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CurrentLungworm
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).
Spring-born suckled calves tend to be lower risk in their first season as they don't graze so much and are likely to be protected by a single dose pre-turnout. Autumn-born calves should receive two doses as described above.
PGE: cattle
First and second year cattle may benefit from worming over the housing period - base this on growth rates and the risk level of last year's grazing. Cattle over two years old tend not to need worming.
Liver fluke
We have screened a considerable number of sheep and cattle farms this season for liver fluke and have not yet identified exposure. If you are considering fluke treatment pre-turnout, speak to us first about screening - you may save yourself a job! If found to be present, at this time of year when only efficacy against adult fluke is required, it is sensible to use a product such as oxyclozanide.
Scab and Lice
Scab (caused by mites), and lice are common in winter. The signs can appear similar, including severe itching, wool loss, restlessness, biting and scratching of affected areas, and weight loss, however scab can be much more severe. Treatment is either injectable group 3 ML (scab only), pour on synthetic pyrethroid (lice only), or plunge dipping (both). After treatment, move sheep to a different area to prevent re-infection from fence posts etc, as mites can survive up to 17 days in the environment. A blood test for scab in sheep is available - sampling 12 animals will detect infection in a group of any size.
PGE: sheep
Wormers should be targeted at thin ewes and ewe lambs - it may only be necessary to treat 20% of your ewes!
Start worm egg counting lambs from around 2 months old as growth rates can suffer long before clinical signs are obvious. For information on how to collect good samples, click here.