bjmsam
Chillin' with the herd
We have a small flock of BFLs, four born in 2009 and three offspring born in 2011. All are ewes except for a two year old wether which has been exhibiting odd symptoms for just over a year.
After shearing last year, wool did not fill in around the neck, shoulders, legs, belly and top of tail. The pattern was symmetrical, with exactly the same amount missing from either side. During the summer, flies attacked the naked tail area resulting in a wound that we dressed with fungicide spray, AluShield and fly spray. He experienced some discomfort but otherwise ate, drank and behaved no differently than the ewes. Grazing rotated between a four acre pasture and a two acre pasture. They were wormed orally with Cydectin and Febendazole (alternating).
He seemed comfortable through the long, cold winter despite the relative lack of wool, but after shearing this year, the areas of wool not growing back seem larger, skin around the tail area and up the spine has dark pigment, and despite normal intake and feces he is losing weight. None of the other sheep have exhibited such symptoms, but we separated him for a week and administered two courses of Ivermectin before allowing him to rejoin the flock. We have seen no improvement and would greatly appreciate insight and suggestions.
Wool missing from shoulder, legs and belly:
Neck and shoulder with evidence of fluid drainage (no boils... just lanolin?):
Dark skin condition from tail along spine:
Top of tail:
After shearing last year, wool did not fill in around the neck, shoulders, legs, belly and top of tail. The pattern was symmetrical, with exactly the same amount missing from either side. During the summer, flies attacked the naked tail area resulting in a wound that we dressed with fungicide spray, AluShield and fly spray. He experienced some discomfort but otherwise ate, drank and behaved no differently than the ewes. Grazing rotated between a four acre pasture and a two acre pasture. They were wormed orally with Cydectin and Febendazole (alternating).
He seemed comfortable through the long, cold winter despite the relative lack of wool, but after shearing this year, the areas of wool not growing back seem larger, skin around the tail area and up the spine has dark pigment, and despite normal intake and feces he is losing weight. None of the other sheep have exhibited such symptoms, but we separated him for a week and administered two courses of Ivermectin before allowing him to rejoin the flock. We have seen no improvement and would greatly appreciate insight and suggestions.
Wool missing from shoulder, legs and belly:
Neck and shoulder with evidence of fluid drainage (no boils... just lanolin?):
Dark skin condition from tail along spine:
Top of tail:
