treatment and prevention
25:47 A quick fix and long-term fix for visible worms in manure
28:28 An almost immediate solution for foot scald
29:55 How to know when a sheep has developed foot rot and why I usually recommend culling
32:05 Root cause and treatment for retained placenta at lambing
33:17 Why selenium deficiency can lead to ācrippledā newborn lambs
35:24 Another illness tied to selenium deficiencyā white muscle disease
37:11 What I do about a ewe whose udders are too small to feed her lambs
38:31 Products I use when a ewe requires my assistance at lambing
39:23 Recognizing, treating, and preventing mastitis in lactating ewes (and why I cull for this)
42:48 Toxoplasmosisā a warning to pregnant women interacting with lambing ewes
44:00 Pulling out the big guns for pneumonia treatment
44:44 Why rectal prolapse warrants a trip to the vet
47:55 Why ring-womb is so seriousā one story of success and one story of loss
50:12 Answering a handful of audience questions
RESOURCES MENTIONED
Iāve put together a first aid kit of the 32 most important products I wish Iād had on hand as a beginner shepherd
CONNECT WITH ME
Email: shepherdess@shepherdess.com
Patreon: http://bit.ly/ShepherdessPatreon
Blog: http://bit.ly/ShepherdessBLOG
Merch: http://bit.ly/ShepherdessMERCH
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/harmonyfarms.shepherdess/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HarmonyFarmsDorpers
MORE FROM THIS EPISODE
View full show notes and transcript on the blog