Scouring at other times of the year is more likely to be due to disease, most commonly, worm infestation. Resistance of worms to worm drenches is an increasing problem. After drenching, release the introduced sheep onto the wormiest paddocks on the farm, to dilute any resistant worms with the 'on farm' worms. Pink eye Pink eye is a bacterial infection of the eye which can result in reduced weight gain that normally lasts for about one week. The first signs are watery eyes and blinking, then reddening of the eyes and cloudiness of the cornea.
Signs usually disappear in one to two weeks although cloudiness can persist for several weeks.
Occasionally an eyeball may rupture, causing permanent blindness. The disease is spread mainly in summer by flies, dust and direct contact. Cancer Merino ewes that have had the radical mules operation are susceptible to vulval cancer as they get older. This is caused by exposure to sunlight and is not curable. Signs of the disease are scabs or eroded areas on the vulva.