[Flock status - sheep flock assessment - Ressource and management related welfare indicators]. / Herdenstatus ­ Beurteilung von Schafherden.

The welfare status of sheep flocks may be assessed via animal-, resource-, and management-related indicators. The benefits of multiple-choice questionnaires are however impaired by the diversity of sheep breeds and husbandry. From a veterinary flock health management point of view, the presented review describes the influence of environment, climate, supervision as well as additional factors under consideration of legal regulations. The improvement of welfare is a common concern of all players in the field of farm animal husbandry. Based on this, challenges as well as possibilities for improvement exist for legal and administrative institutions as well as pharmaceutical industry.

[Flock status - sheep flock assessment - Flock examination procedure and animal related indicators]. / Herdenstatus ­ Beurteilung von Schafherden.

A protocol for the examination of sheep in an entire flock approach is suggested allowing for an acquisition of information prior to the fixation of single sheep. Data and animal based information concerning welfare are assessed and subsequent action determined. The diversity of sheep breeds and husbandry features as well as their impact on parasite management and supervision ought to be taken into account in skilled assessment of flock health and animal welfare.

A comparison of different vaccination schemes used in sheep combining inactivated bluetongue vaccines against serotypes 4 and 8.

Eight different vaccination schemes using four commercially available inactivated Bluetongue vaccines against serotypes 4 and 8 in three different combinations (setting 1-3) were tested under field conditions for their ability to generate a measurable immune response in sheep. Animals of setting 1 (groups A-D) were simultaneously vaccinated using either individual injections at different locations (groups A & D) or double injection by a twin-syringe (groups B & C). For both application methods, a one-shot vaccination (groups C & D) was compared to a boosted vaccination (groups A & B). Sheep of setting 2 (groups E-G) were vaccinated in an alternating, boosted pattern at fortnightly intervals starting with serotype 4 (groups E & F) or vice versa (group G). Group H of setting 3 was vaccinated simultaneously and vaccines were injected individually as a one-shot application. Each group consisted of 30 sheep. The immunogenic response was tested in all sheep (n = 240) by ELISA (IDScreen®Bluetongue Competition), while serum neutralisation tests were performed in five to six sheep from each group (n = 45). All vaccine combinations were well tolerated by all sheep. Of all vaccines and schemes described, the simultaneous double injected boosted vaccination of setting 1 (group B) yielded the highest median serotype-specific titres 26 weeks after the first vaccination (afv) and 100% seropositive animals (ELISA) one year afv. In setting 1, there were no relevant significant differences in the immunogenic response between simultaneously applied vaccines at different sites or at the same injection site. Importantly, a one-shot vaccination induced comparable immunogenicity to a boosted injection half a year afv. Low serotype-specific neutralising antibody levels were detected in settings 2 and 3 and are attributed to diverse factors which may have influenced the measured immunogenicity.

Presence of Antibodies against Bluetongue Virus (BTV) in Sheep 5 to 7.5 Years after Vaccination with Inactivated BTV-8 Vaccines.

Thirty-six female sheep, previously vaccinated against Bluetongue virus serotype 8 (BTV-8) using inactivated vaccines, were included in this field study. In Germany, vaccination was compulsory in 2008 and 2009, voluntary in 2010 and early 2011, and later, was prohibited in 2011. Due to their age, eighteen sheep had been vaccinated for two or more consecutive years, while a further eighteen animals had only been vaccinated once or not at all. The sheep were blood sampled five (n = 31) to 7.5 years (n = 5) after their last vaccination. All serum samples (n = 36) were tested for BTV group-specific antibodies by an ELISA (IDScreen® Bluetongue Competition assay, ID Vet). In five of the animals, the BTV-8 serotype-specific antibody titers were measured by serum neutralization (SN). The majority of sheep that were vaccinated annually for two or more years showed a positive ELISA (14/18 sheep) and a SN (two of two sheep) result 5 years after their last vaccination. Most of the sheep vaccinated fewer than twice showed a negative ELISA result 5 to 7.5 years after their last vaccination (13/18 animals). The three animals in this group tested by SN showed one negative and two positive results. This short communication is the first to describe the presence of BTV antibodies in sheep 5 to 7.5 years after vaccination with inactivated BTV-8 vaccines.

[Painful procedures in small ruminants - castration of rams and bucks. - An overview]. / Schmerzhafte Eingriffe bei kleinen Wiederkäuern: Kastration von Böcken.

The castration of farm animals is practiced routinely throughout the world and the procedure is subject to different levels of regulation in different countries. In Germany, painful procedures in animals are regulated by the animal welfare act. However, the indications for acceptable methods of lamb and kid castration are still under discussion. There are distinct differences between the theoretical requirements of this legislation and experiences in practice. When male lambs are kept for many months with their dams, or with ewe lambs, castration is essential to avoid unwanted pregnancies and the slaughter of pregnant females. In the opinion of the authors, it is essential that castration of small ruminants must remain possible. However, the methods used for these painful procedures need to be reassessed and if necessary new regulations established. When castration is necessary, sufficient anaesthesia and analgesia must be used irrespective of species, age and method. To make this possible potent anaesthetics and analgesics urgently need to be licensed for use in these species. This would provide an evidence base for their use and extricate veterinary practitioners from the need to use the cascade system with its associated liabilities. Current literature has been reviewed here and possible new approaches discussed in order to establish solutions that are suitable for the animals, their keepers and veterinarians.

[Claw infections in sheep - treatment options in veterinary practice, with special emphasis on ovine footrot treatment. - An update]. / Klaueninfektionen beim Schaf ­ Therapiemöglichkeiten in der tierärztlichen Praxis unter besonderer Berück sichtigung der Moderhinkebekämpfung.

Infectious causes of lameness in sheep remain of considerable clinical importance. Because of the availability of newly licensed drugs, important changes in therapy options, particularly for ovine footrot, have occurred. This paper provides an overview of common and rarer infectious causes of lameness in sheep, and presents a detailed review of recent advances in research regarding the aetiology, diagnosis, prevention, treatment and control of ovine foot rot. Despite the recent release of several antibiotics licensed for the treatment of footrot in sheep, the use of footbaths following the cascade of regulations remains a crucial part of many integrated treatment and control programmes. The sustainable control of foot rot requires recent advances in science to be put into practice, with tailor-made control programmes for each individual farm. The article presents various treatment options and potential routes of control and eradication.

Seroprevalence of Schmallenberg virus infection in sheep and goats flocks in Germany, 2012-2013.

Schmallenberg virus (SBV) is a member of the family Bunyaviridae and mainly affects ruminants. It is transmitted by biting midges, first and foremost Culicoides spp., and causes congenital malformations reflected in arthrogryposis-hydranencephaly (AH) syndrome. The aim of this study was to collect data on the emergence of SBV as a new arthropod-borne disease introduced into Europe in 2011. Germany was located in the core region of the 2011/2012 epidemic. Following two seroprevalence studies in the north-west of Germany in 2012, this study focused on the epidemiology and distribution of SBV throughout 130 small ruminant flocks in the whole country. Blood samples were obtained of 30 animals per flock and a SBV-specific questionnaire was used to collect operating data of the farms. The median within-herd seroprevalence for all 130 flocks tested was 53.3% with a total range from 0% to 100%. The median within-herd seroprevalence for goats was 30% [interquartile range (IQR): 40.3%] and 57% for sheep (IQR: 43.3%). Small ruminant flocks kept permanently indoors or housed overnight had a significantly lower seroprevalence than flocks kept permanently outdoors. In addition, this study revealed a significantly lower seroprevalence in the north-east of Germany. These results show that small ruminants in Germany are still at risk of contracting new SBV infections following incomplete seroconversion of flocks especially in the north-east of Germany. This might contribute to SBV becoming enzootic in central and northern Europe. Furthermore, the survey revealed that housing animals at least during mating and early pregnancy may reduce the risk of new SBV infections and may thus be an option to reduce losses as long as there is no licensed vaccine available on the German market.

[Metaphylactic antibiotic treatment of footrot in sheep using Florfenicol]. / Metaphylaktische Behandlung von Moderhinke bei Schafen mit Florfenicol.

A case report describes the metaphylactic antibiotic treatment of 520 sheep suffering from footrot (lameness prevalence > 60%) in late pregnancy (targeted selective treatment). Because of the lack of pharmaceuticals licensed for sheep and footrot in Germany in 2009, Florfenicol was used off label. Clinical recovery was observed a few days after a one shot application of florfenicol without any further treatment. The examination of all feet after weaning revealed no clinical symptoms in 96% of the sheep. Complete healing of almost all affected sheep was achieved. No transmission of footrot to lambs was noticed. Since the goal of the treatment was relief from pain and suffering under the particular conditions of late pregnancy and not a clinical study on efficacy no untreated control group was established for comparison. The suitability of the method for eliminating footrot in sheep flocks during the housing period in winter is discussed.

Comparison of three different treatment schedules for praziquantel (Cestocur®, Bayer) in the treatment of tapeworm infections (Moniezia spp.) and their impact on body weight gains in a German sheep flock.

In an observational study, three different treatment schedules with praziquantel were assessed in a Merino land sheep flock from southern Germany. The herd had a known history of severe recurrent Moniezia spp. infections. After turnout to pasture, three hundred lambs between 8 and 14 weeks old were weighed and randomly allocated to three different groups. They were treated with praziquantel (Cestocur®) at a dose of 3.75 mg/kg body weight using the following schedules: group 1 treated four times at monthly intervals (Days 1, 31, 59, 91); group 2 treated three times at six-week intervals (Days 16, 59, 105), group 3 treated twice at an eight-week interval (Days 31, 91). Based on faecal examinations, all lambs were negative for Moniezia spp. on Day 1. At study end (Day 126), higher body weights were seen in group 1 (49.9 ± 5.8 kg; 49.9 kg) than in group 2 (48.7 ± 5.5 kg; 49.0 kg) and in group 3 (47.5 ± 5.4 kg; 47.5 kg) (mean ± SD; median). Overall weight gains were significantly higher in group 1 (22.5 ± 1.8 kg; 22.3 kg) compared to group 2 (20.8 ± 1.4 kg, 21.0 kg; p < 0.0001) and group 3 (19.3 ± 2.2 kg, 19.6 kg; p < 0.0001). The results show that praziquantel treatments applied early in the grazing season and in monthly intervals were more beneficial for body weight developments in lambs than applied at six-weekly or eight-weekly intervals.