increase font size
Farmers are being urged to be on lookout for diarrhoea and sudden death in their ewes as reported cases of Salmonella Hindmarsh rise.
Beef + Lamb NZ is advising farmers in Southland, Taihape and Hawke’s Bay to be on the lookout for diarrhoea and sudden death in their ewes as reported cases of Salmonella Hindmarsh rise.
B+LNZ’s senior advisor animal welfare and biosecurity Will Halliday is recommending that farmers be on guard for signs of the deadly disease, which is likely to be caused by weather-related stress.
He says vets in Taihape and Hawke’s Bay are reporting an increased frequency of significant outbreaks of Salmonella Hindmarsh in mixed-age ewes, but there are also reported outbreaks in Southland.
Salmonella Hindmarsh is triggered by stress-induced changes to the gut bacteria allowing salmonella to proliferate in the gut. Large numbers of bacteria are passed in the faeces contaminating pasture and acting as a source of infection for other sheep. In most cases, carrier sheep are the source of the infection.
Halliday says some ewes die before they develop any clinical signs, so the first sign of a problem might be the discovery of dead ewes.
“Some will have evidence of khaki-coloured watery scour. Clinical signs include depression, lethargy, not eating and mild to severe diarrhoea. Affected ewes may die within 24–48 hours.”
Halliday says a vaccine is available for the prevention of the disease, but farmers need to seek advice from their vet about the best management strategies for their specific operation. He adds that it is important to remember that Salmonella Hindmarsh is a zoonotic disease, meaning it can be passed to humans and cause illness.
“Washing hands thoroughly after handling livestock and wearing protective clothing can help stop the transmission of this nasty disease.”
Halliday encourages farmers seeing any signs of diarrhoea or sudden death in their ewes to call their vet and put a management plan in place to prevent further losses.
Milton dairy farmer Chris Wills says he began using probiotics in spring 2023 to address somatic cell count (SCC) grades when cows transitioned from their winter barn to lush spring pasture.
Treat your farm boundary like a border. This was one of the messages delivered to farmers at a recent Beef + Lamb New Zealand Protect Your Patch workshop in Lincoln.
Feeding infected milk is high risk for spreading diseases such as M. bovis.
To ensure optimal growth, health, and wellbeing of calves, feeding strategies should be considered carefully.
Another milestone has been reached in the fight against Mycoplasma bovis with the compensation assistance service being wound up after helping more than 1300 farmers.
Engaging, thought provoking speakers, relevant seminars and relatable topics alongside innovative produces and services are the order of the day at the 2026 East Coast Farming Expo.
Farm supplies trader Ruralco has recovered from two consecutive years of losses to post a $1.25 million profit for the 2025 financial year.
Naki Honey, a New Zealand manuka apiary company, has crafted what is believed to be the world's most expensive honey.
OPINION: Wool farmers believe the future of strong wool still holds promise.
Applications are open for Horticulture New Zealand's (HortNZ) 2026 scholarship programme, with 20 funding opportunities available.
OPINION: Farmers are being asked to celebrate a target that changes nothing for the climate, wastes taxpayer money, and ignores real science.
OPINION: The Greens have taken the high moral ground on the Palestine issue and been leading political agitators in related…
One of the most galling aspects of the tariffs whacked on our farm exports to the US is the fact…
