Welfare and parasitology condition of extensively reared sheep during winter
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While the welfare of sheep is largely positive when assessed according to natural living in
an extensive system, they may face a range of compromises to their wellbeing, principally
related to nutritional stress, inadequate water supply, climatic extremes, parasitical diseases,
lameness, and inappropriate management. Grazing sheep are therefore exposed to a huge
diversity of parasites since natural pastures are the main source of internal and external
parasites. The aim of this study was to identify the main welfare issues during winter with an
emphasis on parasitological infections in extensive sheep farming systems. The study was
conducted during the winter season of 2022 on three farms of native sheep breed Vlašićka
zackel in the mountain region Fruška gora. All year round, the fl ock of ewes grazes in fenced
paddocks where shelter is provided by trees, shrubs and other vegetation. A total number of
sheep included 550 ewes, 12 rams and 300 lambs. We observed 82 ewes, aged ...2-7 years. For
welfare assessment, animal-based indicators from the AWIN protocol for sheep were used.
All fecal samples for parasites were qualitatively and quantitatively examined. Results were
described by descriptive statistics and as prevalence. Relationships between the different
welfare indicators and endoparasites were examined by Spearman’s Rank correlation. The
main welfare issues identifi ed were fl eece cleanliness (84.14%), nasal discharge (45.12%),
ocular discharge (19.51%), respiratory problems (18.29%, 15/82), body condition score-BCS
(15.85%), fl eece quality (20.73%-some loss) and borderline anaemia (9.76%). Lesion on
legs and minor lameness was present in 4.88% ewes. In the examined feces of ewes, seven
endoparasites were identifi ed in the form of coinfections - protozoa (Coccidia and Buxtonella
sulcata), nematodes (strongylides, Trichuris ovis, and Protostrongylidae), cestodes (Moniezia
spp) and trematodes Dicrocoelium dendriticum with a total prevalence of 100%. The most
prevalent coinfections were Coccidia and strongylides (12.20%), Coccidia, strongylides
and Protostrongylidae (12.20%), and Coccidia, strongylides and Dicrocoelium dendriticum
(12.20). The most common was coccidiosis, in the form of infections of medium and high
intensity. Parasite infection was identifi ed as an important and prevalent welfare problem
across all farms, with a weakly signifi cant (r=-
0.24, r=0.22, p<0.05) correlation between
certain parasites (Buxtonella sulcata and Protostrongylidae) and welfare indicators such as
nasal discharge and borderline anaemia. Also, a signifi cant (r=0.30, p<0.001) correlation
between BCS and fl eece quality was found. The fi ndings provide useful information on the
main welfare issues that can occur in extensive sheep farming and can help farmers to improve
animal welfare.
Source:
55th.Congress of the ISAE, Animal Behaviour and Beyond, Ohrid, 4 - 8. septembar, 2022, 2022, 55-55Publisher:
- MVI ILGEN – Educational center “Sireda”
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Fakultet veterinarske medicineTY - CONF AU - Nenadović, Katarina AU - Vučinić, Marijana AU - Jovanović, Nemanja AU - Bugarski, Dejan AU - Ilić, Tamara PY - 2022 UR - https://vet-erinar.vet.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/3789 AB - While the welfare of sheep is largely positive when assessed according to natural living in an extensive system, they may face a range of compromises to their wellbeing, principally related to nutritional stress, inadequate water supply, climatic extremes, parasitical diseases, lameness, and inappropriate management. Grazing sheep are therefore exposed to a huge diversity of parasites since natural pastures are the main source of internal and external parasites. The aim of this study was to identify the main welfare issues during winter with an emphasis on parasitological infections in extensive sheep farming systems. The study was conducted during the winter season of 2022 on three farms of native sheep breed Vlašićka zackel in the mountain region Fruška gora. All year round, the fl ock of ewes grazes in fenced paddocks where shelter is provided by trees, shrubs and other vegetation. A total number of sheep included 550 ewes, 12 rams and 300 lambs. We observed 82 ewes, aged 2-7 years. For welfare assessment, animal-based indicators from the AWIN protocol for sheep were used. All fecal samples for parasites were qualitatively and quantitatively examined. Results were described by descriptive statistics and as prevalence. Relationships between the different welfare indicators and endoparasites were examined by Spearman’s Rank correlation. The main welfare issues identifi ed were fl eece cleanliness (84.14%), nasal discharge (45.12%), ocular discharge (19.51%), respiratory problems (18.29%, 15/82), body condition score-BCS (15.85%), fl eece quality (20.73%-some loss) and borderline anaemia (9.76%). Lesion on legs and minor lameness was present in 4.88% ewes. In the examined feces of ewes, seven endoparasites were identifi ed in the form of coinfections - protozoa (Coccidia and Buxtonella sulcata), nematodes (strongylides, Trichuris ovis, and Protostrongylidae), cestodes (Moniezia spp) and trematodes Dicrocoelium dendriticum with a total prevalence of 100%. The most prevalent coinfections were Coccidia and strongylides (12.20%), Coccidia, strongylides and Protostrongylidae (12.20%), and Coccidia, strongylides and Dicrocoelium dendriticum (12.20). The most common was coccidiosis, in the form of infections of medium and high intensity. Parasite infection was identifi ed as an important and prevalent welfare problem across all farms, with a weakly signifi cant (r=- 0.24, r=0.22, p<0.05) correlation between certain parasites (Buxtonella sulcata and Protostrongylidae) and welfare indicators such as nasal discharge and borderline anaemia. Also, a signifi cant (r=0.30, p<0.001) correlation between BCS and fl eece quality was found. The fi ndings provide useful information on the main welfare issues that can occur in extensive sheep farming and can help farmers to improve animal welfare. PB - MVI ILGEN – Educational center “Sireda” C3 - 55th.Congress of the ISAE, Animal Behaviour and Beyond, Ohrid, 4 - 8. septembar, 2022 T1 - Welfare and parasitology condition of extensively reared sheep during winter SP - 55 EP - 55 UR - https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_veterinar_3789 ER -
@conference{ author = "Nenadović, Katarina and Vučinić, Marijana and Jovanović, Nemanja and Bugarski, Dejan and Ilić, Tamara", year = "2022", abstract = "While the welfare of sheep is largely positive when assessed according to natural living in an extensive system, they may face a range of compromises to their wellbeing, principally related to nutritional stress, inadequate water supply, climatic extremes, parasitical diseases, lameness, and inappropriate management. Grazing sheep are therefore exposed to a huge diversity of parasites since natural pastures are the main source of internal and external parasites. The aim of this study was to identify the main welfare issues during winter with an emphasis on parasitological infections in extensive sheep farming systems. The study was conducted during the winter season of 2022 on three farms of native sheep breed Vlašićka zackel in the mountain region Fruška gora. All year round, the fl ock of ewes grazes in fenced paddocks where shelter is provided by trees, shrubs and other vegetation. A total number of sheep included 550 ewes, 12 rams and 300 lambs. We observed 82 ewes, aged 2-7 years. For welfare assessment, animal-based indicators from the AWIN protocol for sheep were used. All fecal samples for parasites were qualitatively and quantitatively examined. Results were described by descriptive statistics and as prevalence. Relationships between the different welfare indicators and endoparasites were examined by Spearman’s Rank correlation. The main welfare issues identifi ed were fl eece cleanliness (84.14%), nasal discharge (45.12%), ocular discharge (19.51%), respiratory problems (18.29%, 15/82), body condition score-BCS (15.85%), fl eece quality (20.73%-some loss) and borderline anaemia (9.76%). Lesion on legs and minor lameness was present in 4.88% ewes. In the examined feces of ewes, seven endoparasites were identifi ed in the form of coinfections - protozoa (Coccidia and Buxtonella sulcata), nematodes (strongylides, Trichuris ovis, and Protostrongylidae), cestodes (Moniezia spp) and trematodes Dicrocoelium dendriticum with a total prevalence of 100%. The most prevalent coinfections were Coccidia and strongylides (12.20%), Coccidia, strongylides and Protostrongylidae (12.20%), and Coccidia, strongylides and Dicrocoelium dendriticum (12.20). The most common was coccidiosis, in the form of infections of medium and high intensity. Parasite infection was identifi ed as an important and prevalent welfare problem across all farms, with a weakly signifi cant (r=- 0.24, r=0.22, p<0.05) correlation between certain parasites (Buxtonella sulcata and Protostrongylidae) and welfare indicators such as nasal discharge and borderline anaemia. Also, a signifi cant (r=0.30, p<0.001) correlation between BCS and fl eece quality was found. The fi ndings provide useful information on the main welfare issues that can occur in extensive sheep farming and can help farmers to improve animal welfare.", publisher = "MVI ILGEN – Educational center “Sireda”", journal = "55th.Congress of the ISAE, Animal Behaviour and Beyond, Ohrid, 4 - 8. septembar, 2022", title = "Welfare and parasitology condition of extensively reared sheep during winter", pages = "55-55", url = "https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_veterinar_3789" }
Nenadović, K., Vučinić, M., Jovanović, N., Bugarski, D.,& Ilić, T.. (2022). Welfare and parasitology condition of extensively reared sheep during winter. in 55th.Congress of the ISAE, Animal Behaviour and Beyond, Ohrid, 4 - 8. septembar, 2022 MVI ILGEN – Educational center “Sireda”., 55-55. https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_veterinar_3789
Nenadović K, Vučinić M, Jovanović N, Bugarski D, Ilić T. Welfare and parasitology condition of extensively reared sheep during winter. in 55th.Congress of the ISAE, Animal Behaviour and Beyond, Ohrid, 4 - 8. septembar, 2022. 2022;:55-55. https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_veterinar_3789 .
Nenadović, Katarina, Vučinić, Marijana, Jovanović, Nemanja, Bugarski, Dejan, Ilić, Tamara, "Welfare and parasitology condition of extensively reared sheep during winter" in 55th.Congress of the ISAE, Animal Behaviour and Beyond, Ohrid, 4 - 8. septembar, 2022 (2022):55-55, https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_veterinar_3789 .