Pneumonia is the leading cause of lamb mortality after the neonatal period, causing significant pain and requiring proactive prevention and prompt treatment.
Pneumonia causes severe systemic illness in lambs including high fever, difficulty breathing, and acute distress. Untreated disease progresses rapidly to be fatal or results in chronic lung damage that impairs welfare throughout the animal's life. Twice-daily observation of all lambs during the risk period allows early treatment that dramatically reduces welfare harm.