Effects of thin ewe syndrome on reproductive efficiency

A debilitating condition affecting mature ewes was found to be associated with the visceral form of caseous lymphadenitis, chronic progressive pneumonia, and Corynebacterium pyogenes infections. The condition was termed thin ewe syndrome. Affected and normal ewes were compared for reproductive efficiency by breed and age; differences in reproductive efficiency between affected and normal Rambouillet and Columbia ewes were highly significant (P less than 0.01). Although not statistically significant, the trend in Targh ee ewes was similar. There was a direct correlation between occurence of the syndrome and increasing age for all breeds.