[in the hills]

Missed this thread until now.


With little experience of even normal lambing, we had decided that we would not lamb this year if there was a significant risk of us being affected in the spring. Foobar mentions that there have probably been cases in Wales and people have kept quiet about it. That maybe the case but farmers up here talk quite openly to us about things now and from what has been said they haven't seen anything that they didn't think to be normal and when we have expressed concern they have said that everything that happens in farming world is blown out of proportion and they don't think there is any significant problem.


Not sure    what to think but looked pretty horrendous to us so ...... when do people think the midges will disappear for the winter? They are still biting here. Any ideas how long it is best to wait once they have gone before putting the tup in?

[zwartbles]

Not just Tilly. We are in Norfolk and lambed in March/April and had a couple of cases. The worst one was a ewe who's lamb was dead. Huge size, arched back and presented with it's back to the rear, head and legs forward. Had to get the vet and the lamb came out in bits.
Also someone else a few minutes away who lambed earlier with a reported 40% loss.
Rams in now and fingers crossed for the spring.

[SteveHants]

Not sure    what to think but looked pretty horrendous to us so ...... when do people think the midges will disappear for the winter? They are still biting here. Any ideas how long it is best to wait once they have gone before putting the tup in?

Thats what you want really - you want the ewes to get bitten and become immune, so if there have been plenty about earlier in the year, youd hope if they were going to get bitten they would.


Theres plenty to go wrong at lambing, I wouldnt let this put you off, if it happens, it happens, nothing you could have done.

[feldar]

Not sure    what to think but looked pretty horrendous to us so ...... when do people think the midges will disappear for the winter? They are still biting here. Any ideas how long it is best to wait once they have gone before putting the tup in?

Thats what you want really - you want the ewes to get bitten and become immune, so if there have been plenty about earlier in the year, youd hope if they were going to get bitten they would.


Theres plenty to go wrong at lambing, I wouldnt let this put you off, if it happens, it happens, nothing you could have done.

Quite agree
We had it   got through it   carried on and accepted that this was a bad year. Every one will have one at some time if you are around livestock. I'm afraid it is a bit like living in a dream world if you think you are never going to face some problems at some time.
Yes the lambs are deformed and it's not pleasant but that's farming.
Don't let it put you off working with your livestock, it can be the best job in the world, and i'm sure there will be a new disease on the horizon just waiting to come back and bite us on the a***
 

[in the hills]

Well the weather seems to have turned a lot colder in the last few days and not getting bitten now so guess we will wait a week or so and collect our tup. Think perhaps we worry too much but we are well aware that we lack a lot of experience with sheep. Still, I suppose it might not happen    and the shepherds here have said much the same ..... that there is always something to go wrong so you may as well get on with it.


Thanks.