Treating listeria

[primmiemoo]

Listeria is frustrating. All it takes is a wet mole heap to get in, or the mower cut wet ground too tight, or the flitterer or baler pick up tines were set too low for damp harvest conditions and gouged, and soil containing the bug has got into the bale.
The contamination might just have been in the one bale, too.

And then it is often a hogg or ewe that's rising or losing a tooth that's struck with it.

It's no proper consolation, sorry, @valtraman , but after this, you'll know instantly what's wrong, and be able to dive in to treat early. More positively, you mightn't have another case for years. We're overdue one. [Famous last words. Ed.]

 

[valtraman]

I actually don’t think the bales are my issue . I have 4 different pens of sheep from singles to triplets. I’ve only had bother in my large pen of twins . No issues in singles or triplet pens .all the same batch of bales I’ve been very fussy over what ones they are fed, slightest mould or dark patch they don’t get them. I feed the rolls in troughs and don’t think I’ve enough trough space and some been nibbling of straw floor. Today I’ve put more troughs in to hopefully stop any eating of floor . I could be wrong but seems likely as other pens are not as populated. Sheep are bedded every day to keep them clean

 

[Sierra Lama]

Very hard to treat, I have had some success with very large doses of penicillin, Norocillin or similar with a jab of metacam to reduce swelling. Make sure you give them water and some form of energy to keep them up. Check regually to make sure they aren't down on their side etc. I had a couple in one pen this year for first time in a while and am stopping feeding baled silage as only a few left to feed and have plenty of hay.

 

[hubbahubba]

I cured a pretty bad case. Mule carrying triplets, pen step for 10 days and steroids for a few days. Came good and went back outside, few weeks later she was completely off her feet, couple more jags and put down. Unsure if it was related or not!

 

[andybk]

Christ I’m having a bad run of it . Lost 6 out of 250 so far. Did speak to a vet other day briefly about treatment whilst doing a visit on some cattle and basically just said keep doing what I’m doing with antibiotics. Looking up on web and was saying could have been picked up out of forage a fortnight ago before knocking them now also read a bit about quality of forage . I’m feeding lovely smelling haylaga albeit from a very old pasture so quality isn’t probably there. Should I be feeding top quality haylage/silage instead? Or safer with hay? Buggers are getting me down

Mole hills or dead mat under crop ? biggest cause of listeria in silage !

 

[LAMBCHOPS]

We treat the bales on baling by spraying ecobale into the swath as it enters the bale chamber. Also strict that once open is eaten within 3 days as exposure to air when bale is cut allows listeria to ferment and become a threat.We are strict on this and always move feeder a couple of feet so if any residue is trodden in. We don't get many cases in fact zero some years although this year birds and of rat has broken seal of bale and we have had 3 this last couple of days in two different bunches.Noricillin and plenty of liquid in a bottle. Missed one and lost as treated too late. Other two noticed early still going and being extra vigilant with each bale

 

[Pistonbroke]

Had two here lately. First showed symptoms at dinner time and was dead in twenty four hours,second couldn't stand ,eat or drink for a week and I was drenching her to keep her going,started nibbling cake but couldn't drink or stand for another week. Went in the shed yesterday and she's walking round fine eating hay and drinking at the tank. Pen and strep was all I had

She lambed yesterday,one live one dead but could have been worse

 

[Cripper]

Penstrep double strength first dose. Has to be at first sign of symptoms to have a decent success. Really have to carry it around with you on bike. Norocillin May be good if you have it on hand. Sheep being bad patients once they are down (with any problem) rarely get up. Cattle generally are vulnerable when they get adult teeth at two years as they break through the gum.