Studies on Wool-Eating Ailment in Guizhou Semi-Fine Wool Sheep

The clinical symptoms of a disorder which is known locally as “wool-eating ailment” in Guizhou semi-fine wool sheep in the Weining County of Guizhou Province, China, are poor weight gain, lost appetite, pica, emaciation, and wool-eating. The mineral composition of forage, and samples of blood, liver and wool from Guizhou semi-fine wool sheep in affected ranches were compared with those from the unaffected areas. The mean concentration of iron in forage from affected pasture was significantly higher than that from the unaffected pasture. The mean concentration of sulfur in forage from the affected and unaffected pasture was similar and within normal ranges. The mean concentration of sulfur in blood, liver and wool from the affected Guizhou semi-fine wool sheep was significantly lower than that from the unaffected sheep while the content of iron in blood, liver and wool from the affected sheep was significantly higher than that from the unaffected sheep. Oral administration of calcium sulfate prevented and cured the disease. We concluded that the disease of Guizhou semi-fine wool sheep in the Weining County is due to S deficiency caused by the high Fe in forages.