[Jacob-list] Re: ewe down

[Linda]

I think hardiness can certainly be a genetic trait.  If it's not, we better quit advertising the Jacobs as a 'hardy' 
breed.  

Some parasite infestations - liver flukes for one - can cause neurological damage where an animal has trouble rising 
and walking.  I had a ram that exhibited similiar symptoms after spending the night wrapped in the electric fence.  The 
knuckling of the pasterns was the obvious sign of nerve damage.  The vet remarked that the symptoms resembled meningeal 
parasite infestation (the little buggers that flourish in wet areas).  I saw a ram at another farm that had nerve 
damage from liver flukes and the most obvious sign was hindquarter weakness.  Don't know if that's typical or not.  OCD 
can also cause problems where an animal has difficulty rising.   There is an endless list of things that can cause weak 
animals.

Linda
http://www.PatchworkFibers.com
Registered Jacob Sheep & Angora Rabbits
Handspun Yarns



On Mon, 17 Jan 2005 07:53:28 -0800 (PST), A. Marshall and J. Noles wrote:

>
>???? Could there be something like a genetic problem showing up in some
>Jacobs, in that certain individuals have "different" requirements - more
>sensitive to ??? or missing or too much of something????