There are a number of conditions which occur more commonly when drought feeding, especially when sheep are congregated on small areas for feeding. Some of these conditions are discussed here, together with recommendations regarding prevention and control.

The oral route is important in the transmission of some sheep diseases. Examples include salmonellosis, worms, coccidiosis, and Johne's disease. The risk of spread of such diseases can be minimised by avoiding faecal contamination of feed and by regularly changing the areas in a paddock where sheep are fed. This Primefact looks at health issues affecting:

• all ages: grain poisoning, enterotoxaemia (pulpy kidney), worm infestations, liver fluke, sheep lice, plant poisoning, urea poisoning, salmonellosis, pink eye, urinary calculi (bladder stones) in wethers and rams, and grass seed infestation of the gums;
• mainly young sheep: enterotoxaemia, pneumonia, vitamin A deficiency, vitamin E deficiency, nematodirus infection, coccidiosis, teeth abnormalities;
• adult sheep: periodontal disease, Johne's disease;
• pregnant ewes: pregnancy toxaemia, hypocalcaemia, chronic copper poisoning, toxoplasma abortion, campylobacter abortion.