Recent content by Vicki_Ann

Looking for someone Full time ideally on a self employed basis to start ASAP This is a very varied role never a dull moment with something different to do every day. We have 650 ewes that are just about finished lambing on two seperate farms. We also have a busy fencing and Building business...

We had one like that born in South Africa but more wool. This was out of a hog a few years ago, was most bizarre as front legs out and head in pelvic canal and then a dead stop. Only when I caesared her did it all become clear. Luckily she was a twin and her other lamb was perfect which she...

Everything I have read doesn't give a definitive answer to how long the virus survives outside of the sheep, but it's weeks, not months and years. OPA is not known to affect other species so using cattle to graze the pasture following having infected sheep there should be safe enough. OPA is...

Flukiver is a good follow up drench for fluke in sheep this time of year :) Just about to go through ours with it (y)

I would try a higher dose of dex - 16mg is commonly cited as being used experimentally, and I tend to give anywhere between 6 and 10ml (Rapidexon is 2mg/ml) to my own ewes if I want to induce them. Some sheep require more than one injection of dex, so if they haven't chucked their lambs within...

I often wonder how useful some of the European flock guardian dog breeds might be over here. http://www.hcn.org/articles/searching-for-the-best-dog-to-save-livestock-and-wildlife That's an interesting read, and one person says their dog will chase off ravens that try to go for lambs. I think...

The virus can survive for several weeks in the environment. Sadly, there does not seem to be research which has given a definitive answer on how long it can survive in the environment which obviously will depend on climatic conditons, but it is not thought to be years. It would be a good idea to...

All of the above ^. 100ml propylene glycol product (Ketosaid or similar) daily for a few days, calcium never a bad idea when you are (educated) guessing at a diagnosis. I have seen a few cases of TLD brought on by pneumonia with the changeable weather this year and without a careful examination...

Sounds like you are on it (y) Hopefully he will increase in confidence and you will reap the rewards in the next few months. When these things are addressed quickly, often it's not such a huge deal as when it becomes more 'set' in older dogs who have never learnt strangers aren't scary. You...

Sorry I am a bit late to this. OPA is a pain and not something you want to knowingly introduce to any flock. If these ewes are heavily in lamb and can be kept isolated from the rest of the flock throughout lambing and rearing their lambs then I would be tempted to lamb them and cull them when...

We have a Prattley and it's brilliant. We have put some fairly wild yearling ewes through it and it stood up to them well. Lots of options for making pens and very quick and easy to set up and pack away. A friend has an Alligator which we borrowed before getting the Prattley and had to buy a...

It's likely to be based on fear and a lack of confidence, and this may well stem from him being in a run and not being allowed to check out strangers and decide they're not that scary. He needs socialisation. At this young age he is hitting adolescence and I have to say most male dogs become a...

The OH did ask me what I wanted for my birthday. I did request a sheepdog pup ..... Probably not allowed one though :cautious:

We had welshies before this latest collie and sadly the line got fuddled and no good welshies here now. Certainly a lot to think about on this thread and I wonder if I ought to try and see a few more of these various dogs working before we decide. My young collie who is just coming into work...

Vets always vary in what they do. We tend to use what we find works. I have only ever had one come back out (and put an awful lot back in) and that one case the uterus was absolutely huge and I did struggle to reach the ends of the horns. Once put back again it had involuted enough that the...