Ewes Aborting.

[Forkdriver]

Two nights ago we had jets playing low level chase tag round us. We have established that they come from RAF Lakenheath. There was no warning of low flying on the government website, although that may not have made any difference.
We have now lost 8 lambs aborted before term. They're about 3 weeks off full term. We reported this There's no indication of Schmallenberg and they look normal .We reported this and are awaiting the report from the low flying complaint team.

What's the chance of being compensated?

 

[Shepherd12]

Wouldn’t have thought that’d be the cause to be honest. We’re in a raf training area and the ewes don’t even notice low flying choppers etc. How long ago were they heptavaced (If you do vaccinate)? It’s common to get a few aborted about 12 days after heptavac because of them getting knocked etc.
I’d say you’d be lucky to get any compensation. Hopefully this is your pre lambing bad luck and it’ll go smoothly from now on

 

[ladycrofter]

Sadly agreeing with @Shepherd12 we get jets and the sheep don't seem to notice. I would go ahead anyway, no one can prove it wasn't caused by the jets and it's a terrible loss anyway. Maybe consider buying some toxovax next year . . .

 

[muleman]

About the same chance we have if Putin gets in and bombs us!

 

[farmerm]

Sheep will abort for many reasons, toxo, endo, camp, schmal, a loose dog chasing them around…. I’m not saying it’s impossible but I think the planes are the least likely cause.

 

[Northeastfarmer]

It was probably just a complete coincidence I’m afraid….youre getting close towards suicide fortnight so abortions naturally occur

 

[muleman]

It was probably just a complete coincidence I’m afraid….youre getting close towards suicide fortnight so abortions naturally occur

You drive yourself crazy thinking why are they doing it, why that field but not this, just have to batten down the hatches at get on with it and tolerate a few.
Testing doesn't even show anything sometimes.
At least cull ewes good trade.

 

[neilo]

I would imagine you'd have to test each of those sheep to prove there was no other infectious cause, at the very least, particularly as it's prime time for abortion at that stage.

Low flying planes certainly wouldn't be the first thing I'd blame it on tbh, but who knows. I've posted previously, about the time I had an air ambulance helicopter land in a 9ac field to help with an RTA one November. There were 140 ewes in that field, 10 days into tupping. The ewes were used to footpaths (and dogs) and we have training helicopters over daily, but I have never seen sheep that desperate to get away, they were trying to climb the hedges!

I didn't think they'd take much harm, but thought a handful would likely turn but, after they'd done 17 days, the two tups were very busy again. In the end, having had another full cycle to catch returns, 100 of those ewes never did get in lamb, and there was not a single one in lamb from that group in the first 10 days.

I did briefly consider putting in a substantial claim but, as it was the air ambulance, I didn't. They had nowhere else safe to land, next to a road where a child had been knocked off a pushbike under a bus. They are run on charity donations and it could have been me, or my child, that needed them another day.
Had it been a public body or a private company, they'd have had a claim for many thousands.

 

[muleman]

I would imagine you'd have to test each of those sheep to prove there was no other infectious cause, at the very least, particularly as it's prime time for abortion at that stage.

Low flying planes certainly wouldn't be the first thing I'd blame it on tbh, but who knows. I've posted previously, about the time I had an air ambulance helicopter land in a 9ac field to help with an RTA one November. There were 140 ewes in that field, 10 days into tupping. The ewes were used to footpaths (and dogs) and we have training helicopters over daily, but I have never seen sheep that desperate to get away, they were trying to climb the hedges!

I didn't think they'd take much harm, but thought a handful would likely turn but, after they'd done 17 days, the two tups were very busy again. In the end, having had another full cycle to catch returns, 100 of those ewes never did get in lamb, and there was not a single one in lamb from that group in the first 10 days.

I did briefly consider putting in a substantial claim but, as it was the air ambulance, I didn't. They had nowhere else safe to land, next to a road where a child had been knocked off a pushbike under a bus. They are run on charity donations and it could have been me, or my child, that needed them another day.
Had it been a public body or a private company, they'd have had a claim for many thousands.

A similar principle to the RAF training I suppose.

 

[Forkdriver]

I know that coincidence is not causation but this was sudden and prolonged in a small area. No warning on the night flying or low flying on the website when we checked later.
Not really expecting a positive response but if we are avoided in future that will be a result.