Review article

Importance of ambient conditions for sheep health and productivity

Šimun Naletilić ; Veterinarski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Hrvatska
Slavko Žužul ; Veterinarski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Hrvatska
Željko Pavičić ; Veterinarski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Hrvatska
Kristina Matković ; Veterinarski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Hrvatska
Mario Ostović ; Veterinarski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Hrvatska

Abstract

Animal health is a dynamic balance be- tween the host and its environment. An im- balance may result in a range of diseases. To prevent disease, these factors must be detected on time. Preventive protection of sheep health includes a series of measures, such as ensur- ing their housing in appropriate environmental conditions. Sheep have modest demands, they are resistant and highly customizable to harsh environmental conditions in extensive housing systems. However, they are extremely sensi- tive to inadequate environmental conditions in closed housing systems. In Croatia, the main system for housing sheep is a pasture–farmyard system, where sheep are kept at pasture during the vegetation season, and are kept in dwell- ings during the night and winter. In continental areas of the country, sheep breeding is almost unthinkable without proper dwellings, which serve to protect animals from extreme external climatic conditions and predators, and also as a place for feeding and watering. During con- struction of dwellings, consideration must be given concerning location, herd size and popu- lation density. Dwellings may be built as closed
or semi-open habitats, which in turn determine other technical characteristics, such as the type of floor, height of dwellings and ventilation. It is very important to have optimum microclimate conditions in dwellings, with the temperature- humidity index and air velocity as the main parameters. Reliable indicators of poor hygiene conditions in dwellings is grey-black fleece from originally white sheep. Humid bedding with high air temperature has a negative impact on sheep health as it stimulates the develop- ment of microorganisms. The natural resistance of sheep drops due to inadequate ambient con- ditions, which can lead to the development of diseases that impact sheep production, such as sheep foot rot, sheep scab, endometritis, mas- titis, bronchopneumonia and enterotoxaemia. Consequently, this reduces the yield of milk, meat and wool. Therefore, dwellings should ensure favourable housing conditions to meet their complete physiological and ethological needs. Under such conditions, sheep can ex- press maximum production performance.

Keywords

sheep; health; productivity; accommodation; microclimate

Hrčak ID:

222086

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/222086

Publication date:

11.6.2017.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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