An Investigation into the Risk Factors Associated with Clinical Mastitis in Colorado Sheep
2003
Forde, K.N. | McCluskey, B.J. | Morgan, K.S.
A questionnaire was designed to assess the prevalence of mastitis and associated risk factors for Colorado sheep operations during the 1999 lambing season and was mailed to 829 producers in January 2000. Responses were received from 188 producers and the data from these questionnaires was analyzed using EpiInfo Version 6.04b. Prevalence was defined as the total number of reported mastitis cases in a given flock during the 1999 lambing season divided by the total number of ewes in that flock. The mean prevalence of mastitis among sheep from Colorado owners that responded was found to be approximately 6%. Of the 188 producers that responded, 80.3% represented farm flocks, 11.2% were herded range flocks, and 8.5% were fenced range flocks. The majority of producers (84%) lambed in sheltered pens, and of those producers, 83% used small pens which housed anywhere between 5 and 20 head. Producers reported that mastitis was most likely to occur in lambing sheds (40%), in a band (23%) and in small mixing pens (22%). Sixty-eight percent of the reported mastitis cases occurred in ewes three years of age or older with the highest prevalence of mastitis (35%) occurring in ewes that were five to six years of age. Trends were observed but the only statistically significant factors (P < 0.05) found in this study were lambing in April and the Corriedale breed. Confounding factors, including pre-ventative husbandry and management procedures, may account for these results.
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