Sheep Diseases: The Farmers’ Guide PDF is designed to help diagnose sheep diseases and
provide information on sheep health management.
Reporting serious or unusual animal disease signs
Any unusual behaviour or symptoms observed in your livestock or birds should be reported to:
The 24 hour Emergency Animal Disease Watch Hotline on 1800 675 888 (free call)
Your local veterinarian
Your nearest animal health officer
The sooner an incident is reported, the less chance it has to spread and the more likely it can be controlled and eradicated particularly if it’s an exotic animal disease or pest.
Unusual signs and symptoms in animals
Always keep an eye out for unusual symptoms in livestock that can include:
Unexplained deaths.
Sores or ulcers on the feet or in the mouth (this may result in a reluctance to eat or move).
Excessive salivation (drooling should always be treated suspiciously).
A reduction in the milk yield from cows, and eggs from chickens.
Any kind of discharge – diarrhoea especially if it has blood in it. Excessive nasal discharge is also something you should report unless
you know what has caused it.
Look out for staggering or head drooping or severe lameness, especially if it’s more than one animal at the same time.
Less dramatic signs should also be watched for, such as animals not eating properly and animals that are depressed
and don’t respond the way they should.
