shearers nipple

We've all heard of joggers nipple but Shep has come across a new phenomenon - shearers nipple - umm..... An uncomfortable complaint which I am putting down to the hot weather as this is definitely a first for me - must have a word with the lads and see if they have any advice - could be interesting!! To date have had suggestions of cabbage leaves but will go with the savlon cream, don't fancy having cabbage leaves strapped to my chest - never have been very fond of cabbage even though it grows in the garden.

Sheep suffer from sore tits too. I guess teats is the correct terminology but around here tits goes. They can get chaffed and cracked and also can sometimes get orf blisters on them, of course the shepherd is never going to know unless she kicks the lambs off when they go in to suck or else she is cowped on her backside to expose her bag to view.

Udder cream can be a big help, often used on cattle which are easier to diagnose as their tits are easily seen. Most sheep just manage to put up with their discomfort, as I am going to do, but occasionally it can be a pre cursor to mastitis which is a very painful and serious complaint for the ewe which can result in the loss of the use of her bag (udder) and therefore the loss of her use as a breeding sheep. Sheep generally look sick when they're going down with mastitis, hang their lugs and feel sorry for themselves, on being moved a stiffness in a back leg is often noticed. It is usually treated with penicillin based antibiotics. Caught in time the results can be positive but you really have to be on the ball to catch it quick. I was once told to cut the tit off, once the mastitis has gone from the very hot stage to the bag feeling cold then the bag is deemed dead and removal of the tit doesn't seem to cause any distress to the animal allowing the bad to drain out and preventing the whole bag from bursting as in the case of black quarter which is a gangrenous form of mastitis. There is no doubt in my mind that this remedy is very effective but only to be done once the bag is dead, the ewe will go forward and get relief from the condition. Thank the lord it's only shearers nipple I'm being bothered by!!