Ovine Health Traits

Hypotrichosis: Hypotrichosis is a congenital disease that is not immediately fatal to the affected newborn. The affected lambs are generally born with little or no hair on the head, ears, and legs and develop a thick leathery skin. This is a marker test, specifically validated for the White Suffolk breed.

Achondroplasia: This is a bone growth disorder affecting sheep with impaired cartilage development. It exhibits itself in newborn lambs through a “squashed” facial appearance, due to impaired development of the cartilage that forms the nasal cavity. It can also involve the absence of feet and shortened tails and ears. The disorder is commonly referred to as “stumpy lamb.”

Microphthalmia: It is a congenital disease but is not immediately fatal to the affected newborn. The affected lambs are generally born with little or no hair on the head, ears, and legs and develop a thick leathery skin.

OPPTEM Susceptibility: Ovine Progressive Pneumonia is an infectious disease of sheep, caused by the OPP virus, a very slow growing Small Ruminant Lentivirus. The disease is eventually fatal. Weight loss, decreased milk production, progressive pneumonia with labored breathing, exercise intolerance and coughing are the most prevalent visible signs. Symptoms are usually not apparent until later in life so the infection status can only be determined by testing.