Control of ovine posthitis in merinos grazing improved pastures in the South Island high country

Authors: Hondelink GJ, Scales GH
Publication: New Zealand Veterinary Journal, Volume 23, Issue 5, pp 78-80, May 1975
Publisher: Taylor and Francis

Animal type: Livestock, Production animal, Ruminant, Sheep
Subject Terms: Animal production/wastage, Biosecurity, Disease control/eradication, Epidemiology, Nutrition/metabolism, Pasture/crop, Reproduction - male, Bacterial, Disease/defect, Infectious disease, Reproduction, Urinary system/urology
Article class: Scientific Article

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Abstract: In recent years there has been a marked increase in the area of improved pasture in the South Island high country. Much of the improved vegetation consists of white clover (Trifolium repens), red clover (T. pratense) and perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) which together with high stocking rates predispose towards ovine posthitis (Southcott, 1965). The economic loss associated with ovine posthitis is considerable. Osborne and Widdows (1961) reported increased mortality rates in deceased animals together with decreased wool weights and sale value of surplus stock. Unpublished work at the Tara Hills High Country Research Station has shown the incidence of posthitis to be as high as 60% in Merino wethers grazing irrigated pastures at 39/ha, affected animals having up to 0.44 kg lower fleece weights than non-diseased animals. The use of testosterone propionate for the control of ovine posthitis in wethers has been reported by Osborne and Widdows (1961), together with associated effects on live weights (Southcott, 1962) and wool weights (Osborne, 1966). This paper describes the use of testosterone propionate together with a locally applied paste to the sheath for the control of posthitis in Merino wethers in the South Island high country.

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