Scmallenburg

[tr250]

Just been reading @Flossie post about midges. And got me thinking if anyone else has had any Scmallenburg lately we have had 4 calves in the last few weeks, and what people do about it

 

[holwellcourtfarm]

Just been reading @Flossie post about midges. And got me thinking if anyone else has had any Scmallenburg lately we have had 4 calves in the last few weeks, and what people do about it View attachment 503714

Not seen anything like that here

 

[tr250]

All heifers or young cows that weren't alive when we last had a few in 2013

 

[bovine]

I hope you got them tested? There is free testing available and it's VITAL that we get a true picture of the spread and numbers affected if we are going to get a vaccine etc.

Currently there is nothing you can do, other than test and put pressure on the drug companies.

(we've had a good number in lambs and a couple of calves positive, jut a number of 'suspect' cases came back negative)

 

[tr250]

I hope you got them tested? There is free testing available and it's VITAL that we get a true picture of the spread and numbers affected if we are going to get a vaccine etc.

Currently there is nothing you can do, other than test and put pressure on the drug companies.

(we've had a good number in lambs and a couple of calves positive, jut a number of 'suspect' cases came back negative)

No not had them tested but our vet is aware this one was a C section as it was completely stiff but had 3 others we calved natural 2 dead and one alive that had to be shot. Are vets obliged to report cases they have dealt with

 

[bovine]

Are vets obliged to report cases they have dealt with

No legal obligation no, but I personally think a moral obligation. Every suspected case I have seen I have tested. Obviously there could be heaps more I am unaware of.

 

[GrannyAching]

We had a really cr@ppy lambing, we only started last week so Schmallenburg was the last thing I expected to be asking about especially as sheep got in lamb OK and not only had one slip her lamb on the way through and she was a small lamb. I still think it might be something we have done on the way through as it is only really the triplets that seem affected so why am I posting well I got this this morning:-

It was jammed along side the second healthy lamb and stopping it coming out. It has no eyes in the socket and you can't see it properly but it's head is lopsided with the eye socket and ears in completely different places on each side. We are only low numbers but we have lost the third lamb from most triplets, either born dead or dopey/twitching/nervous shaking. They seem to get hypothermic very quickly and the weather is good. Lamb size is all over the place which makes me think it's not feeding (they have been kept at 2.5 to 3 over winter and almost no feed in the month before lambing - just grass - old pp). We have a few that have big knees and are a bit toe walkery. We have had to pull/straighten out many lambs which are then only 3-3.5 kg in ewes which have lambed easily and been good mother previously. We tightened the grazing right down after thinking maybe we had underestimated the feed value of the grass but the triplets are still a nightmare.

It shouldn't be the ewes or the ram.

So my question is - if this ewe had smallenburg's would it be all three lambs? I'm happy to phone the vet and see about testing but right now there is no pattern to my problem. @bovine @MRT anybody else??

 

[peewit]

We have had four looking the same as yours, no eyes, face all distorted and two with no backbone either. All twins the other lamb ok. Rest of lambing went ok, hope yours does.

 

[John Chance]

It is widespread in Co. Durham and south Northumberland, speaking to three vet practices, perhaps 45 cases in calves. The test is free, but the PMs are not, so most farmers not paying for a PM when it's so obvious what it is. This is probably leading to under estimation of the extent of this year's outbreak. Vaccine may be available in June, which is too late (it's a two jab thing a few weeks apart and it's not licenced for pregnant animals), so no-one will buy it and then the drug companies will moan about us not buying it and not make anymore. Plenty of people would have bought vaccine, if it was produced in time to vaccinate before bulling. I think most people will take their chances withy field immunity.

 

[GrannyAching]

We have had four looking the same as yours, no eyes, face all distorted and two with no backbone either. All twins the other lamb ok. Rest of lambing went ok, hope yours does.

Yes this one has something "wrong" with its skeleton.

 

[GrannyAching]

It's a two hour plus round trip to the vet centre where the Schmallenburg test is free or the best part of an hour to take the lamb to the vets and pay for them to take the sample and deliver it to Carmarthen. Apparently, I can freeze the sample (lamb) which means I can take it in when I am less bogged down with sheep!

 

[andybk]

We had a really cr@ppy lambing, we only started last week so Schmallenburg was the last thing I expected to be asking about especially as sheep got in lamb OK and not only had one slip her lamb on the way through and she was a small lamb. I still think it might be something we have done on the way through as it is only really the triplets that seem affected so why am I posting well I got this this morning:-
View attachment 503978 View attachment 503980 View attachment 503982

It was jammed along side the second healthy lamb and stopping it coming out. It has no eyes in the socket and you can't see it properly but it's head is lopsided with the eye socket and ears in completely different places on each side. We are only low numbers but we have lost the third lamb from most triplets, either born dead or dopey/twitching/nervous shaking. They seem to get hypothermic very quickly and the weather is good. Lamb size is all over the place which makes me think it's not feeding (they have been kept at 2.5 to 3 over winter and almost no feed in the month before lambing - just grass - old pp). We have a few that have big knees and are a bit toe walkery. We have had to pull/straighten out many lambs which are then only 3-3.5 kg in ewes which have lambed easily and been good mother previously. We tightened the grazing right down after thinking maybe we had underestimated the feed value of the grass but the triplets are still a nightmare.

It shouldn't be the ewes or the ram.

So my question is - if this ewe had smallenburg's would it be all three lambs? I'm happy to phone the vet and see about testing but right now there is no pattern to my problem. @bovine @MRT anybody else??

Exactly the same situation here right since December affected lambs look same as your pics usually one of a twin or trip affected and or a very weak pair of vsmall lambs to the point live lambing % is now about 120% when normally we are about 160-180 ,and more empties at lambing

 

[GrannyAching]

Exactly the same situation here right since December affected lambs look same as your pics usually one of a twin or trip affected and or a very weak pair of vsmall lambs to the point live lambing % is now about 120% when normally we are about 160-180 ,and more empties at lambing

Thanks for sharing. Have you had any testing done? I would have said up to today that I must have got the management wrong but couldn't have said how when some triplets have been huge/malpresented/stuck/hung and others have lambed normally but then been dopey/quick to hypothermia (in April sunshine!) and others have had small really easily lambed lively lambs.

It's bad when a ewe lamb with triplets has been one of your better lambing experiences!

 

[bovine]

well I got this this morning:-

So my question is - if this ewe had smallenburg's would it be all three lambs?

Those abnormalities are not consistent with Schmallenburg infection. I wouldn't be testing that. Yes you can have normal and affected lambs born at the same time.

The test is free, but the PMs are not, so most farmers not paying for a PM when it's so obvious what it is. This is probably leading to under estimation of the extent of this year's outbreak.

If someone wants a full PM then I'd charge. If they bring the animal to me or I have lambed/calved it then we are not charging for collecting the sample. I charge a couple of pounds P&P to cover my costs. I see it as part of our surveillance role.[/QUOTE]