The Nematodirus risk has been increased to high, as eggs from last year's lambs are now likely to be at peak hatch. Lambs grazing high risk pasture (grazed by lambs last season) should be treated with white drench, as this remains effective even if this wormer group is no longer effective on your farm for other worms.
Worm egg counting will help decide whether or not treatment for other worms is necessary - start testing lambs from around 8wks old.
Nematodirus risk has been flagged as amber, as air temperature has already been high enough (11.5 – 17° C) for Nematodirus development this year. Once a 7 full days in this temperature range have passed, eggs are fully developed and hatch on pasture.
If lambs are grazing pastures grazed by last year’s lambs be vigilant for signs (straining, watery diarrhoea) and treat with WHITE drench.
Lungworm
Although disease is not typically seen until the summer, vaccination needs to be carried out well in advance of the risk period to ensure immunity. Lungworm vaccination offers sustainable control of this parasite - sustainable both in terms of prolonging the effectiveness of wormers on your farm, and by avoiding decimating the population of invertebrates that are essential for soil health.
First season grazing cattle receive 2 doses, 4 weeks apart, 2 weeks before exposure (usually before turnout).
Our next Lambivac Vaccine Hub dates should correspond with most clients' 6-monthly herd booster, in April and October.
We will be opening a Lambivac bottle on Friday 19th April. The bottles will be opened at 9am and will be required to be kept refrigerated and administered by 5pm on the same day.
If there is a requirement for it (for part one of a primary course for previously unvaccinated goats, or females in late pregnancy), we will open a further bottle PRIOR to this on Friday 22nd March.
It's the time of year again to vaccinate in-lamb ewes with Heptavac P to protect against Clostridial disease and Pasteurella pneumonia.
We currently have a limited availability of 50 dose bottles in stock. These will be sold on a first come first served basis.
For any clients requiring only a few doses, we will also be splitting bottles for a Vaccine Hub on Thursday 8th February and Thursday 7th March.
Sheep:
The liver fluke risk has been low all season, but this will vary from farm to farm. Now is an excellent time to test, as infestation will be readily detectable on both bloods AND faecal samples. Tests are reliable and cost-effective - test don't guess!
Whilst the risk of liver fluke is relatively low this year, the rainfall since July means cases may now start to be seen. Acute fluke can look very much like haemonchus (the bloodsucking gutworm), so ask us for advice regarding testing and treatment. Blood testing for fluke is very sensitive and provides the earliest warning of infection, and samples can be pooled making this a cost-effective method.
Fluke risk in the area generally remains low, but it is acknowledged that there will be pockets of high risk pastures, so testing may now be appropriate in some cases. Rumen fluke risk is similarly low (and less likely to be clinically significant).
Blowfly risk is high; be aware that preventive treatments applied early in the season may be reaching the reaching the end of their efficacy.