In Practice 5: 77-84 (1983)
© 1983 British Veterinary Association

Neurological disorders of cattle and sheep

There is a considerable degree of overlap between the neurological diseases of cattle and sheep particularly those caused by microorganisms, poisons and parasites. Intoxications are most common in cattle but sheep appear to be more susceptible or less able to withstand microbiological and parasitic disease.

Some microbiological diseases of the nervous system appear to be species specific, the slow virus diseases of sheep — maedi-visna and scrapie — having no known counterparts in cattle.

Apart from the functional disorders, implication of deficiency in neurological disease is firm only with respect to copper deficiency and swayback in lambs.

Neurological disorders with a proven or putative genetic basis are numerous in cattle but rare in sheep.