Livestock

Abortion in Ewes: Welfare and Diagnostic Investigation

How systematic investigation of sheep abortion protects flock welfare and identifies treatable causes.

Key Facts

Enzootic abortion (EAE), toxoplasmosis, and campylobacter are the main infectious causes in the UK
Sporadic abortions are normal — rates above 2% indicate an investigation is warranted
Some causes are zoonotic — pregnant women must avoid contact with aborting ewes
Vaccines for EAE and toxoplasmosis are available and highly effective

Welfare Considerations

Abortion causes welfare harm to individual ewes through expulsion stress and potential retained placenta. Flock-level abortion storms cause widespread welfare impact. Welfare-focused management investigates abortion causes systematically using post-mortem of aborted material, treats identified infections, and vaccinates against preventable causes. Zoonotic risk management protects farm worker welfare alongside flock welfare.

What You Can Do

Submit aborted material to a diagnostic laboratory for investigation — identify the cause
Vaccinate against EAE and toxoplasmosis where these are identified causes
Warn pregnant women to avoid contact with aborting ewes — campylobacter and EAE are both zoonotic