15 Jun 2017
Infectious abortion causes considerable losses to the UK sheep industry, particularly Enzootic Abortion of ewes (EAE). Despite the availability of effective vaccines and advice on disease prevention there are still large numbers of flocks where endemic disease grumbles on unnoticed, or flocks which remain highly susceptible to the introduction of new infections.
Diagnosis is key and an abortion or barren rate greater than 2% should always provoke further investigation. So too should a cluster of several abortions within a short period of time. Any ewe that aborts should be marked and isolate. Contaminated bedding and abortive material should be disposed of and contaminated pens or lambing areas thoroughly disinfected.
