Store lamb health plan

[Dkb]

This is what we do at the moment but I'm open to suggestions on improving it.

On arrival Lambs are fasted and dosed for worms injected with hep p, lamb bolus and given a triclabendazole fluke dose and left in shed on hay for 48 hours.

One month later they are given hep p booster and whole farm is dipped.

When coming off grass and onto rape/turnips in November they are given a worm dose and an iodine bolus.

7 weeks after being on turnips if not near selling they get trodax.

Fec's are carried out after both worm doses to ensure they've worked.

Is there anything I'm missing or doing wrong mortality runs at 2% - 3% depending on the year and thrive always seems ok but I'd like a second opinion. Thanks

 

[Frank-the-Wool]

Certainly a belt and braces approach, but almost over the top as all those treatments must be costing you an awful lot.

Why do you need all these boluses? Is Pasturella a big problem for you? What is the grass like that you turn them on to?
Do you need a second worm dose in November if they are on clean grazing? Do a FEC count before worming!

Using Trodax having already used Triclabendazole looks excessive or are you on very high risk fluke areas?

2-3% losses is as many as I would expect without doing most of the treatments that you are!!

 

[flashsheep]

We give them a cheap wormer and vitamin dose as soon as they come and ummm that's it. Our losses will be 2 - 3 %.

 

[hindmaist]

I'd be looking take at least a quid off that spend.Unless you're buying bottom end lambs where it might be more beneficial.

 

[neilo]

Depends on the farm in question. All very well saying they don't need a bolus, if the land is OK for TE's. If there is a known deficiency, that spend will be the most worthwhile of the lot I'd suggest.

Given the farm has the OP's own sheep on, I'd be protecting my own flock by a shot of Trodax and a Zolvix drench on arrival. Trichlobendazole drench too if I suspected fluke. Assuming farm history shows a TE deficiency and response to treatment, I'd give a cheap (8p) TE drench on arrival and a bolus to anything but short keep lambs. I don't know if I'd bother with Heptavac/Ovivac unless I'd seen a lot of pasteurella, but use a cheaper Covexin course (8p/dose).

If onto a farm without my own stock, I'd substitute the Zolvix for a sequential dose of cheap yellow & clear drenches (10p each) to clear out, and just a generic TBZ for fluke, but everything else the same as above.

 

[Dkb]

Hep p is a must

We do have TE problems and going onto brassicas means they need an iodine bolus.

They're coming from wet areas (west Ireland) so they need the first fluke and the second fluke was because they'd be grazing October and november grass

Maybe the second fluke and second worm dose is not necessary. Could look into dropping this if fec allowed.

This is a permanent sheep farm so maybe that's why vet bills are higher than you think

If it was a cattle farm that bought stores I think I definitely get away with less

 

[Haydn Lloyd]

So your store men, will Welsh ram lambs fatten off the grass

 

[Dkb]

Ram lambs off grass would be difficult unless you have a very big run. Do leave them on grass for a while though as hill lambs need abbot of time before supplementation sometimes i find