By Ntambo Mabuza

Even with layers of blankets and fires blazing, South African winters can be bitterly cold. While people can bundle up, small stock like sheep and goats face a tougher time. Believe it or not, just like us, they can catch the sniffles when the temperature drops and grazing becomes scarce. Coughing, runny noses and sluggishness are often signs of Pasteurellosis pneumonia, a bacterial disease that tends to flare up during winter. So explains Khaya Xhantibe, small stock technical advisor at Red Meat Industry Services (RMIS).

Small stock management practices

Speaking to around 250 farmers during the latest RMIS webinar, Khaya Xhantibe
reminded them that while no one can control the seasons, how livestock fares through a tough winter depends largely on the farmer. As temperatures fall and grazing dries up, good management becomes the farmer’s strongest defence.
“It all starts with proper management, and this is key to your farming business. You have to make sure that the management side of things is properly set up to yield good results,” Xhantibe said.

Without solid management in place, “you’re not going to make it” — not just through the cold winter months, but in farming as a whole. Xhantibe warned that poor planning and oversight almost always lead to failure. For livestock farmers, recognising the risks that come with each season and planning ahead is key to keeping animals healthy and ensuring the farm stays afloat.

General stewardship translates into a production plan that avoids winter births, but timing these with autumn and summer when the environment is less harsh and pastures are plentiful. As the saying goes, make hay while the sun shines. A critical part of the management of livestock is ensuring adequate provision of good feeds ahead of the expected winter scarcity, when sheep and goats require more energy due to the cold weather conditions. For those farmers starting out in small livestock breeding, the availability of shelter and windbreaks ought to be planned from the beginning to protect animals against wind, rain and snow, especially for lambs and kids. These precautions include setting up fire-breaks around the shelters to prevent losses from sporadic fires, Xhantibe advises.

Annual health plan
Many farmers, especially beginners, don’t realise that there are free or affordable
resources available to help them manage their livestock better. If you’re unsure what an annual health plan should look like for your animals, reach out to your local state vet or agricultural extension officer. They can help you put a solid plan in place.

“Vaccinate your animals before winter begins to keep them healthy,” advises Xhantibe. “It will save you a lot of money in the long run, because treating a sick animal always costs more than preventing illness.”

Xhantibe also encourages farmers to deworm their animals before winter sets in, using a simple five-point check to spot signs of parasites in sheep and goats:
Eyes – Pale eyelids could mean anaemia caused by worms like Haemonchus.
Jaw – Swelling, often called “bottle jaw”, may signal a serious problem.
Back – If the animal feels too thin, it could be due to internal parasites.
Tail – A messy backside or diarrhoea can point to gut worms like Trichostrongylus.
Nose – A runny nose often indicates illness.

This method helps farmers deworm only when needed, avoiding unnecessary
treatments and reducing resistance to medication.

If followed closely, a yearly health plan helps protect sheep and goats from common winter diseases. Based on Xhantibe’s presentation, these include:

Pulpy Kidney
Also known as enterotoxaemia, this fast-acting disease is caused by Clostridium
perfringens type D. It releases toxins that damage internal organs and often strikes after a sudden switch to rich, low-fibre feed.

To avoid it:
1. Vaccinate before changing the diet, especially before introducing richer feed.
2. Vaccinate again before giving dewormers, as both can trigger the disease.
3. A few timely jabs can go a long way in protecting your livestock.

Pasteurellosis
A serious bacterial infection in sheep—especially lambs—caused by Mannheimia haemolytica and Pasteurella multocida. It leads to breathing problems, sudden illness, and even death, often triggered by stress.

To manage the risk:
1.Minimise stress, particularly during transport.

2. Ensure shelters are well ventilated and properly drained.

3. Maintain good nutrition and parasite control.

4. Stick to a yearly vaccination plan, with input from your local state vet.

Blue udder
Blue udder is a nasty form of mastitis in sheep and goats that can be deadly if not treated. It’s marked by a blue-black udder, sometimes with gangrene, and is usually caused by aggressive bacteria like Mannheimia haemolytica and Staphylococcus aureus. This condition is serious, and so spotting it early and acting fast is key to saving your animals and preventing further damage.

Black quarter, or blackleg, is a nasty bacterial disease caused by Clostridium chauvoei that hits fast with painful swelling and muscle damage. While it’s more common in cattle, sheep can get it too—especially after skin wounds from things like shearing or lambing.

According to Xhantibe the external parasitic diseases that are associated with the change of season to winter include the following:

Sheep scab is a super contagious skin problem in sheep caused by the
Psoroptes ovis mite. It makes sheep itchy, often resulting creates skin sores, and causes wool to fall out. Early detection and treatment are key to keeping it from spreading.

Red lice (Bovicola ovis) are pesky external parasites that bite and feed on
sheep’s skin flakes, scabs, and wool—causing nonstop itching, wool damage, and making sheep restless. All of this can lead to major economic losses, but regular dipping is an effective way to keep these critters under control.

Abortion in sheep and goats can result from Chlamydiosis—a contagious
disease caused by Chlamydia abortus, spread through infected afterbirth, vaginal discharge, and fecal matter—or from hunger and malnutrition, especially in goats.

Ketosis, also known as twin lamb disease, is a metabolic disorder that primarily
affects ewes pregnant with twins during the late stages of gestation, though it can also occur in goats. It results from an insufficient intake of carbohydrates, which forces the animal’s body to break down excess fat for energy, leading to serious health complications if not managed properly.

Orf, also called sore mouth or contagious ecthyma, is a highly contagious viral disease in sheep and goats. It spreads through direct contact or contaminated surfaces, causing painful sores and scabs around the mouth, lips, and nostrils, and sometimes on udders, legs, and feet.

Most of the challenges that farmers face in winter are not new; they’re expected and
manageable with good livestock practices. That’s why planning ahead is so important. The RMIS small stock technical advisor stresses the value of having a well-timed breeding plan. Without it, the productivity of your herd can take a knock.
“If animals mate in December, January or February, when the grass is plentiful, they will likely give birth during winter,” he explains. “That’s a risky time for lambing or kidding, especially when cold, dry conditions make survival harder for both mother and young.” With better planning, farmers can avoid these risks and improve overall herd health and productivity.