Cull Ewes help clearing worms?

[Benn]

Got 5 acres needing to be grazed over winter ,
Its the hay paddock and its were i lamb ewes

Was looking to get cattle in end this summer but didnt work out.was keen on cattle to help lower any worm burden.

So im thinking buying cull ewes from a local,
letting graze fields over winter and get rid in spring .
am i right that they will also do similar job help with lowering any worm burden.

They wont come into contact with the rest flock there in ,fields are 500m apart and across a main road.
Flock wont go back into those fields until april 2021

Quarantine i only ever Zolvix
Should i give be giving anything else?

The local doesnt know about sheep,so im taking that there from non mv free flock and he says hasn't had any foot or scab issues ,etc but
Is it worth the risk?

 

[Exfarmer]

Certainly a new one on me! Would have thought the best way you can bring worms and foot rot on to the farm, but what would I know?

 

[Benn]

I thought read somewhere the next best thing to cattle were dry ewes as would hoover up pasture larve through winter and if i get rid before spring would help
Lower burden.maybe i dreamt it up?

Bringing Foot rot on land worry me but he hasnt had known issue,any thing i can add to quarantine to prevent?
And would the time any my flock go onto land be ok as would be a year in between and there be cut if hay and silage off the field next year to?

 

[Dry Rot]

Most intestinal worms are host specific, i.e. sheep worms won't affect horses, cattle, etc. and vice versa. Never heard that old ewes will hover up sheep worms but I do know some horsey folk will either alternate with sheep or graze sheep with horses for the same reason. So maybe you need to get some horses? That should be popular on here!

 

[unlacedgecko]

I thought read somewhere the next best thing to cattle were dry ewes as would hoover up pasture larve through winter and if i get rid before spring would help
Lower burden.maybe i dreamt it up?

Bringing Foot rot on land worry me but he hasnt had known issue,any thing i can add to quarantine to prevent?
And would the time any my flock go onto land be ok as would be a year in between and there be cut if hay and silage off the field next year to?

The length of break you’re planning will do more for worm burdens than cull ewe grazing.

 

[Poorbuthappy]

Dry ewes of a good worm resistant type (ie not your typical suffolk!) should theoretically do what you're saying, but not if they're old, worn out thin things. Fit healthy dry ewes "should" be hoovering up worms, but I'm guessing that's not the type you'd be offered as they otherwise they'd still be in the flock?


What's your plan with the field next spring/ summer?

 

[Benn]

We have got horses on farm but i aint letting them On the ground bloody docks follow them round,and they snap fence post for fun.

I thought id read somewhere
Or have i read it wrong?

 

[Benn]

Dry ewes of a good worm resistant type (ie not your typical suffolk!) should theoretically do what you're saying, but not if they're old, worn out thin things. Fit healthy dry ewes "should" be hoovering up worms, but I'm guessing that's not the type you'd be offered as they otherwise they'd still be in the flock?


What's your plan with the field next spring/ summer?

Ah didnt see post ,
Next spring summer it be cut for hay then late cut silage or cattle on there.

Get point about old haggard ewes.
Thinking more buying in “cull ewe “ reason being culled not fit for lambing?bad udders etc?

 

[Poorbuthappy]

As @unlacedgecko says your plans for next summer are best benefit. If you were talking about grazing it with your own ewes I would say go for it, but would be hesitant about buying in ewes due to disease risk. Are you a closed flock?

Why not graze it with your own fit breeding ewes ? Or are you over run with grass?

 

[Benn]

Just Starting new flock this year only got 20 exlana ewe lambs and to much grass,

Would the year break from culls leaving the land,to flock going back on land be long enough or do diseases hang around in land for longer?

 

[Benn]

Just to add last October - April ,
The whole farm had some body else's lambs on it only 30 odd.
I had no say on it and was out of my hands ,
they weren't quarantined ,and they didnt get wormed when they were here.

So maybe i already have issues to come ?

we did make hay off whole farm this summer.

 

[Skintagain]

I wouldn’t bother for the hassle

 

[Green farmer]

I’ve heard Lesley stubbings speak about this before. Apparently old cast ewes are good at hovering up worms and pass very few back out (in comparison to younger sheep) as they’ve built up a lifetime of resistance to worms. Of course, this would only be a small part of a bigger over all strategy. If your importing in ewes from someone else’s farm, you might be importing in a whole load of new problems as well.

 

[Tim W]

I’ve heard Lesley stubbings speak about this before. Apparently old healthy cast ewes are good at hovering up worms and pass very few back out (in comparison to younger sheep) as they’ve built up a lifetime of resistance to worms. Of course, this would only be a small part of a bigger over all strategy. If your importing in ewes from someone else’s farm, you might be importing in a whole load of new problems as well.

I have inserted one important word ---my cull ewes will have a low FEC apart from those thin/poor condition/sick ewes which will have high FEC

 

[GreenerGrass]

Fine if you had some mature sheep to put on it, but to buy & import sheep of unknown health status and potential associated problems for 5 acres is madness! Top it when ground conditions allow if you have nothing on farm that will eat it.