Veterinary Notes For January
Veterinary Notes For Sheep
For All Ewes On Grazing
- Treat for fluke (immature & adults)
- Depending on wetness of land, farm fluke treatment may be required every four weeks. (if slaughtering any lambs, check livers in abattoir, for evidence of fluke).
For Ewes Lambing From 1st February Onwards
- The pre lambing anti clostridial vaccine is due four weeks prior to lambing. This is the ewe’s annual booster, and will give her lambs cover for up to four weeks after birth via the ewe’s colostrums.
For Ewes That Have Lambed
- These ewes require a worm dose as they lamb. This dose is to counteract the periparturient rise in worm egg production in recently lambed and heavily lactating ewes. The stress of lambing and lactation decreases the ewe’s immunity to gut worms and an increase in worm eggs is the result.
For Pregnant Ewes To Be Housed In January
- Fluke dose all ewes at housing for adult and immature fluke.
- Dose again 2- 5 weeks later depending on which of these is used
- Nitroxonil – 5 weeks (Trodax)
- Closantel - 5 weeks (Flukiver)
- Triclabendazole – 2 weeks (Fasinex/Tribex)
- Worm dose all at housing with either Benzimadazole or Ivermectin based product. This worming will also stop the periparturient egg count rise at lambing. These ewes will not require worming at lambing but will at three weeks after turn out.
Pregnant Ewes
- Monitor body condition scores and feed accordingly for number of lambs present. By batching ewes for single, doubles and trebles this will utilize feed better and minimize the risk of twin lamb disease.
Veterinary Notes For Beef & Sucklers
For Suckler Cows And Followers Which Are Housed
- By January all suckler cows and followers should have already been treated for fluke & lice. Remember, even recently born calves will require lice treatment to ensure complete lice kill.
For Out-Wintered Cattle
- If cattle are being out-wintered, they should be dosed for fluke every eight weeks from mid October on.
For Sucklers Due To Calve From Mid February On
- If cows are on a grass silage diet only, pre-calving minerals should be fed for two months prior to calving. It has been proven that pre-calving minerals improve calf viability at birth and improve colostrum quality.
- For farms with a scour problem (diagnosed as either rota or corona virus, or e-coli k99) cows can be vaccinated against scour from one month to three months before calving. It has been proven that cows vaccinated and fed dry cow minerals perform better than those vaccinated and just fed grass silage.
All Suckler Cows
- Body condition should be assessed and cows batched accordingly. The aim is to have cows fit not fat for calving, that is, body condition score 3.
Beef Animals Or Replacements
- Still be alert for signs of infectious disease, especially pneumonia. If cases develop discuss possible causes and treatments with your vet.