How to spot and treat Border disease

Border disease is a disease in sheep known to cause a variety of problems within your flock such as abortions, still born lambs, poor scanning rates and weak lambs at birth.

- 

The disease is caused by a virus and was first discovered in the UK in 1959. Border disease virus is closely related to Bovine Diarrhoea Virus in cattle and crossover between species can occur, this should be considered if grazing your ewes near to cattle.

Border disease can present in several different ways. This is affected by the timing of ewe exposure to the virus. The virus can be spread horizontally, ewe to ewe, through secretions produced by an infected animal such as saliva or nasal discharge. The disease can also spread vertically, this is from ewe to lamb either whilst in the womb or through milk. Healthy non pregnant ewes when exposed to the virus may show no or limited clinical signs. They may be in-appetent (not eating) with an increased temperature, but the disease will be transient, and the ewe will develop a degree of immunity over time.