The Ontario Sheep Health Program: A structured health management program for intensively reared flocks

Abstract

The Ontario Sheep Health Program was developed to address basic flock health management practices for intensively managed flocks, to promote a veterinary-client–patient relationship, to educate the producer on biosecurity issues and to encourage analysis of health and productivity data while setting goals. It is designed to work in conjunction with other Canadian flock programs, such as the Ontario Sheep Flock Improvement Program (a genetic evaluation program managed by the Ontario provincial government), the Canadian National Identification Program, the Canadian Sheep and Lamb Food Safe Farm Practices Program (managed by the Canadian Sheep Federation and overseen by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency), the Canadian Voluntary Scrapie Certification Program and the Ontario Maedi Visna Flock Status Program. These programs help sheep producers to manage the health and productivity of their flock and to help protect the health of the consumer.