toxoplasmosis in midden?

[DrDunc]

I've been asked to take a horse midden. There's also a few sheep there which have had toxoplasmosis abortion this spring lambing. The farm surrounding the horse paddock also has toxo.

I do not have any abortion in my closed flock, nor do I vaccinate for anything.

Will I risk bringing it here if it's spread onto ground that's to be ploughed for forage rape, then put back to grass for lambing on?

 

[llamedos]

Would the heat not generated in a midden not kill the parasite

 

[milkloss]

Would the heat not generated in a midden not kill the parasite

Wouldn't kill all of it though, I would stay well away myself just in case.

 

[tw15]

I think I would play safe and either pass up on it or get a neighbour to take it who dosen't have sheep.

 

[Devil's advocate]

Or vaccinate the sheep, belt & braces then.

 

[DrDunc]

Or vaccinate the sheep, belt & braces then.

I run a thousand ewes. That'd be a fair bit extra work.

I'd rather not actively bring it on. It's all around me with most neighbours already vaccinating so it's probably just a matter of time though

From what I've read, it seems the oocysts can lie dormant for years, and it needs over 65 degrees C to kill them. Nasty

 

[scholland]

I run a thousand ewes. That'd be a fair bit extra work.

I'd rather not actively bring it on. It's all around me with most neighbours already vaccinating so it's probably just a matter of time though

From what I've read, it seems the oocysts can lie dormant for years, and it needs over 65 degrees C to kill them. Nasty

Think if your neighbors have it and your concerned about getting it I'd start a vaccine program anyway. Terrible job lambing ewes with toxo. It's certainly not cheap but only doing the gimmers it's enough for us.

 

[Devil's advocate]

I run a thousand ewes. That'd be a fair bit extra work.

I'd rather not actively bring it on. It's all around me with most neighbours already vaccinating so it's probably just a matter of time though

From what I've read, it seems the oocysts can lie dormant for years, and it needs over 65 degrees C to kill them. Nasty

Also of course spread by pigeons, rodents & cats, so yes it will come. I've a closed flock & we tend to get a bit in the Shearling, not such a big deal, because we usually have plenty of spare lambs to foster on. The bigger problem is weaker lambs that waste time, helping them, not so much milk in affected ewes & more variation in lamb size. Really odd here we lamb hoggs no problem, Shearling get suspected some toxy & adult ewes all fine.

Did you know affected mice & rats actually seek out cats. That reckless drivers have been analysed & a high percentage actually have toxoplasmosis damaged brains (brain tends to be less logical about Health & Safety) Only minor damage but it is in humans & affects the mind in a subtle manner.

 

[RushesToo]

I think that you are asking us to answer something that you know already. You are surrounded by disease, you don't want to vaccinate 1,000 ewes, but you have the feeling that you will need to shortly. Bringing the muck on will just shorten when this happens. Wind, tyres, poor fences and water courses are some routes.

If you need the muck then vaccinate the ewes before you bring the muck on. You will need to vaccinate them soon anyway, and it might be better to prevent the pain before it happens to you unprepared and get the value of the muck?

 

[curvebender]

Really odd here we lamb hoggs no problem, Shearling get suspected some toxy & adult ewes all fine.

We have experienced the exact same here this year, hogs no problem and adult ewes great but some Shearlings are throwing small lambs and lacking in milk. Looks like we are going to have to start vaccinating, vet has quoted £3.71 a shot for Toxovax, does that sound about right?

 

[GTB]

I THINK I'm right in saying....

If your sheep get infected whilst not in lamb they will be immune to it. It will be almost as good as vaccinating them. Also with toxo they only abort once unlike Enzo where they will abort every year once infected.

 

[andybk]

I think i'm right in thinking the disease has to pass through a small mammal first (mouse / rat) then eaten by cat/ fox or similar before its infective , which is usually from cat mess in hay or straw , which is why you never feed top bales before lambing , if you could get hold of some of the hay from other place and and feed after lambing or spread muck onto fields and graze ewes over it they become exposed to it , has the same effect as vaxing and ewes are then resistant for life , Ewes dont affect each other unlike like enzotic abortion

edit :
lol GTB great minds and all that !

 

[DrDunc]

I THINK I'm right in saying....

If your sheep get infected whilst not in lamb they will be immune to it. It will be almost as good as vaccinating them. Also with toxo they only abort once unlike Enzo where they will abort every year once infected.

I think i'm right in thinking the disease has to pass through a small mammal first (mouse / rat) then eaten by cat/ fox or similar before its infective , which is usually from cat mess in hay or straw , which is why you never feed top bales before lambing , if you could get hold of some of the hay from other place and and feed after lambing or spread muck onto fields and graze ewes over it they become exposed to it , has the same effect as vaxing and ewes are then resistant for life , Ewes dont affect each other unlike like enzotic abortion

edit :
lol GTB great minds and all that !

Now that's more my way of thinking

It's a lot less expensive than vaccinating the ewes, or worse, an abortion storm

Edit, what's the effect on health if they're infected while empty?

 

[easyram1]

Now that's more my way of thinking

It's a lot less expensive than vaccinating the ewes, or worse, an abortion storm

Edit, what's the effect on health if they're infected while empty?

NO effect so long as ewes are not in lamb

 

[scholland]

Now that's more my way of thinking

It's a lot less expensive than vaccinating the ewes, or worse, an abortion storm

Edit, what's the effect on health if they're infected while empty?

We used to run our ewe lambs with the ewes all winter to try to do this, don't tup lambs, but ended up having to vaccinate.

 

[andybk]

We used to run our ewe lambs with the ewes all winter to try to do this, don't tup lambs, but ended up having to vaccinate.

it wouldnd have any effect unless fed infected hay , they dont catch it from other ewes even afterbirth , only enzotic is contageous

 

[scholland]

it wouldnd have any effect unless fed infected hay , they dont catch it from other ewes even afterbirth , only enzotic is contageous

That'll be why it didn't work then!
Must be pretty difficult to get natural immunity without an outbreak then.

 

[curvebender]

Anyone got any infected hay I can buy off them?!

 

[DrDunc]

Anyone got any infected hay I can buy off them?!

I've know where there's an infected midden I can let you have for a reasonable rate

 

[Devil's advocate]

I suspect we get it from sweeping up the barn floor to start the lambing shed off with a good deep layer of straw.

But I intend to start & vacinate.

What is the best age, do I do the ewe lambs (we tup them) or the shearling? I think they have to be done a month before lambing?