Worth worming ewes pre lambing?

[hubbahubba]

I havnt wormed my ewes since this time last year. I used cydectin la in February 2018, the neighbour had scab and i dipped backend 2017 but wasnt sure if he was completly clean or not so decided 1 jag of cydectin la would help if he wasnt rid of scab last year feb 2018.

So basically they havnt had a wormer for a year. In great order maybe too fit. Do i worm count some, worm or leave? I am worried if i leave them they could shed worms after lambing that the lambs could pick up.

 

[HarryB97]

If you're concerned then a worm count will put your mind at rest and potentially save you a fair bit of money and time. Mature ewes shouldnt need worming though.

 

[Global ovine]

I havnt wormed my ewes since this time last year. I used cydectin la in February 2018, the neighbour had scab and i dipped backend 2017 but wasnt sure if he was completly clean or not so decided 1 jag of cydectin la would help if he wasnt rid of scab last year feb 2018.

So basically they havnt had a wormer for a year. In great order maybe too fit. Do i worm count some, worm or leave? I am worried if i leave them they could shed worms after lambing that the lambs could pick up.

If ewes are doing well as you have stated, then don't bother. However your other comment that I have high lighted is definitely more pertinent.
All worm species except Nematodirus (which over winters on the pasture) are spread by adult sheep and then quickly multiplied by the lamb crop before they have built up their adult immunity. Hence they achieve the autumn larvae peak challenge in the autumn.
If autumn has been traditionally a high worm challenge on your farm, I suggest you worm your ewes before they lamb so the initial worm egg deposition rate onto your pastures is greatly reduced, so it may reduce your autumn peak challenge in your lambs, which is where it hurts most. However like all good farm practice, the weather and pasture heights over summer/autumn can alter good intentions, but more seasons are closer to the average than being extreme.

 

[Kip]

I wouldn’t bother worming just now. I dose mine after lambing when moving ewes and lambs away to grazings.

 

[Boydvalley]

Well I shall be worming mine tomorrow as they come in ahead of lambing.

Tiis the only wormer they get. I do it now so any worms get deposited in the bedding so should go out clean onto pastures rested for 4 months. FEC for the rest of year but lambs usually only get one wormer

 

[farmerm]

I dose my ewes as I turn them out with lambs at foot. Unless I have any showing fluke symptoms, in which case they will get dosed earlier!

 

[texelburger]

I worm post lambing as they are turned out from the lambing pens.It's the only wormer they get each year.

 

[charlie77]

I worm post lambing as they are turned out from the lambing pens.It's the only wormer they get each year.

What do you use?

 

[Old Tip]

I wouldn’t bother worming just now. I dose mine after lambing when moving ewes and lambs away to grazings.

Allegedly the worst thing you can do as
A. The wormer takes a few days to get through the system so unless you worn as soon as they lamb and keep them in for 36 hours they will infect the pasture so wasting your time and money
B. Any worms that survive and build up resistance have the best possible conditions to thrive

Far better to dose at housing and clean then out before they lamb then compost the manure till the following autumn before spreading

 

[Northumberland]

Adult ewes have never been wormed on this farm for five years.
No fancy breeding just mules and texals.

 

[Tim W]

If you must worm adults then just do the ''at risk girls'' ---trips/ewe lambs/thinner ones
Trying to reduce the autumn rise by worming all adults at lambing is the lazy way /short term method----selective breeding for parasite resistance is much more sustainable and long term (for the farmer it could well be cheaper too)

 

[hubbahubba]

Decided not to bother worming anything after speaking to vet. Although we may need to worm ewes in May and theres a high chance the lambs will need an extra wormer, 50% of lambs were never wormed at all last year. Vet thinks this is down to the cydectin La keeping pasture cleaner.

 

[Guiggs]

Never worm ewes except rarely when there's the odd one that's particularly thin/ mucky, ewes should be immune so worming them to decrease the burden on lambs makes no sense to me. Just worm the lambs as and when necessary.

 

[Northeastfarmer]

Decided not to bother worming anything after speaking to vet. Although we may need to worm ewes in May and theres a high chance the lambs will need an extra wormer, 50% of lambs were never wormed at all last year. Vet thinks this is down to the cydectin La keeping pasture cleaner.

I don’t claim to be a worming expert but pretty sure using cydetin LA is a cardinal sin

 

[glensman]

I don’t claim to be a worming expert but pretty sure using cydetin LA is a cardinal sin

Over use/reliance on it certainly is

 

[texelburger]

What do you use?

This year Cydectin,which we haven't used for years to prevent the risk of resistance.Last year a yellow drench and the previous time Oramec.

 

[Global ovine]

Decided not to bother worming anything after speaking to vet. Although we may need to worm ewes in May and theres a high chance the lambs will need an extra wormer, 50% of lambs were never wormed at all last year. Vet thinks this is down to the cydectin La keeping pasture cleaner.

Research is very clear that worm species and their relative impact is very repeatable on individual farms. But the height of the seasonal challenge peaks (L3 larvae numbers on the pasture) varies according to the recent past weather pattern i.e. always worse in warm and damp seasons.
If you are getting away with low level worming, keep to that pattern. However don't rely on one drench chemical for too many years or the worms will surely start developing resistance.

Sheep bred to be resistant to worms (which can only be achieved by a scientifically bona fide programme) are the long term answer to keep initial challenge down annually and for the lamb crop to lower the autumn peak. Unfortunately there are very few breeders in the UK taking up this challenge for their commercial clients.

 

[cotswoldcs]

I usually worm pre lambing but ewes will have been on fodder beet or turnips for 3 months+ so I think It'll be a pointless exercise. I'll to a FEC test to confirm of course but hoping it's an expense I can reduce.

 

[Tim W]

Sheep bred to be resistant to worms (which can only be achieved by a scientifically bona fide programme) are the long term answer to keep initial challenge down annually and for the lamb crop to lower the autumn peak. Unfortunately there are very few breeders in the UK taking up this challenge for their commercial clients.

There may be more breeders doing this than you think---the Lleyn Breeding Group have made substantial gains in recent years, some of the Romney boys likewise and Exlana breeders have been at it for a while with well measured results
There are even selected terminal sire breeders making headway

I presume that @Innovis also have a robust breeding program for parasite resistance

 

[George C]

Heading in the right direction (not many 2018 results when I put chart together)