Border Disease in Sheep: Welfare Impacts and Prevention

Border disease caused by pestivirus causes significant welfare impacts in affected lambs including hairy shaker syndrome and persistently infected animals shedding virus.

Key Facts

Border disease virus is a pestivirus closely related to BVD that affects sheep and goats
Infected pregnant ewes produce hairy shaker lambs with abnormal fleece and neurological tremors
Persistently infected lambs born to infected ewes shed virus continuously throughout their lives
PI animals develop mucosal disease causing severe gastrointestinal signs and death
Vaccination of ewes and culling of PI animals are the primary control measures

Welfare Considerations

Hairy shaker lambs experience significant welfare impacts from neurological tremors that impair suckling, thermoregulation, and normal movement. Many hairy shaker lambs die or require euthanasia in the first days of life. PI lambs that survive the neonatal period face development of mucosal disease causing severe oral ulceration, diarrhoea, and death. The welfare of PI animals deteriorating through mucosal disease is particularly concerning given the prolonged suffering before death. Prevention through vaccination and PI identification and removal is the most effective welfare intervention.

What You Can Do

Vaccinate breeding ewes against border disease before mating using licensed vaccines
Test all lambs from affected flocks for PI status and remove positive animals
Isolate PI animals to prevent virus spread through the flock
Implement prompt euthanasia for lambs with severe hairy shaker syndrome
Work with your vet to develop a border disease control programme for your flock