Preventing pneumonia at weaning
On average, pneumonia (formally called Chronic Non-Progressive or CNP) can affect 20–30% of lambs in a flock.
Minimising the time lambs spend in yards, avoiding shearing lambs at weaning and maintaining small mob sizes when yarding lambs have all been found to reduce the incidence of Chronic Non-Progressive Pneumonia (CNP). This is the most common form of pneumonia in lambs and can lead to pleurisy, where lungs are stuck to the chest wall. Affected carcasses are downgraded or condemned at processing.
Caused by bacteria, mycobacteria or viruses, CNP can cost farmers due to downgraded carcasses and reduced lamb growth rates.
In case study of a mob of 500 lambs with a typical level of pneumonia, estimated costs due to downgraded carcasses were $2,920 (at a $6.63 schedule) or $5.80/head.
Significantly affected lambs can grow 50% slower than unaffected lambs. If lambs with CNP grow at 75g/day rather than 150g/day, then it will take them an extra 47 days to grow from 30kgLW to 37kgLW. This would require an additional 66kgDM eaten.
Studies by both Massey University and AgResearch have shown that the prevalence of lambs with CNP at slaughter ranges significantly between flocks and years, but on average flocks have 20–30% of lambs affected.
Other on-farm management factors that may be linked to pneumonia include breeding your own ewe replacements (lambs spend more time in yards) and contact with other flocks through the purchase of other lambs post-weaning.
It is recommended that farmers try and reduce the extent and duration of open-mouth panting by lambs when moving them. Ways to do this include using satellite yards and utilising laneways to allow lambs to drift along at their own pace.
Other suggested risk factors of CNP, which are largely anecdotal, include high temperatures and humidity, crowding, stress, dust, excessive exercise, poor ventilation, low immunity and high parasite loadings.
Sheep with CNP often have sub-clinical symptoms such as reduced growth rates, but affected sheep will often have trouble breathing, pant following exercise and cough.
The best prevention strategy is to ensure animals are well-fed, are up-to-date with animal health treatments and have minimal stressors.
Ewes in good body condition will grow their lambs as fast as possible to weaning, meaning more lambs are sold at the weaning draft and therefore have less exposure to CNP-causing bacteria or viruses. Those that do remain have well developed immune systems.
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