Lambing Club

Enzootic Abortion & Toxovax Vaccine

Cevac Chlamydophila - We have been able to negotiate a deal for this year and can offer this vaccine at £2.90/dose.  The vaccine must be given 4 weeks before tupping.  If you use both vaccines please give the surgery a ring.

Enzovax is highly effective in preventing enzootic abortion.   Don't forget to vaccine against abortion at least 4 weeks before tupping.

Toxovax - A single shot vaccine that provides long-term protection.  The vaccine can be administered to ewe lambs at any time from 5mths of age, older ewes can be vaccinated at any time during the 4 month period prior to tupping.  The minimum time between vaccination and mating must be no less that 3weeks.
Vaccine must be kept refrigerated until use and used asap, due to short shelf life.

Please advise the practice of your requirements asap by either completing your order card, asking a member of staff or phoning the practice.

SEMEN TESTING ON TUPS - remember to book in advance for an appointment at the surgery.  It is also vitally important to assess tup fertility especialy when sponging of ewes is being performed and a tupping period is required.

Notes for Blood Sampling
If you request us to do flock blood sampling we need to know:

1. The Total number of adult sheep (roughly)

2. How many groups they are in (a group is a batch of sheep that are separated from another by a large field or wide road).

3. How many locations they are in.

4. If they are planning any movements and when.

5. If there are any Tups to be tested.

Please ask a vet for more information & advice.Orf
Orf is a disease which can affect sheep of any age, but is most common in lambs and on ewes teats at lambing time. It is very resistant under dry conditions and can survive a long time in scab material. Orf spreads by direct contact between animals or by exposure to a contaminated area. The disease may also be transmitted by sheep that show no signs of the disease meaning that orf is able to persist year to year on individual farms. There is no treatment available but control of the secondary effects of the disease is very important.
A couple of scratches of Scabivax can make all the difference - order your vaccine in advance.

Watery Mouth
Watery Mouth in new born lambs is a major cause os lambs dying. Important factor is colostrum deprivation. The affected lambs refuse to suck, then begin to dribble from the mouth and the abdomen swells up. The disease is often fatal within a few hours.
Please order your watery mouth tablets in advance.

Coccidiosis
Coccidiosis normally occurs in lambs of 4 to 6 weeks old, before that the maternal antibodies gained from colostrum proctect them.  The amount of antibodies relies on the lambs receiving sufficient colostrum from the ewe within the first 24 hours of their life.  After this time, antibodies will not be absorbed into the blood.  Lambs with coccidiosis before 4 weeks means they didn't receive enough colostrum in that crucial period.  The usual symptoms of coccidiosis in lambs is a sticky grey coloured diarrhoea which can often be blood stained giving it a black colour.  A secondary bacterial infection can often make the problem worse, dehyrdation is the obvious consequence.  Survivers often show poor growth and never thrive.  Damaged cells in the upper part of the intestine can regenerate to a certain degree but the lower part and the large intestine are less able to which means permanent damage is done.
Vecoxan Oral Suspension is an anticoccidial for lambs for the treatment and prevention of coccidial infections in lambs caused, in particular by the more pathogenic Eimeria species, E.Crandallis and E.Ovinoidalis.