Unexplained lamb deaths

prjones

New Member
I have now lost around 12 ewe lambs out of a bunch of 100. Took the first ones to the vet for post mortem - which didn't give me a conclusive answer!
I missed the 2nd heptovac P injection within the 4-6 weeks, although they have had it now all be it a bit late. Also gave all lambs alamycin LA. Still losing a few. Tend to die very suddenly, may find the odd one very lethargic and then doesn't last long. I'm guessing it's a clostridial disease. Id also say it tends to coincide with a frost - so maybe braxy?

Any other thoughts on what it may be? Is there anything else I can give them?
Thanks in advance
 

yellowbelly

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
N.Lincs
That's a bad run of bad luck:(
Pasteurella would also cause sudden deaths in similar aged sheep but I would have thought that should have been very obvious when PM'ed. IMHO, that would make Braxy top of the list.

How late were you with the second HeptP jab? In view of how many you are losing you may need another one before the next six weeks is up to ensure proper cover.
 
Location
Cleveland
I have now lost around 12 ewe lambs out of a bunch of 100. Took the first ones to the vet for post mortem - which didn't give me a conclusive answer!
I missed the 2nd heptovac P injection within the 4-6 weeks, although they have had it now all be it a bit late. Also gave all lambs alamycin LA. Still losing a few. Tend to die very suddenly, may find the odd one very lethargic and then doesn't last long. I'm guessing it's a clostridial disease. Id also say it tends to coincide with a frost - so maybe braxy?

Any other thoughts on what it may be? Is there anything else I can give them?
Thanks in advance
Do you have a VLA centre near to you for a proper post mortem ?
 
The next one that you lose drop it in a bag and drive it that day to wherever your nearest laboratory is. You need to know. Guessing what is wrong is dangerous. I have written on here before about my experience of blaming silage for losses but when we had a lamb tested we have enzootic abortion. That result didn't help with that lambing but allowed me to vaccinate all ewes over the following summer and move forward.
 

beardface

Member
Location
East Yorkshire
Pm and bloods! I'e had a run of 17 ewes in a month before slower than said but just sat lethargic and die. Turned out to be a clostridal not covered on the hep p and combined witha resistant worm issue brougt in.

+1 to that, lost half dozen ewes close to weaning this year. PM plus bloods showed very low copper, coupled with tight grazing and a rising worm burden due to low immunity pushed them over the edge.
 

Jameshenry

Member
Location
Cornwall
I've lost seven ewe lambs out of a bunch of 30 i bought from one farm, several of them losing condition , can't make it out because they are with another 80 ewe lambs and they are all doing fine and thriving , all had the same treatment , gonna have to get post mortem done on them
 

Spartacus

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Lancaster
I've lost seven ewe lambs out of a bunch of 30 i bought from one farm, several of them losing condition , can't make it out because they are with another 80 ewe lambs and they are all doing fine and thriving , all had the same treatment , gonna have to get post mortem done on them
Were they done with heptovac before you got them? Might not have been treated as described by the seller?
 

spin cycle

Member
Location
north norfolk
I've lost seven ewe lambs out of a bunch of 30 i bought from one farm, several of them losing condition , can't make it out because they are with another 80 ewe lambs and they are all doing fine and thriving , all had the same treatment , gonna have to get post mortem done on them

what treatments have they had?....depending on the wormer haemonchus could be a canidate
 
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prjones

New Member
Thanks for all replies. Had results back from VLA Centre, turns out it was the most basic of all.....worms! Lambs must have had resistance to latest wormer. Feel a bit stupid.. but what threw me off the trail was that from the first post mortem the vet said no worms or fluke. All now had Zolvix so hopefully will put a stop to it.
 

prjones

New Member
I've lost seven ewe lambs out of a bunch of 30 i bought from one farm, several of them losing condition , can't make it out because they are with another 80 ewe lambs and they are all doing fine and thriving , all had the same treatment , gonna have to get post mortem done on them

Have you got to the bottom of your problem yet?
 

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