Drug needs of the sheep industry

Two areas of drug needs in the sheep industry are reviewed. The first is the need for prolificacy drugs such as those used outside the country. These drugs would encourage out-of-season lambing, increased lambs/per ewe during the traditional lambing season and synchronize estrus for easier management of lambing and increased use of artificial insemination for faster genetic improvement. The other area is drugs to treat or prevent major causes of disease, specifically abortion, neonatal diarrhea, pneumonia and internal parasitism. Efficacious drugs for these diseases are either not now cleared for use in sheep at all; a safe, easy to administer product is not available; or not cleared for sheep at a dosage level which is effective. These are drugs which will have a positive impact on the industry by increasing production, reducing expenses, and helping the U. S. to be able to compete with other sheep producing countries in the U. S. markets.