We have been getting a few lambs with orf. 3 sets of twins out of around 100 lambs so far. Would you say this is enough to consider doing vaccinations next year. We don't usually get much of a problem here. Usually don't see it at all in the few autumn lambers and the odd case in spring lambers but seems worse this year.Really affecting the ewes udders, so lambs are noticeably poorer. Are the scratch vaccines easy to administer?
orf vaccines
- Thread starter moo-baa
- Start date
exmoor dave
Member
- Location
- exmoor, uk
fairly easy. but once the bottle is open you have to use all 50 doses fairly quickly as it's a live vaccine which will die.
I've also seen abit more orf than usual in my Feb lambed flock. I don't do the lambs thou. just the ewes 12wks before lambing in the hope it will at least help protect their udders. seems to work most of the time. usually see very little bad orf in the lambs but does vary by breed - the texels and wilts seem worse affected.
I've also seen abit more orf than usual in my Feb lambed flock. I don't do the lambs thou. just the ewes 12wks before lambing in the hope it will at least help protect their udders. seems to work most of the time. usually see very little bad orf in the lambs but does vary by breed - the texels and wilts seem worse affected.
- Location
- Montgomeryshire
For many years, I scratched my Charollais ewes as described, then I couldn't get vaccine in time one year. I had less orf on he ewes teats that year, and each unvaccinated year since.
For the crossbred ewes, I have always taken the view that a little bit knocking around keeps immunity up, and Brinicombe buckets (I really ought to negotiate a deal with them
) keep it at that very low level.As far as using the vaccine quickly
, I found that if you dilute it with distiller water, it will go twice as far. Put it in the fridge after use, and it will still be infective/cause a reaction several moths later. It is an incredibly virulent virus, which will survive an awful lot of abuse, hence the reason you can never eradicate it once on farm.Johnny400
Member
- Location
- Aberdeenshire
Buy a Denis Brinicombe fro tubby bucket. That will sort it.
exmoor dave
Member
- Location
- exmoor, uk
For many years, I scratched my Charollais ewes as described, then I couldn't get vaccine in time one year. I had less orf on he ewes teats that year, and each unvaccinated year since.
For the crossbred ewes, I have always taken the view that a little bit knocking around keeps immunity up, and Brinicombe buckets (I really ought to negotiate a deal with them
As far as using the vaccine quickly
that's good to know. I've still got all the vaccine in the fridge for the April flock as I missed the window to do the ewes due to the snow & TB testing. so was planning on saving it till the autumn and use on the weaned lambs as I usually have problems in them. but wasn't sure if it would keep.
- Location
- Montgomeryshire
Tosh. Thistles & other 'prickles' can let Orf in, but I don't do thistles but unfortunately still get Orf.
ooh the arrogance.i dont do thistlesTosh. Thistles & other 'prickles' can let Orf in, but I don't do thistles but unfortunately still get Orf.
do your sheep scratch there noses on things?if not they wont get orf.i despair at times its pearls for swines.
- Location
- Montgomeryshire
ooh the arrogance.i dont do thistles
No arrogance, I just spray thistles out at every opportunity. Can't abide the things.
All sheep will scratch their noses on things, I'm just fed up with experts telling us that thistles cause Orf. If the virus is on farm, it will find a way in, thistles or not.
- Location
- Mendips Somerset
For many years, I scratched my Charollais ewes as described, then I couldn't get vaccine in time one year. I had less orf on he ewes teats that year, and each unvaccinated year since.
For the crossbred ewes, I have always taken the view that a little bit knocking around keeps immunity up, and Brinicombe buckets (I really ought to negotiate a deal with them
As far as using the vaccine quickly
absolutly agree with this we used to vaccinate at a day old , but not any more after many arguments
, importantly , always do the ewes 6-8 weeks pre lambing , then do lambs at 6- 8 weeks old , keep salt blocks out with very young lambs to keep it in check , if there is any reaction the lamb can look after its self, , if any problem with the udder , anything younger and you end up with a dead lamb , and agree that it will last in the fridge for ages . Was only thinking today that orf seemed to be getting less and less in the very young housed stockwell im an expert thistles exacerbate the problem to the level you will never control it,first step is get rid of thistles then you can attempt to control orf.im such an expert i gave it to myself for reasons of science.No arrogance, I just spray thistles out at every opportunity. Can't abide the things.
All sheep will scratch their noses on things, I'm just fed up with experts telling us that thistles cause Orf. If the virus is on farm, it will find a way in, thistles or not.
Jackson4
Member
- Location
- Wensleydale
ahhhh.. did lambs in the past but now just do ewes before dropping. There will always be some lambs that get bit and some ewes that get a bit but there always was, but this time its not costing me 40 quid for fifty lambs and the time/labour pressure....just do the ewes is my opinion.
Jackson4
Member
- Location
- Wensleydale
thistles... rubbish! usually most people get orf at lambing... in sheds, on fresh pasture, in the spring, long before 'thistles' have thought about coming up... if thisles were all i had to bother about i wouldn't vaccinate at all as most of my lambs are gone by july.
- Location
- Montgomeryshire
+1 lambs will then get a mild case, get over it and have a long lasting natural immunity.
I used to do my pedigree ewes for just that reason, but couldn't get any Scabivax on time a couple of years ago, so they got missed. I had less orf that year, and haven't done them since, with no problems. I suspect that, once they've had it, their natural immunity limits the extent of any infection in later life.
I don't do anything other than Orf buckets for the commercial flock. The lambs seem to get a bit of orf and clear up, but never seen a case in the ewes (all homebred, so infected as lambs?).
Has anyone else stopped vaccinating after starting? Or is the fear of repeating the first year of infection too great (it was for me, for many years)? If you are buying in replacements, I guess the argument is there for carrying on.
exmoor dave
Member
- Location
- exmoor, uk
yep stopped doing my Feb flock 2 years ago. all home bred in that group. haven't had adverse effects so far. thought I'd carry on with my April flock as their all bought in exmoor mules. but didn't get round to scratching this year so I'll see what the results are in April/may. I think the general health of the ewes and lambs is a important factor.
oh the arrogance,most people who are these people?and your lambs are gone by July well its a large country some of our lambs aren't gone till next year. you need to read posts better thistles don't cause orf but if you have orf and thistles you will will need to eradicate the latter before you can tackle the former.
Jackson4
Member
- Location
- Wensleydale
what is was trying to say was Orf is everywhere on land that has had it before (some areas apparently dont have it?) We were a dairy farm and took on sheep all bought in from one place, all came without orf and within days we had a terrible outbreak in the ewes.... no thistles to be seen. My first lambs in 2nd week december lambed in a building thats never had sheep in (converted dairy cubicles) and within the week was showing orf on its face.... really this oft quoted thistle problem (usually by spray companies) really wont stop you getting orf. Orf gets in its so virulent... i think lambs get it (if i remember right) because they are growing, there skin grows, stretches and breaks... so i guess while they are growing your orf is going to get in. By all means keep your thistles down but i'm not convinced it makes any real difference.