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Pre-Joining Check For Ewes

Drafting Race
Lameness
Mastitis
Injury
Sheep

Pre-joining check for ewes

Prior to joining, ewes need to be checked to ensure that they will conceive and rear a healthy lamb through to weaning. Obvious faults such as lameness, mastitis and injury can be spotted with ewes in a drafting race. All ewes older than 5 years should be drafted and checked individually.

Teeth - inspect mouth for missing or loose teeth or teeth worn down to the gumline
Toes - inspect and if necessary trim feet that are in poor condition. A footbath in zinc sulphate may be required for heavy ewes in wet conditions
Udder - any hardness, lumps or blocked teats are signs of mastitis. Ewes with any udder defects should be culled as they have a high risk of not rearing a lamb
Perineum - the back end. Inspect for skin cancer, tears in vulva, urine stain or other indicators that the ewe is at risk

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