The Victorian Department of Primary Industries (DPI) is receiving an increased number of reports of ovine brucellosis - an infectious condition that causes infertility in affected rams.
DPI sheep disease project leader Robert Suter said this was a concern because it came at a time when a lot of attention was being focussed on flock reproductive performance and rebuilding the nation’s sheep flock.
It is disappointing for producers when they put a lot of effort into building a fertile ewe flock which is managed well throughout pregnancy only to have the other part of the reproductive equation, the ram, not able to do his job, Dr Suter said.
The only treatment is to cull these rams.
Affected rams can be identified by examination of the scrotum and its contents by a veterinarian, who will confirm suspect animals with a blood test as other conditions can mimic brucellosis symptoms.
Dr Suter said once brucellosis had been introduced into the ram flock, it often took a long series of examinations and blood tests to achieve a clean flock of rams.
By this time a large proportion will have been culled, Dr Suter said.
The best protection is to buy only from ovine brucellosis-free accredited ram sources and check that they can provide a current accreditation certificate.
If in doubt, have your ram flock assessed by a veterinarian two or so months before mating, as this allows time to source replacement rams if necessary.
Even if brucellosis is not present, the examination can identify rams of sub-optimal fertility well prior to mating.
