Veterinary experiences with the Cornell STAR system of accelerated lambing

The system of five lambing periods per year limits risks associated with having the entire flock pregnant or in the barn at one time, and favours coccidiosis control by the small spread in lamb age. However, continual presence of susceptible sheep perpetuates contagious ecthyma and amplifies worm burdens on pasture. Pregnancy toxaemia threatens early lambing prolific ewes, paratuberculosis is easily spread if thin ewes are housed with the lambing flock, and newly weaned lambs are exposed to diseases carried by unthrifty lambs from the preceding lambing period if management is not excellent.