LOPES, D. A.; LOPES, Davi Alves.
Abstract:
Brazil has potential to become a great world-wide of livestock species producer due to
territoriality, climate and adaptability of species to the ecosystem of Northeast, that allows the
implantation of diversified productive systems. But some factors are considered as limiter in its
exploration. The sheep mastitis, for example, is one of them. The occurrence of mastitis in flocks
can be responsible for the death of lambs for starvation, can cause the precocious discarding of
sheep and, occasionally, death of sheep. Considering the damages of this disease and the scarceness
of information about the ovine mastitis in the state of the Paraiba the objective of this study was
collaborate with the comprehension of epidemiological of this disease and to supply information
that can improve with the sheep raising in the region. The study was developed between April and
June of 2007 in five flocks of sheep of Saint Ines ewes. The properties were visits, and information
was obtained with the farmers; the sheep were submitted to a clinical examination of the animals.
Of the total of 408 animals examined in the five properties were identified 44 cases of clinical
mastitis that corresponds to an average prevalence of 10,78%. In the studied region death of lambs
and sheep were considered the biggest damages of this disease. Some aspects of the handling, as
the weaning of lambs at 30 days after birth and the confinement of sheep can be contributing for
the occurrence of mastitis. Studies to identify the etiological agents of mastitis will be able to
identify the infection source. The inexistence of programs capable to spread out adequate
knowledge to the producers involving diverse aspects of the handling is a limiter factor to the
development of the sheep raising in the region
