Management of inappetant sheep during export by sea

Abstract

In the first of 2 experiments, a simulated voyage was conducted to examine the effects of various treatments on bodyweight change and feeding frequency of inappetant sheep at the end of lot-feeding (non-feeders). The treatments, applied during simulated shipping, were: normal quantities of feed and length of troughs; extra trough length; extra feed. Adult Merino wethers (n = 108) were used in each treatment. A voyage to the Middle East was then conducted to establish whether shipboard mortality could be reduced by separating non-feeders (n = 305) from feeders (n = 5,620) late in the feedlot hase and housing the groups separately aboard ship. A control group of non-feeders (n = 215) mixed with feeders (n = 5,732) was used for comparison. Bars (marker bars), containing a coloured dye, were attached to feed troughs to mark sheep that fed. Most non-feeders (82%) began eating when placed in shipping pens in both studies. However, there was no significant difference in percentage of sheep that fed between non-feeders given extra trough length or extra feed compared with non-feeders given standard management at any stage of simulated shipping. There was no significant difference in mean bodyweights between treatment groups on days 1, 8 and 15 of simulated shipping. Differences in bodyweight on d 22 were probably associated with different levels of gut fill. Death rates were not significantly different in separated and control groups (1.1%, 0.9%, P = 0.6) in the voyage of 14 d to the Middle East.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Salmonella in Sheep in Iceland

“…1.3% of attempted cultures. There are some sporadic reports of the occurrence of salmonella infection in sheep [4,9,1,13-15], and [16] but a comparable survey has apparently not been done in other countries. There was, however, a marked difference in the prevalence of the infection in different areas.…”

“…Stress is known to lead to activation of latent salmonella infection and shedding in faeces [13-16]. In our study faecal samples were taken under stressful conditions, i.e.…”

Review of Livestock Welfare Indicators Relevant for the Australian Live Export Industry

“…Measures that relate to both immediate and longer term availability of food and water and consequences of consumption can be made. These are fundamental to health and welfare of the animals, ensuring their needs are met, and are very important in the LEI due to the link of inappetence of sheep with disease such as salmonellosis [ 76 , 77 ] and the need for adequate hydration especially during hot environmental conditions so that physiological cooling mechanisms can continue [ 78 , 79 ].…”

Transportation of animals and welfare

“…The general importance of the processes of adaptation for transportation welfare has been highlighted in a systematic programme of epidemiological and experimental research related to the transport of sheep by sea (32,33,34,35,36,40). Thermal acclimation and acclimatisation, for instance, are slower processes than the general stress response and will involve different physiological pathways.…”

“…The thrust of investigations now centres on diagnosis, with a thorough and continuing epidemiological analysis of mortality at all stages of the process of live sheep export (32,33,34,35,36,40).…”