Case notes on veterinary investigations in sheep, cattle and other species
2020 Spring edition of case studies
Sheep
Chlamydia pecorum abortion in five widely dispersed NSW ewe flocks
Written by: Bruce Watt, Central Tablelands Local Land Services, Justine McNally, North West Local Land
Services, Jess Bourke, Central Tablelands Local Land Services, Charlotte Cavanagh, Western Local Land
Services, Amy Masters, Central Tablelands Local Land Services, Trent McCarthy, Western Local Land Services
and Cheryl Jenkins and Patrick Staples, Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute, Menangle
While this organism is a well-known cause of arthritis and conjunctivitis in sheep, it was also regarded as a
rare cause of abortions in ewes ... Read more
Small flowered mallow (marshmallow, Malva parviflora) intoxication (marshmallow staggers) in the
Coonamble District following drought-breaking rain
Written by: Jillian Kelly, District Veterinarian, Coonamble
Drought-breaking rain received by the Coonamble district in autumn 2020 saw abundant growth of the
small-flowered mallow (Malva parviflora) and many subsequent cases of staggers in sheep flocks ... Read More
Cattle
Arsenic poisoning in cattle
Written by: Dione Howard, District Veterinarian, Wagga Wagga, Riverina Local Land Services, and Ann-Michele
Rheault, USYD Student
One heifer showed significant clinical signs, including pyrexia, staggers, generalised incoordination,
injected mucous membranes and a prolonged capillary refill time ... Read more
Enzootic posthitis (pizzle rot) in steers fed a high protein drought ration
Written by: Bruce Watt, Central Tablelands Local Land Services and Ania Deutscher and Zoe Spiers, Elizabeth
Macarthur Agricultural Institute, Menangle
Enzootic posthitis (ulcerative posthitis or pizzle rot) is a well-known condition of Australian wethers on a
high protein diet but has also been reported in rams, angora goat wethers, bulls and steers ... Read more
Other
Stillbirths and abortions...goats kick it in the drought
Written by: Sarah Maher, District Veterinarian Dubbo
Contact was made by a goat producer who was experiencing abortions in his commercial boer goat herd for the
second consecutive year ... Read more