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Ewe with photosensitivity?

NoHornsTaa

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
County Durham
I have a Teeswater ewe that has exclusively scabby ear tips and heels. There aren't any scabs anywhere else on her that I can see, and she isn't losing wool :unsure:

No one else in the flock seems affected, just her. I've blue sprayed a couple of times to no effect, though it doesn't look sore at all and doesn't appear to be spreading. Seems fine in herself and I don't think she finds it particularly itchy (haven't seen her scratching in any unusual way), anyone have any ideas? I thought it might be photosensitivity, but the heels seem like an odd place to be affected to me? Think I'll pop some sudocrem on her today as well
 

primmiemoo

Member
Location
Devon
Bog asphodel grows in traditional, acidy, wet, seasonal pasture that tends towards being wildflower rich. It's in old, rushy pasture, here. @Gator has a master crop, by the look of it! o_O

I don't think your ewe's condition will get much worse, @NoHornsTaa , but to be on the safe side, treat the ears topically with something like a medicated udder cream, and keep an eye out for any infection. The ears could be starting a bit weepy, so treating, and bringing her into a dark environment should help her heal with fewer nibbles out of her ears.

Others might have fuller advice to give. I'd be interested to know what works best, too.
 

Nithsdale

Member
Livestock Farmer
Took a couple of photos yesterday just of her ears, looks about the same on her heels
IMG_20210918_104045.jpg

IMG_20210918_104019.jpg

As you can see, she's symmetrical at least 😂

I couldn't see any of the plants you've all mentioned unless she's eaten it all! I do have some drench in so I think I might just do that today in the field and see how she gets on 👍

I think that looks more like Cobalt Deficiency rather than Bog Asphodel, but could easily be either.

Big injection of Betamox (Bog Asphodel) and a high cobalt multi-vit drench or cobalt bolus (deficiency) will cover both bases.
 

NoHornsTaa

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
County Durham
I think that looks more like Cobalt Deficiency rather than Bog Asphodel, but could easily be either.

Big injection of Betamox (Bog Asphodel) and a high cobalt multi-vit drench or cobalt bolus (deficiency) will cover both bases.
I drenched her yesterday, so I'll see how she cracks on with that! They aren't in a boggy field and we've been pretty high and dry this year anyway, can't say I've seen Bog Asphodel anywhere on the farm before. Only plants around in that particular field were some elder, nettles, burdock and the hawthorn hedges

How often do you all drench?
 

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Webinar: Expanded Sustainable Farming Incentive offer 2024 -26th Sept

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On Thursday 26th September, we’re holding a webinar for farmers to go through the guidance, actions and detail for the expanded Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) offer. This was planned for end of May, but had to be delayed due to the general election. We apologise about that.

Farming and Countryside Programme Director, Janet Hughes will be joined by policy leads working on SFI, and colleagues from the Rural Payment Agency and Catchment Sensitive Farming.

This webinar will be...
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