Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
or frothiness around the mouth, beware. And there should never be a runny
discharge from the ears, period.
Respiration
Respiration should be easy and steady. Unless the animals had to be chased
for their examination, they shouldn't be panting or breathing heavily. If they
were chased, let them rest for a few minutes. Their respiration should return
to normal within about 20 minutes. Coughing and wheezing should be con-
sidered a warning of a real problem.
Coat
The wool or hair should be shiny and even. Clumpy fl eece and bald spots may
be a sign of poor nutrition, illness, or, most often, external parasites. Separate
the fl eece around the neck with your hands and look for signs of sheep ticks,
or keds. (These are not a true tick, like what the dog picks up in the woods, but
a wingless fl y that passes its whole life cycle on the body of the sheep.) There
may be a little mud around the ankles if the weather's been wet, but there
shouldn't be caked manure in the wool. Manure around the rump and on the
backs of the rear legs indicates scours (diarrhea) and is a defi nite problem.
Feet
Pick up the feet and look for signs of foot rot. The hooves shouldn't be too
overgrown. If any of the hooves look long, ask the owner to trim one while
you watch. This is an easy way to learn how it's done and how the feet should
IS THIS SHEEP HEALTHY?
Healthy animals are, as the saying goes, “bright eyed and bushy
tailed.” Their ears and eyes are alert to their environment. They
have good appetites and drink plenty of water. An animal that
is listless and does not eat or show much interest in the world
around it isn't a good bet. A sunken appearance around the eyes
is a sign of dehydration, which often accompanies illness. The skin
under the eyelids and on the gums should have a nice, bright pink
color; paleness indicates anemia, which is often associated with
internal parasites.
