Cold spell and mastitis in ewes

[Andyt880]

Still a lot to learn about sheep here so always like to hear other people’s thoughts.
I hear people round here saying that a cold wind or a late frost can cause a ewe to take a ‘bad bag’ or mastitis I assume is what they mean. Is this true and if so how does the cold cause this? I was of the understanding mastitis was caused by infection through the open teat.

 

[Longlowdog]

http://beefandlamb.ahdb.org.uk/wp/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/BRP-plus-Understanding-mastitis-in-sheep-180716.pdf

Page 12, states there is no scientific basis for chills leading to mastitis but offers some possibilities.

 

[Andyt880]

http://beefandlamb.ahdb.org.uk/wp/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/BRP-plus-Understanding-mastitis-in-sheep-180716.pdf

Page 12, states there is no scientific basis for chills leading to mastitis but offers some possibilities.

Some interesting reading there. Saved it to take a better read over it all later

 

[Longlowdog]

Hope it is of some help. Sometimes it just boils down to knowing what exactly to Google search. I know I got a lot of dead ends when trying to learn but also learned a lot from some of the avenues I did follow after randomly Googling stuff.

 

[Andyt880]

Hope it is of some help. Sometimes it just boils down to knowing what exactly to Google search. I know I got a lot of dead ends when trying to learn but also learned a lot from some of the avenues I did follow after randomly Googling stuff.

Yea there is so much stuff online it’s hard sometimes to narrow it down to what is relevant. I have read a few other bits from ahdb and there stuff always seems to fairly good. It’s always good to hear other opinions on things too, straight from people who are in the thick of it

 

[andybk]

dont think it causes it in first place , but cold wind will put ewe under stress (and less blood flow to exposed parts carrying antibodies ) allow bugs that she would normally fight off to take hold ,

 

[David.]

Had ewe with a bad bag last week in the heat. They are just bloody sheep .
We did start crutching on Friday, but I must admit I shan't do any more till Thursday when it warms again.

 

[glensman]

dont think it causes it in first place , but cold wind will put ewe under stress (and less blood flow to exposed parts carrying antibodies ) allow bugs that she would normally fight off to take hold ,

That's more or less what I was about to say, if the elder gets chilled the immune system in that area will be compromised, then mastitis.

 

[An ancient git]

If you get any walking 'stiff' or whatever , just give 2mls Draxxin and about 3'ish of Metacam ...... They'll live to sell tidy as culls !!

 

[Andyt880]

I usually just treat with a course of Betamox, never lost a ewe with it but rarely save the elder. Had one last year that I caught early and I put uddermint on her everyday for a week and gave her a course of Betamox. She is happily rearing a single this year with milk at both sides. It doesn’t often have a happy ending though.