Farm Animal Welfare

Farm Sheep: Coccidiosis in Lambs Welfare

Coccidiosis caused by Eimeria spp. causes profuse watery diarrhoea in lambs, with welfare harm ranging from severe illness to death if untreated.

Key Facts

Ovine coccidiosis primarily affects lambs aged 4-8 weeks in housed or overstocked conditions
Only certain Eimeria species cause clinical disease - E. crandallis and E. ovinoidalis being most pathogenic
Clinical signs include profuse watery diarrhoea, tenesmus, and severe systemic illness
Diagnosis requires faecal oocyst counts to differentiate from other diarrhoea causes
Diclazuril and toltrazuril are effective treatments that reduce oocyst shedding and clinical disease

Welfare Considerations

Clinical coccidiosis causes severe gastrointestinal pain, dehydration, and systemic illness in young lambs. The profuse diarrhoea is distressing and the systemic effects can cause death. Prevention through reduced stocking density, good hygiene in lambing areas, and prophylactic treatment in high-risk groups reduces the incidence of this preventable welfare harm.

What You Can Do

Reduce stocking density in lamb accommodation to lower coccidia challenge
Implement hygiene management including fresh bedding and cleaning of feeders
Test faecal samples from scouring lambs to confirm coccidiosis before treating
Use prophylactic treatment in known high-risk groups under veterinary guidance
Record coccidiosis incidence to identify management risk factors on your farm