Contagious ophthalmia (pinkeye) of sheep

CONTAGIOUS OPTHALMIA, better known to the sheep owner as pinkeye , is a common disease of sheep particularly during the summer months. It is known to occur in most countries where sheep are kept and is prevalent in Australia throughout the sheep-raising areas

Progress in the control of footrot

Seven years ago, action was taken for the first time in Western Australia for the control of footrot in sheep, and a good deal of progress has since been made. This work began in a small way for the purpose of preventing the spread of infection through markets, but it gradually gained momentum to reach its peak in 1955, and has now developed into an organised campaign for the total eradication of the disease

Vibriosis in dairy cattle

It is about five years now since vibriosis was first diagnosed in Western Australia, 1 but there can be little doubt that the disease had already become firmly established in the dairying districts long before its recognition. At that time diagnosis presented a problem, for none of the diagnostic tests in common use in other countries were yet available, and tedious bacteriological examinations, either of aborted calves or the secretions of affected animals were necessary in order to establish the presence of infection

Worms in sheep

The parasitic worms of sheep are widely distributed throughout Australia and are •*• a source of serious loss to the sheep and wool industry. This results from the loss of condition which occurs in infested animals as well as from the failure of young sheep to thrive and make normal growth, and there is a consequent reduction both in carcass values and in the quantity and quality of wool produced. Furthermore, heavy infestations with worms are frequently responsible for serious mortalitie

Tetanus in farm animals

THE disease tetanus occurs in practically all of the animals and man. It is caused by the tetanus bacillus (Clostridium tetani) and results from contamination of wounds and raw surfaces with materials such as earth or dust containing these organisms

Footrot (foul foot) of cattle

Although it cannot be regarded as a disease of serious economic importance, footrot in cattle may at times become a source of considerable loss to individual dairy farmers. The occurrence of the disease is usually confined to a small number of isolated cases which may make their appearance in the herd during the course of the season, but sometimes it assumes what has been described as a contagious form in which a large number of animals may become affected in rapid succession. [Reprinted from The Journal of Agriculture of Western Australia/\u27 Vol. 27 (Second Series), No. 3, September, 1950.

Pregnancy toxaemia of ewes

With the approach of the lambing season, losses from pregnancy toxaemia are frequently sustained by sheep breeders. This disease has a world-wide distribution and has been described under a wide variety of names, the most common of these probably being twin lamb disease, pregnancy disease of ewes, and pregnancy paralysis. It would perhaps be more appropriate to describe the disease as ketosis of pregnancy since there constantly occurs in the blood of affected animals an accumulation of toxic substances known as ketone bodies

Infectious keratitis (pinkeye) in cattle

During the summer and autumn months, pinkeye is frequently prevalent amongst cattle in the South-West where it may become a source of considerable loss and inconvenience to dairyfarmers and graziers

Brucellosis (Contagious abortion, Bang\u27s disease) of cattle

Brucellosis, or contagious abortion as it is commonly called, seems to have been introduced into Western Australia with early importation of cattle from the Eastern States and during the period of rapid expansion which took place between the two World Wars it exacted a heavy toll. Abortion storms which caused the loss of more than half of the calf drop were common, and infertility was rife. More important was the heavy loss of production arising form failure of aborting cows to return to full lactation and the long interval that often elapsed before they were again safely in calf

Paratyphoid (Salmonellosis) in sheep

Except in imported rams exposed to conditions during transit which had rendered them susceptible to infection, paratyphoid had not until recently been encountered in sheep in Western Australia. During the past few years, however a considerable number of outbreaks have been reported among flock sheep in the agricultural areas. All of these have occurred during the summer months and some of them have been responsible for serious mortality. It is a probable course that the disease has been present in the State for many years and that it has been confused with other conditions such as entero-toxaemia to which it may in some respects bear a superficial resemblance