sheep abortion

[cotswoldcs]

We're having big problems too. We had 3 ewes abort last year and with 2+ weeks to go we're up to 16-17 as of today (nearly 2%). Worst thing ever. Suspecting Campylobacter as ewes are generally fine, we vaccinate for Enzo & Toxo and vet result have come back negative to both. Ewes were on fodder beet so suspect the wet weather and muddy conditions have played a part in the abortions. Was planning to inject ewes on Monday once I had conformation of results.

 

[cotswoldcs]

Does antibiotic help with Campylobacter,thought it was only effective against Enzootic abortion ?

Antibiotic treatment is not very effective but with a Camplyobacter abortion storm causing up to 25% ewes to abort (I've even heard reports of 50-70%!!!) anything has to be worth trying.

Anyone experienced Campylobacter that can comment?

 

[Northeastfarmer]

We are having a similar problem here. I have a batch of 50 ewes inside since the end of January and we have had 5 abort in the last week. Had one today both lambs were born alive but we are still 2 weeks from full term so not much chance of saving the lambs. I will be taking the dead lambs and placenta to be analysed on Monday. Non of the aborted lambs have been mummified. Would injecting the rest of the ewes with Alamycin stop any more abortions?

That sounds like toxo, but blood test will confirm

 

[msheep66]

How big a dosage would you recommend of Alomycin?

 

[Northeastfarmer]

Can someone remind me why we keep sheep

I sometimes bloody wonder

 

[msheep66]

That sounds like toxo, but blood test will confirm

We haven't vaccinated for Toxo.

 

[Northeastfarmer]

We haven't vaccinated for Toxo.

I had 7 abort last year with toxo (similar symptoms to you) I couldn’t get any vaccine to do them as it wasn’t available...my arse will be twitching like a rabbits nose on the run up to lambing

 

[Bones]

Can someone remind me why we keep sheep

Just to keep the grass down in the summer,

 

[Anonymous...]

I had 7 abort last year with toxo (similar symptoms to you) I couldn’t get any vaccine to do them as it wasn’t available...my arse will be twitching like a rabbits nose on the run up to lambing

Can't like this but by fek it made me laugh

 

[msheep66]

Yes I am at that point wondering if it is all worth it. Never had a problem with abortions like this year.

 

[Northeastfarmer]

I don’t think with the ground being so wet and muddy it’s helping

 

[alwayslearning]

Aye it's a worry.
Don't want to go in to early with antibiotics/ if it's not going to work.
Will have a good chat with vet on monday.
Hasn't botherd ewes in shed and a batch of previously lean ewes that were in shed but have been turned out separate.
Predominantly young 1and two crop ewes affected.
@bovine

 

[alwayslearning]

[QwaE="Northeastfarmer, post: 4893788, member: 3051"]I don’t think with the ground being so wet and muddy it’s helping[/QUOTE]
I was thinking that
grounds is as dirty as I've seen it

 

[Northeastfarmer]

[QwaE="Northeastfarmer, post: 4893788, member: 3051"]I don’t think with the ground being so wet and muddy it’s helping

I was thinking that
grounds is as dirty as I've seen it[/QUOTE]

I don’t like seeing pregnant ewes rooting about in mud

 

[bovine]

Don't want to go in to early with antibiotics/ if it's not going to work.

No evidence that antibiotic treatment in campylobacter outbreaks does anything. I will only prescribe group treatments for enzootic abortion.

 

[alwayslearning]

What a horrid thought 50-70%TE="cotswoldcs, post: 4893596, member: 664"]Antibiotic treatment is not very effective but with a Camplyobacter abortion storm causing up to 25% ewes to abort (I've even heard reports of 50-70%!!!) anything has to be worth trying.

Anyone experienced Campylobacter that can comment?[/QUOTE]
Whst

 

[Greythundercloudys]

We have always some abort, about 12 years ago ,it was a nightmare, the last fortnight before they start, funny thing was when you finally got start, they steamed to stop doing it, even these dayz it's the same, l think when sheep are inside its worse, you see every trouble going, can't turn a blind eye.

 

[Moorlands]

It's good to read this thread seeing others having issues we've had several last few days and it's sole destroying got rest of sheep Injected with alamycin today so hopefully things will settle down now and look to vaccinate for next year.

 

[Anonymous...]

We have always some abort, about 12 years ago ,it was a nightmare, the last fortnight before they start, funny thing was when you finally got start, they steamed to stop doing it, even these dayz it's the same, l think when sheep are inside its worse, you see every trouble going, can't turn a blind eye.

Mrs said similar , last year we brought flock in a bit too close to lambing
Had two stillborn but didn' notice any abort
Maybe if any did it was out in fields
This year flocks been housed since mid January and we see them a lot more and pick up the aborted ones

 

[rancher]

What a horrid thought 50-70%TE="cotswoldcs, post: 4893596, member: 664"]Antibiotic treatment is not very effective but with a Camplyobacter abortion storm causing up to 25% ewes to abort (I've even heard reports of 50-70%!!!) anything has to be worth trying.

Anyone experienced Campylobacter that can comment?

First outbreak here was bad about ten years ago and I did the usual with PMs etc and waited for results which came after the lambing, I'm nearly sure they recommended alamycin......a bit late. The weak lambs were more hardship than the abortions.
Since then I'd send off for PMs and if there wasn't a diagnosis in a couple days I'd inject. if it was toxo it would be back in a few days.
Last time I had it confined to one pen and injected that group in the shed and the group beside it,and it was contained, each time it seemed to work.
Waiting weeks for a diagnosis would sicken you, all that work and lose them in the last few weeks of pregnancy..
I got it mid pregnancy once too and the sheep were out on poached land eating cubes from the snacker, birds spread it too I think and they'd be eating with the sheep