Schmallenberg

[Hill Ground]

Is the vaccine still about?

I remember it was very dear when it first came out a few years ago, but havnt heard anything about it fir a while?

 

[Enry]

Is the vaccine still about?

I remember it was very dear when it first came out a few years ago, but havnt heard anything about it fir a while?

This is why the vaccine will be dear, unpredictable demand means that manufacturers are unwilling to manufacture "just in case" We only think about it when we get on of the years where it happens

 

[farmer james]

Is the vaccine still about?

I remember it was very dear when it first came out a few years ago, but havnt heard anything about it fir a while?

We suffered a storm two years ago losing about 15% of lambs so I enquired about the vaccine to be told not available in this country. I think it is still available on the continent but as @neilo says ewes have natural immunity so then safe for a few years, so I didn’t make any further enquiries.
maybe something for me to look at for a future year?
FJ

 

[Cecil snear]

It’s pure luck as to when the infection wave goes through the local midge population I think.
If it happens when the ewes are at a certain stage of pregnancy then you see problems, otherwise they get infected seemingly without consequence.
If rams get infected then they can apparently become temporarily infertile, again causing problems if the timing is wrong.

As for it being bad this year, it is reckoned that it comes in 5 yr cycles once it’s endemic (as it seemingly is in the UK now). Infection apparently gives the sheep natural immunity, then the population is mostly naive again after 5 yrs or so, and it has a big effect again.

Seems to be rife here in mid Devon by the number of calls I'm getting for spare lambs,from the odd few to over a hundred lost to it,farm mile from me has had several lambs with it ,I've lambed 140 from 300 earlys so far and not seen it but did dip the ewes week before ram's went out, might it have made a difference , would be interesting to know if anyone else has done the same

 

[James169]

It’s pure luck as to when the infection wave goes through the local midge population I think.
If it happens when the ewes are at a certain stage of pregnancy then you see problems, otherwise they get infected seemingly without consequence.
If rams get infected then they can apparently become temporarily infertile, again causing problems if the timing is wrong.

As for it being bad this year, it is reckoned that it comes in 5 yr cycles once it’s endemic (as it seemingly is in the UK now). Infection apparently gives the sheep natural immunity, then the population is mostly naive again after 5 yrs or so, and it has a big effect again.

I read somewhere or got told that the foetus is most susceptible 25-50 days after service. Used to lamb in February and always got 1 or 2 but nothing To worry about. Sounds awful what’s g happening at the minute

 

[Northeastfarmer]

You know I’d quite like sheep if it wasn’t for…

Enzo
Toxo
Campo
Footrot
Scald
CODD
Blackleg
Pulpey kidney
Pneumonia
Rigged
Scab
Struck
Worms
fluke
Cocci
Prolapses
Joint Ill
Naval ill
Orf
Pink eye
Listeria
Twin lamb
And schmallenberg

 

[Lili]

TikTok - Make Your Day

 

[Radnor Lad]

First case here this morning according to the old chap.

 

[Mc115reed]

I’m on 3 cases now only f**king 7 lambed so far

 

[Bullbeeef]

First case here this morning according to the old chap.

I’m on 3 cases now only f**king 7 lambed so far

Where abouts in the country are you both?
A lot more local to me cases now as more start lambing. Have also heard a local dairy farms had a schmallenberg calf.

 

[Filthyfarmer]

Where abouts in the country are you both?
A lot more local to me cases now as more start lambing. Have also heard a local dairy farms had a schmallenberg calf.

And that is where ?
Certain subjects really do require a place name (county ) under the avatar, easy to do. Bit like you telling me its snowing with you............

 

[Bullbeeef]

And that is where ?
Certain subjects really do require a place name (county ) under the avatar, easy to do. Bit like you telling me its snowing with you............

Sorry North Devon. Thought I’d said earlier in the post.

 

[Mc115reed]

Where abouts in the country are you both?
A lot more local to me cases now as more start lambing. Have also heard a local dairy farms had a schmallenberg calf.

Midlands Staffordshire .. tups will have done a full first cycle by tomorrow and only 7 lambed explains why I had a very high empty rate at scanning despite 90% of the empties being raddled for the first cycle and not repeating

 

[Hampton]

One of the main reasons I gave up sheep. We must have lost 100 lambs to it last time
It’s a horrendous disease. You put your hand in and you have no idea what you are going to get!
My wife told me after we gave up the sheep that every time I took the gun out to deal with a problem she held her breath that I would return to the house with it!!!
Makes you realise just how much it affects everyone!!

 

[texelburger]

Dreading mine starting had a high Empty % at scanning and she said she’d seen a lot of empties so far this year due too it only 1 too lamb so far was dead and looked normal though

Was speaking to a vet at the Rugby Club and said there was reports of a lot of empties.He said that was most likely from Schmallenburg and the timing of the midges biting determined if you have empties or foetal symptoms.We had a lot of empties in one bunch but they still scanned at 181 %
A friend had a horrendous scanning and blood tested all the empties and they all had schmallenburg antibodies in the blood.
The vet suggested that,perhaps,the worst affected flocks were in a warmer area closer to water where the midges might prefer.Someone else I know had a wonderful scanning and his farm is in a bleak,exposed area.

 

[andyt87]

One of the main reasons I gave up sheep. We must have lost 100 lambs to it last time
It’s a horrendous disease. You put your hand in and you have no idea what you are going to get!
My wife told me after we gave up the sheep that every time I took the gun out to deal with a problem she held her breath that I would return to the house with it!!!
Makes you realise just how much it affects everyone!!

Neighbour has had it, started lambing Jan 1st. We don't start until Feb 3rd but dreading it a bit now to be honest.

 

[Mc115reed]

Was speaking to a vet at the Rugby Club and said there was reports of a lot of empties.He said that was most likely from Schmallenburg and the timing of the midges biting determined if you have empties or foetal symptoms.We had a lot of empties in one bunch but they still scanned at 181 %
A friend had a horrendous scanning and blood tested all the empties and they all had schmallenburg antibodies in the blood.
The vet suggested that,perhaps,the worst affected flocks were in a warmer area closer to water where the midges might prefer.Someone else I know had a wonderful scanning and his farm is in a bleak,exposed area.

Tupped my ewes on river meadows so they had no chance of getting away from flies really

 

[Radnor Lad]

Where abouts in the country are you both?
A lot more local to me cases now as more start lambing. Have also heard a local dairy farms had a schmallenberg calf.

Mid wales

 

[paul&mandy]

Oh great something to look forward to.

 

[neilo]

Oh great something to look forward to.

If it’s any consolation, last time there were widespread cases, they seemed to spread like a wave from South to North (as the midges in each area became infected perhaps?). Early flocks were hit hard, then Jan/Feb lambers a bit further North, then it petered out thankfully.

This year’s (sheep) problems appear to be following a similar pattern, s9 you might have missed it down there.That’s not to say your sheep might not have been infected, just at a stage were the symptoms aren’t a production problem.

I’m hoping beyond hope that we will see the same, lambing through March and April. Not particularly high rate of empties when we scanned the March lambers anyway, but we’ll see what the April lambers scan like on Sunday…