Occurrence of periodontal disease in sheep in the Mangonui, Whangaroa, Hokianga, and Bay of Islands counties

Abstract

A survey of 4128 sheep on 138 farms in the Mangonui, Whangaroa, Hokianga, and Bay of Islands counties, New Zealand, showed that sheep on 36% of the farms were affected by periodontal disease. Occurrence of periodontal disease and soil type were related, the disease being confined largely to sheep on red and brown loams and brown granular loams and clays. Sheep with apparently normal occlusion of the incisor teeth to the upper dental pad had longer incisor teeth if they were on a farm with a severe periodontal problem than if they were on a farm with no periodontal problem.