Farm Animals

Sheep Lamb Dysentery Clostridial Prevention

Lamb dysentery caused by Clostridium perfringens type B kills lambs in the first few days of life, but is almost entirely preventable through vaccination of ewes before lambing.

Key Facts

Lamb dysentery causes profuse bloody diarrhoea and death within hours of onset in neonatal lambs
Ewes in infected flocks should be vaccinated 4-6 weeks before lambing
Colostral antibodies from vaccinated ewes protect lambs for the critical first weeks of life
Disease occurs primarily in housed flocks with poor hygiene and high stocking density
Oral antitoxin can treat individual lambs but vaccination prevention is far more effective

Welfare Considerations

Lamb dysentery causes rapid, agonising death in very young lambs. Vaccination of ewes before lambing is a simple, inexpensive intervention that prevents this entirely.

What You Can Do

Vaccinate ewes with a multivalent clostridial vaccine 4-6 weeks before lambing
Ensure adequate colostrum intake in all newborn lambs as the primary defence
Maintain farrowing hygiene to reduce environmental Clostridium contamination
Work with your vet to ensure your vaccination programme covers the relevant strains