Scabivax

Lleyn fan

New Member
Hi all I've been a regular reader but here goes with my first post . Used scabivax for the first time last spring . I have now scratched my ewes due to lamb February 23 rd . Iam just a little confused over when I should be scratching them . Instructions say not to do mid pregnancy , at least 7 weeks before housing and at least 7 weeks before lambing . Ewes are usually housed by now but has been put off due to this and I could really do with them in due too weather . So when does everybody else scratch theirs and am I really going to hurt housing them before their 7 weeks are up cheers
 

Badshot

Member
Location
Kent
It's to give the scabs time to drop off before housing. However ours get done while they are in the buildings but clean out before lambing to remove as much as possible and then do the lambs at ringing/marking time prior to putting them out.
 

neilo

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Montgomeryshire
Cheers badshot looks like that is what I'll have to do just wondered when other people done theirs . Can they be done say pre tupping ?

You need to be careful doing them pre-tupping, as live virus from the scabs can infect the rams in a rather uncomfortable place.:eek:

@Badshot is correct in that the timing is to let the live scabs drop off before the sheep are housed. However, when I used to do my pedigree ewes, I used to do them in mid-pregnancy (sometimes later) and they will no doubt have dropped scabs in the litter before lambing. The vaccinal strain of the virus is much weaker than the strain that you are protecting against, and I have always been quite happy for my lambs to pick up that strain in preference, and acquire a natural immunity that way.

I used to scratch the ewes to protect them from getting scabby teats (& then mastitis), I haven't done the lambs for over 20 years. Bl**dy awful job IME, and I'm much happier letting them get a mild case naturally, controlled by blocks top prevent it escalating into a problem, but allowing them to develop a long lasting immunity. Missed the vaccine out a couple of years ago, after a mix up by the vets, and didn't seem to get any worse Orf. It seems like a low level trundles along without causing problems, once it's on the farm. I've not done the commercial sheep (for decades anyway) and never see any more than mild cases on the lambs, which clear up with the blocks. I think the big problem you get, is when Orf first hits a naïve flock.:( After that, I really don't see it as an issue.
 

flockeye

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
somerset
I always scratch my ewes at 6 weeks pre lambing,they are then housed about 4 weeks later. From my experience the scabs form in around 10 days and drop off about 17 days after doing. Scratch the ewes like Neilo said to stop ewes getting it on there udders,it lessens the problem in lambs if an outbreak happens. I use dettol on lambs if they get it bad but a little is good IMO to get some natural immunity.
 
Never used the vax but have always had orf on farm. Discovered Himalayan Rock Salt blocks a couple of years ago, mostly for the horsey set. Set them out around an old creep feeder where the lambs would play, never had anything more than the odd very mild case, didn't even separate infected lambs from the others.

Mind you, the first year I used them, when I removed them to give to my Dad all hell broke loose. Moral of the story, keep the blocks out, just protect them from rain.
 

llamedos

New Member
Have never had orf in my flock, but the place I moved to this year has, it broke out in the lambs at about 3 months old, the paddock they are in is fenced upto the lane into the farm, and a grit bin is in their field one of them got access to the bin the rest followed, orf scabbed up straight away and all clear within a week.
 

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