A Story About Stressed Sheep

Famous over-thinker that I am, I regularly think back on occurrences that appear straightforward. Once in a while, I’m blessed with an “A-ha!” moment. 

1. We were contacted by a client to whom we’d sold two young ewes 7 months prior. He claimed that they “had never done well, always had dirty butts, couldn’t keep their lambs alive”, etc. He said he’d had them checked by a vet, who said they had coccidiosis. Furthermore, the vet told him that they had a low threshold for the disorder. He’d tried medicated feed and treating their water, without success. He wanted to know what we would advise. I told him I would speak to my husband and let him know something soonest. 

In my mind, I was thinking that coccidiosis should not be a life-threatening problem. I had already made up my mind to offer to buy them back from him, with the hope and confidence that we could bring them back to health. David called the client, and in the course of the conversation, learned that he was keeping 16 sheep on a one-acre lot, which had been eaten down to the dirt. He said he was feeding them ¼ of a bale of hay per day. The poor ewes had literally been starved to the point of losing their lambs and threatening their lives. The client was pleased at the offer to get his money back, and so he returned them to our farm. 

1. The two girls were in poor shape; there was no question about that. However, they began eating immediately, and over time have regained their weight and form. Currently, they show no signs of their trauma, and we hope they haven’t sustained any long-term effects. We’re waiting to see how they get along when they lamb in early 2020. 
2. This story inspired me to consider the possibility that some animals may be unfairly culled as “problem animals”, when the true cause of their failure to thrive might be something easily corrected. 

Here’s what the ladies in question look like today (10/16/2019). 

St Croix sheep are wonderfully manageable, resilient creatures. I admit to being fairly spoiled by their ease of care. By no means do I intend to suggest that our sheep are fragile and must be carefully pampered. But all creatures have thresholds of tolerance for adverse factors and circumstances, and our reasonable efforts to guard against undue stress are a good, common-sense practice. 

1. I. Causes of Stress 

1. A) Short-Term (may be unavoidable, doesn’t last, may be mitigated) 
2. 1. Separation from mother or lambs 
3. 2. Maintenance; i.e., hoof-trimming 
4. 3. Travel 
5. 4. Extreme seasonal weather 
6. 5. Caught in fencing, briars, or farm equipment 
7. 6. Change in daily routine or personnel 
8. 7. Presence of perceived predator/threat 

1. B) Long-Term i. Nutritional (most common) a. Underfeeding – grown sheep, especially while pregnant or after lambing 
2. b. Underfeeding – lambs getting crowded out, or new mother having insufficient milk 
3. c. Poor pasture/hay quality or mold in hay 
4. d. Poor water quality or availability 
5. e. Mineral deficiency 
7. ii. Physical a. Foot Pain – injured, impacted, or infected feet/hooves 
8. b. Other Pain/Injury 
10. iii. Environmental a. Overheating/Lack of shade or shelter from extremes 
11. b. Presence of undertrained guardian animals (chasing or bullying) 
12. c. Presence of toxins (i.e., toxic plants or mineral excess) 
14. iv. Social a. Overcrowding 
15. b. Isolation from flock 
16. c. Introduction into unfamiliar flock (bullying) 

1. II. Symptoms/Signs of Stress 
2. • Flock is bunched together; heads up and alert, facing toward perceived threat; whether actual predator, or unfamiliar guardian animal 
3. • Teeth-grinding. May also be an indication that the animal is in pain. 
4. • Shallow, rapid respiration – can be heat- or pain-related 
5. • Lambs have a hunched-up/bunched-up stance, weak or raspy cry 
6. • Low energy; unwillingness to stand and/or graze 

1. III. Effects of Long-Term Stress 
2. • Compromised immune system/reduced resistance to disease & parasites 

(i.e., Barber Pole, Coccidiosis) 

• • Failure to grow/thrive 
• • Failure to breed reliably 
• • Difficulty during pregnancy, especially late-term 

In the interest of time, I have not addressed solutions to these adverse conditions. Most if not all of them are easily remedied when recognized. 

It’s worth noting that many veterinarians have limited experience with small ruminants. If you have years of experience with hair sheep, and you find yourself at odds with your vet’s opinion about a diagnosis or treatment, consider trusting your instinct. Your experience is a valuable and powerful tool. 

Additionally, as members of SCHSIA, we are committed to the support and stewardship of our sheep. We should consider, though a prospective client may be enthusiastic, whether they have the understanding and means to care properly for them. An error in judgment of fitness will reflect poorly on the buyer, the seller, AND the sheep. Nobody wins. 

These ideas and conclusions may seem obvious, but I’ve realized over time how underlying stress may make the difference between big, healthy, productive sheep, and animals that seem to have problem after problem. As in humans, stress can erode our otherwise strong ability to cope with threats to our well-being. 

As with many things, I’ve found that careful, daily observation is the best prevention.