Heptavac etc.

[Pasty]

Bought 3 lots of ewe lambs last year. All had been Hep P around June.

So I'm wondering what to do this year. They have been clipped and we'll click them on the next move this weekend so wondering whether to Hep them again? Or should we leave it until spring before lambing? Or do both? Or not at all? Or Ovi instead? At the mo we have 24 sheep on 40ac so hardly overstocked and they are all looking well.

What you reckon? South Devon, fairly steep and dry ground. No known infection issues.

 

[GrannyAching]

If it was me, I would be heptavacing them now and then again before lambing because of the 12 month "rule". Obviously, if you Ovivac them that is a different system. I can't remember how many stock you run but I always point out that while cheaper, Ovivac only comes in 50 and 100 dose bottles so for me it is cheaper to us heptavac regardless of what cover I need from the vaccine (and the ram lambs get done, too.) Also, with Heptavac, you can inject the lambs in 25 's as they come of age as lambs - something I didn't do this year but waiting for the last one to be three weeks made me realise just how old the first ones were by the time they got their second dose.

 

[Pasty]

If it was me, I would be heptavacing them now and then again before lambing because of the 12 month "rule". Obviously, if you Ovivac them that is a different system. I can't remember how many stock you run but I always point out that while cheaper, Ovivac only comes in 50 and 100 dose bottles so for me it is cheaper to us heptavac regardless of what cover I need from the vaccine (and the ram lambs get done, too.) Also, with Heptavac, you can inject the lambs in 25 's as they come of age as lambs - something I didn't do this year but waiting for the last one to be three weeks made me realise just how old the first ones were by the time they got their second dose.

Got 24 so pretty much a little bottle worth. Just wondering if you could over-do it sort of thing and cause problems that way.

 

[GrannyAching]

I would have hetavaced these with my ewes and rams back in the spring because they are "breeders" - just my system. The small bottles are (disproportionately IMO) expensive compared with the 100ml ones but at least they are an option. As ever I'm going to say I don't know why they can't be produced in collapsibles so they could be used over time instead of eight hours but that still wouldn't help you. I'll whisper this - I thoroughly recommend the sterimatic system for heptavac - reduces the abscesses and very easy to do over the ribs especially if you are on your own.

 

[bovine]

The issue is contamination of the vaccine - hence why it needs to be thrown away the say its opened.

Boost now and then again pre-lambing is best with Heptavac, assuming they had the primary course of 2 injections.

 

[Pasty]

The issue is contamination of the vaccine - hence why it needs to be thrown away the say its opened.

Boost now and then again pre-lambing is best with Heptavac, assuming they had the primary course of 2 injections.

Cheers. I know that 2 lots had both jabs. I can't get hold of the owner of the other lot so not 100% sure. What would be the consequence if they had only had 1 go in 2016? Should I do them twice this year and carry on as from Spring 2018 before lambing? I'm not fussed on the cost as it's only a couple quid per ewe and I need every one at the mo. My worry is over-doing it! Or would it be fine to double jab them this year even if they had been done twice in 16? Just to make sure.

 

[GTB]

You can't over do it so if in doubt and you don't mind the cost do them again.

 

[Pasty]

You can't over do it so if in doubt and you don't mind the cost do them again.

Thanks.