Ram Health and Brucella Ovis Testing
- kateleighanderson
- Aug 1
- 3 min read
Ram Health and Brucella Ovis Testing: Essential PreSale Vet Services
Why Ram Health Matters for Sheep Producers in Dubbo and the Central West
In sheep enterprises across Dubbo and the Central West of New South Wales, rams represent a significant investment. Their fertility has a direct impact on lambing percentages, flock performance, and ultimately your bottom line. A single subfertile or infected ram can compromise an entire joining season.
This is why veterinary presale health checks and Brucella Ovis testing are critical. Not
only do they protect your own flock’s fertility, but they also reassure buyers when selling rams into new operations.
What is Brucella Ovis and Why is it a Risk?
Brucella Ovis is a contagious bacterial infection of rams that causes epididymitis, reduced semen quality, and infertility. The disease spreads between rams during joining and can lead to devastating reproductive losses in sheep flocks.
Key concerns with Brucella Ovis include:
Lowered conception rates and reduced lambing percentages
Permanent infertility in infected rams
Silent spread between flocks without visible signs
Longterm financial impact if left unchecked
There is no effective treatment, so prevention through testing and culling is essential.
What’s Involved in Ram Health and Fertility Testing?
Veterinary presale ram health checks typically include:
Physical Examination: Assessing body condition, teeth, feet, and overall health
Reproductive Examination: Checking testes and epididymis for abnormalities
Brucella Ovis Testing: Blood sampling with accredited laboratory analysis
Semen Testing (optional): Evaluating semen quality and motility in studs or high-value rams
Disease Screening: Vaccination status and checks for other infectious agents that affect fertility
With vet involvement, buyers and sellers alike have confidence that only healthy, fertile rams are entering the breeding program.
The Benefits of Vet-Led Brucella Ovis Testing
Safeguard Flock Fertility
Testing ensures you’re not introducing subfertile or infected rams that could reduce conception rates.
Build Buyer Confidence at Ram Sales
Presenting veterinary certificates for Brucella Ovis testing reassures buyers that your stud or sale rams meet industry standards.
Meet Market and Industry Requirements
Many ram sales and breed societies now require accredited Brucella Ovis testing before rams can be sold.
Protect LongTerm Productivity
By identifying and removing infected rams, you prevent ongoing disease transmission within your flock.
Gain Expert Veterinary Support
Your vet can also provide broader flock health advice, from parasite management to nutrition, ensuring optimal breeding outcomes.
When Should You Test Rams?
Presale: To provide assurance to buyers and meet sale requirements
Annually: Even if rams are not being sold, annual testing is best practice to protect
your own flock
Before Introducing New Rams: To ensure new genetics do not bring infection into
your flock
After Suspected Fertility Declines: If lambing percentages drop unexpectedly
Common Questions About Brucella Ovis Testing
Is Brucella Ovis testing mandatory?
It is required for many ram sales and strongly recommended for flock biosecurity.
How is the test performed?
A blood sample is taken by your veterinarian and submitted to an accredited lab for analysis.
How long do results take?
Typically 1–2 weeks, depending on lab processing times.
Can infected rams recover?
No — there is no effective treatment. Infected rams should be culled to protect flock fertility.
Partnering with Central West Genetics for Ram Health
Healthy, fertile rams are the cornerstone of a productive flock. For Dubbo and Central West producers, vetled Brucella Ovis testing and presale health checks are a smart investment that protects both productivity and reputation.
At Central West Genetics, we offer comprehensive ram health testing, Brucella Ovis
screening, and fertility assessments to give you — and your buyers — confidence in your breeding program.
Contact our team today to arrange ram health and Brucella Ovis testing before sale
season.
