Orf in lambs
- Thread starter copse
- Start date
primmiemoo
Member
- Location
- Devon
NOAH says scabivax can be used in lambs from 1 day old. I'd post the link to the pdf with the advice and instructions, but the interweb is having a wobbly, sorry.
- Location
- Scottish Borders
My brother scratches all his lambs for orf. He lambs indoors, and keeps the ewes in until he has 50 lambs to do ( must be the amount for a bottle ), then scratches them and puts them out . So the youngest will be at most 2 days old !
I always say- feck that and put some Brinicome orf tubs out, but he never does !
I always say- feck that and put some Brinicome orf tubs out, but he never does !
We do them at two days old, costs about 60c/lamb
we priced the tubs last year and for 12 weeks cover it cost €3/lamb,
Does scabivaxing the ewes actually protect the lambs, even the makers don't claim that
It takes five or six days after the scratch before the scabivax attacks the immune system, by which time the lambs immune system is able to deal with it. If you check them after ten days you'll see very specific scabs along the line of the scratch even though you wouldn't have drawn blood
- Location
- Yorkshire
Or rock salt. Instant cure.Dennis brinicombe orf bucket, simples!!
do you leave the tubs so ewes can get at them?, I put them behind a pallet with a hole in it and would estimate a bucket will do 100 lambs so £30p each and no handling
- Location
- Montgomeryshire
I wouldn’t put the tubs out for 12 weeks, and it doesn’t need many in a mob ime.
I put the Cocci/Orf ones out at about 6 weeks old, probably for a month. If I happened to see a few with mild orf earlier (once, that I can remember), I would put them out earlier.
I’m usually guided more by weather conditions re cocci risk, rather than orf, such is the amount it’s declined.
Incidentally cocci is less of a challenge after using buckets for a year or two as well, as the lambs don’t get to the stage where they are shedding millions of oocysts for the next year.
We are sheep only and generally graze in mobs of 200-250 ewes, so ‘should’ be having big problems with cocci & orf.
I haven’t scratched for years and don’t intend restarting the hateful, labour intensive task.
- Location
- Scottish Highlands
No, just going by the promotional literature where it states ''1 X 14kg tub for 24 lambs/4-6 weeks '' and I'm sure they don't underestimate the requirements
I used to let orf just rattle through the flock, never did them any harm, we've no briars or thistles to aggravate them but then I got a proper outbreak
- Location
- Montgomeryshire
I will put out the buckets at a rate of 1 per 50-80 ewes or so, for the high risk period. I will be lambing around 750 ewes here and will usually get through around 20-25 buckets, covering cocci and orf, depending on the season (I didn't even use 20 last year, due to the weather).
I get a few little orf scabs on the odd lamb, but it never gets worse than that, and I can't remember the last time I saw it on a ewe's teat. I've always considered that having a low level of infection was beneficial in that it maintains a healthy natural immunity, stopping those 'proper' outbreaks that can wreak havoc.
Yea, I found it hard to believe they got it so bad, like you I passed no remarks on it because I thought it'd keep a bit of immunity in the flock. I'm farming sheep for fifty years and only scabivaxing for ten
I've never had them consume that amount, 1 bucket into a batch, the ones that want it will soon find it, works a treat .
Big hoggs maybe but young lambs use very little
Pistonbroke
Member
Seen it somewhere where the bloke puts rock salt on disinfectant mats so the rain makes salty water and stops scald in their feet aswell
Old thread I know....and I've read most of others too. I used to get the odd problem and started using FroBut tubs a few years ago. Seemed to be a godsend, to the extent that in 2023 I didn't see any, at all, even in the pets....problem solved!? Fast forward to 2024 lambing, same procedure, tubs in with pets from day one, and out in fields after a week or two and I've never seen such bad orf 
! Ripped right through lambs and dozens and dozens of ewes udders. Combined with horriffic wet/cold weather for weeks on end, had a huge problem with mastitis and associated issues. Lambs took a helluva check and although didn't lose too many ewes, have had to call dozens of young sheep with bad udders or where they've been left with badly deformed teets from the scar tissue.
Normally rely on homebred replacements, but needing more than that this year, so will need to buy in. So, reluctantly, I'm thinking of trying out a vaccine on the ewes at least, to give them some protection. 8 weeks prior to lambing seems to be what I've read, but presumably a bit earlier even wouldn't do any harm? Is scabivax still available, or has it been replaced altogether with this scabigard? If both are available, how have folks gotten on with either?
Thanks
! Ripped right through lambs and dozens and dozens of ewes udders. Combined with horriffic wet/cold weather for weeks on end, had a huge problem with mastitis and associated issues. Lambs took a helluva check and although didn't lose too many ewes, have had to call dozens of young sheep with bad udders or where they've been left with badly deformed teets from the scar tissue. Normally rely on homebred replacements, but needing more than that this year, so will need to buy in. So, reluctantly, I'm thinking of trying out a vaccine on the ewes at least, to give them some protection. 8 weeks prior to lambing seems to be what I've read, but presumably a bit earlier even wouldn't do any harm? Is scabivax still available, or has it been replaced altogether with this scabigard? If both are available, how have folks gotten on with either?
Thanks
- Location
- Connemara, Ireland
I was just talking orf with my vet this week. His thoughts was vaccinate the flock for 2 years should crack the infection. I had only vaccinated lambs prior to that, never the ewes. But I had stopped vaccinating as I don't like working with sharp things and live virus plus I've had orf myself.
I've been using the tubs and they work to a degree. Lambs got some orf, mostly very minor. I had some late lambers who I moved away and when I brought them and their lambs back their lambs all got orf as they hadn't been exposed to the buckets. One I would say was a bad enough case of bubba lips.
I found salt blocks, ovaloids, and various sprays as much use as praying.
Interestingly, I watched a YouTube channel that swore Wurth Ultra 2040 spray works well on orf
I've been using the tubs and they work to a degree. Lambs got some orf, mostly very minor. I had some late lambers who I moved away and when I brought them and their lambs back their lambs all got orf as they hadn't been exposed to the buckets. One I would say was a bad enough case of bubba lips.
I found salt blocks, ovaloids, and various sprays as much use as praying.
Interestingly, I watched a YouTube channel that swore Wurth Ultra 2040 spray works well on orf