Heptovac
- Thread starter liammogs
- Start date
- Location
- Montgomeryshire
4-6 weeks from the beginning of lambing, unless you want to piddle about doing each one separately? The later lambing ones will still be within cover (12 weeks?).
Recs for best passive immunity from colostrum have varied over the years, from 2 weeks out to 10-12 weeks, so I don't suppose it's particularly critical in reality.
Recs for best passive immunity from colostrum have varied over the years, from 2 weeks out to 10-12 weeks, so I don't suppose it's particularly critical in reality.
GrannyAching
Member
- Location
- Mynyddoedd Preseli
@bovine suggested recently that you should be sure you were at least four weeks before for the first ones or it was a waste - immune response not fully developed so I moved my date to five weeks before the first due date to be sure. I also got the impression that the response lasted for several months.
- Location
- Montgomeryshire
It wasn't many years ago that the theory was that you got more antibodies in the colostrum if you didn't vaccinate them until a fortnight before lambing, but yes, current thinking is 4-6 weeks. I would aim for 4-6 weeks, but I wouldn't beat myself up over it if they had to be left longer because they were constantly wet.
- Location
- Dumfries & Galloway
I aim to vaccinate when the bulk are 4-5 weeks off... so some are always 3 weeks due when done.
Never had any issues in the first born
Never had any issues in the first born
GrannyAching
Member
- Location
- Mynyddoedd Preseli
Well I hope @bovine will call in because I can't remember where the last discussion on this was and life on the forum from a phone while BT get passports to come and sort out the line is too fiddly to try searching BUT I'm pretty sure @B was saying three weeks is too soon to have got the full immune response in the ewes and, asI said I moved the date I do it out a week to allow for any earlies. As with all these things, I'm sure we "get away" with lots that's not quite perfect but if we have knowledge that suggests a tweak or even big improvement is possible it's worth doing Imo.
How long do they start to 'bag up' before lambing? Once that has started then antibodies are being laid down. It takes about 2 weeks for the maximal antibody response after a vaccine. I think 4 weeks is idea, but I wouldn't beat yourself up if 3 weeks before, and if you get to 2 weeks before and suddenly remember I'd still rather you did it slightly wrong than didn't do it.
If you synchronise and sponge then you need to plan better.
If you synchronise and sponge then you need to plan better.
cotswoldcs
Member
- Location
- Bang In the heart of the Cotswolds
I've often wondered what the "ideal" is. I do all mine 5 weeks before the first are due. I don't like the idea of handling ewes that are only a few weeks off.
I now have a Combi Clamp and find it useful for vaccinating, worming etc. Will I be OK using it on pregnant ewes with Heptavac. Just a bit worried that I will be squeezing pregnant ewes.
I now have a Combi Clamp and find it useful for vaccinating, worming etc. Will I be OK using it on pregnant ewes with Heptavac. Just a bit worried that I will be squeezing pregnant ewes.
We use combi clamp 5 weeks before lambing and we vaccinate and dagg out never have any problems threre are people who clip full sheep 4 weeks before lambing and say they have no problem all depends on stress levels I would think