DOMESTIC SHEEP

Ovis aries

SHEEP IN RESEARCH

Can serve as animal models for liver disease such as Dubin-Johnson Syndrome, Gilbert's Syndrome (congenital photosensitivity and hyperbilirubinemia occurring in Southdown sheep), hepatocellular melorosis, Kwashiorkor (Lantana camalia poisoning in sheep), and other diseases such as muscular dystrophy, cerebellar atrophy, pregnancy toxemia, adenomatosis, struvite urolithiasis. They are also used in the study of slow virus infections (scrapie) and intrauterine fetal studies of many types.

SPACE ACCOMMODATIONS

Housed in pens. Up to 25kg.-10sq. ft. per animal, 25-50kg-15 sq. ft. and over 50kg-20 sq. ft.

DISEASE CONTROL

Sheep have approximately 140 diseases, but they are not a great problem in the laboratory. Both external and internal parasites must be checked for and treated. Occasional pneumonias may occur. May have to vaccinate for contagious ecthyma and perhaps others depending upon geographical area.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS

Adequate ventilation to control moisture and odor. A ventilating system exhausting 100 CFM per 1,000 lbs. of animal is recommended. Minimum temperature should not be lower than 4 C (40 F). A minimum of 4 air changes per hour in winter and 15 air changes per hour in summer is desirable. In areas of extremely high ambient temperatures, air conditioning may be necessary if temperature in facility cannot be maintained lower than ambient temperature. Drafts on animals should be avoided.

IMPORTANT PHYSIOLOGICAL DATA

Life Span	6-11 yrs
Puberty	7-8 mo
Minimum Breeding Age	8-10 mo
Weaning Age	4-5 mo
Daily Food Consumption	2-4.5 lbs
Daily Water Consumption	½ to 1½ qts.
Daily Fecal Volume	2-6.5 lbs.
Daily Urine Volume	10-40 ml/kg. body wt.
Chromosome #	54

More Physiological Data

Blood Values mg/100 mi

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Last updated: 01/02/2008 gea