Vaginal prolapse in ewes

Abstract

In 2019 and 2020, an annual vaginal prolapse incidence of 13% was recorded among hoggets in a dairy sheep farm in Greece, whereas in mature ewes the annual incidence was 0.7%. During our farm visit, we noticed that the feeders were particularly elevated both in hoggets and mature ewes barn, which forced the animals to take a highly inclined position to reach their feed. We identified the feeders’ elevation as a possible cause of vaginal prolapse and advised their replacement. In December 2020, in the hoggets’ barn, the raised feeders were replaced with lower ones, resolving the problem. These findings provide strong circumstantial evidence that hoggets are particularly prone to vaginal prolapse when forced to maintain an inclined position for long periods, whereas mature ewes appear less susceptible. © 2022 British Veterinary Association.