What does OJD look like in a flock?
Affected sheep can range in condition from good to very poor and OJD may be present in a flock for a number of years without any evidence of it being there. Clinical signs usually show up in older sheep which lose condition and die for no apparent reason. They show up as a “tail” in a mob. Affected sheep do not scour and do not respond to any treatments. They continue to eat and drink normally until they are too weak to graze. The average time from the onset of clinical signs to death is about six(6) to 12 weeks. Although the disease is generally seen in older sheep, younger sheep can be affected. This may be due to high stocking rates or heavily contaminated pastures. OJD does not show up as an outbreak but as an ongoing problem throughout the year. In the average infected flock up to 5 percent of adult sheep may die each year.
