WA Livestock Disease Outlook - for producers

In late summer, watch out for these livestock diseases: 

Disease Typical history and signs

Salmonellosis in sheep

  • Heavy worm burdens and stress may lead to summer outbreaks.
  • Often caused by water sources contaminated with faeces in confined feeding or rapid summer rain run-off into dams.
  • Signs can include fever, reluctance to move, foul-smelling diarrhoea and abortions in ewes.
  • Move sheep to a clean paddock, feed good quality hay, reduce stressors and discuss treatment options with your vet.
  • Salmonella is zoonotic (can be transferred to people) so maintain good hygiene if you suspect Salmonellosis.

Vitamin E deficiency/ nutritional myopathy in weaner sheep

  • This condition is most common in growing sheep after a prolonged period without access to green feed.
  • Signs include lameness, ill-thrift and sudden death.
  • The disease is often made worse by driving mobs and heavy worm burdens.

Bovine anaemia due to Theileria orientalis group (BATOG)

  • BATOG occurs in cattle in southern WA where the bush tick, Haemaphysalis longicornis, is found. Infected ticks spread the blood parasite T. orientalis.
  • Signs of BATOG include anaemia, abortion, yellow mucous membranes, laboured breathing, weakness, collapse.
  • The disease may cause deaths in young stock. Healthy young stock that become infected may develop immunity but continue to carry the parasite.
  • Your vet can assist with supportive care for BATOG.
  • Producers with cattle with anaemia, jaundice and abortion can receive free testing under the BATOG surveillance program – contact your private vet or DPIRD field vet for information.