SUMMARY Ovine mastitis causes varying economic fosses in all countries where sheep are kept. A survey of 3128 breeding ewes in 22 farms in two areas with different management practices in Southern Brazil showed that the average prevalence of subclinical and chronic mastitis was 14.1% of ewes with at least one affected gland. From those, 4.49% were also bacteriologically positive. The prevalence in individual farms varied from 0 to 37% of ewes with clinical abnormalities of the udder. The overall prevalence was greater in Area II, where meat breeds predominate and animals are housed at night. It is concluded that subclinical and chronic mastitis is uniikely to be an economic problem in Area I, where wool production is the objective of the sheep industry. However, in individual farms with high prevalence of the disease lamb survival and development may be affected. In Area II, mastitis is more likely to be a problem because of the higher prevalence found in that area.
sheep; ewes; mastitis; lambs; Brazil
