Soay Sheep Shedding Early

[Stendec]

First post here... Looking for some thoughts on a Soay ewe that has just start to shed - a bit earlier in the year than I expected. She did lose a bit of weight over what has been a horrible wet and cold winter but nothing unhealthy.

1. She was wormed in October (Ovidrench)
2. I can't see any lice / mites
3. She's toward the bottom of the pecking order but gets her fair share of hard food
4. They are stocked at 0.6 acres of grass per animal, with plenty of brambles and hedging
5. There is always forage (hay) available
6. The others aren't shedding
7. She didn't lamb this year (no ram!)
8. They have shelter in the form of calf-shelters.

I'm not so much worried as surprised.

Any thoughts appreciated.

Thanks

 

[spin cycle]

shedders...Ime tend to shed depending on their condition...I suspect she's in quite good nick

 

[Tamar]

It is seasonally warmer than usual................ not that we know where you are !

Have you given her antibiotics in the past few months. That might be a reason.

I guess scab has been ruled out ? The chance you would see lice / mites with the naked eye is slim.

 

[Stendec]

It is seasonally warmer than usual................ not that we know where you are !

Have you given her antibiotics in the past few months. That might be a reason.

I guess scab has been ruled out ? The chance you would see lice / mites with the naked eye is slim.

North Wales-ish...

No recent antibiotics and no redness / itching / scratching that might be seen with scab. It looks like normal shedding but just weeks earlier than I thought. I should have put a calendar up for them.

 

[Ysgythan]

First post here... Looking for some thoughts on a Soay ewe that has just start to shed - a bit earlier in the year than I expected. She did lose a bit of weight over what has been a horrible wet and cold winter but nothing unhealthy.

1. She was wormed in October (Ovidrench)
2. I can't see any lice / mites
3. She's toward the bottom of the pecking order but gets her fair share of hard food
4. They are stocked at 0.6 acres of grass per animal, with plenty of brambles and hedging
5. There is always forage (hay) available
6. The others aren't shedding
7. She didn't lamb this year (no ram!)
8. They have shelter in the form of calf-shelters.

I'm not so much worried as surprised.

Any thoughts appreciated.

Thanks

Global warming

 

[Bury the Trash]

odd one seem to be a bit variable (shedders) same as the odd wooled sheep can be (metaboilc stress/shock of some sort) i cant remember if (the hormone's that do it) generally its triggered by day light length or what

 

[Stendec]

Thanks, all.