The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: Sprig on August 13, 2019, 01:49:44 pm

Title: Treatment programmes (and differences for shedding sheep)
Post by: Sprig on August 13, 2019, 01:49:44 pm

Hi,
I am interested in what treatment programmes you all follow and why. For those of you with shedding sheep is there anything that you do differently?
Thanks

Title: Re: Treatment programmes (and differences for shedding sheep)
Post by: Me on August 14, 2019, 03:43:28 pm

Aside from the saving on fly treatments (though my Charmoise ewes have had none this year) the conditions locally will affect your regime more than the breed

Title: Re: Treatment programmes (and differences for shedding sheep)
Post by: Sprig on August 15, 2019, 10:42:07 am

Thanks Me.

Title: Re: Treatment programmes (and differences for shedding sheep)
Post by: PK on August 15, 2019, 12:06:15 pm

I agree local and prevailing conditions are probably the most important factor but I would not be complacent regarding self-shedding breeds. I’ve had two instances of flystrike in my small flock of Wiltshire Horns in the past. From experience I would be watchful in particular of those that do not cleanly drop their fleece; new year lambs towards the end of the summer who will not have shed, especially if there is a warm humid spell; and around the base of the horns of mature rams with well developed horns.

Title: Re: Treatment programmes (and differences for shedding sheep)
Post by: Sprig on August 15, 2019, 12:27:12 pm

We too have Wiltshire Horns. They come to the bucket so I am looking at them closely every day. I appreciate your tips. Thanks

Title: Re: Treatment programmes (and differences for shedding sheep)
Post by: Me on August 15, 2019, 05:33:03 pm

Fair enough, should have emphasised saving on fly treatments as opposed to definitely not using any

Title: Re: Treatment programmes (and differences for shedding sheep)
Post by: Possum on August 23, 2019, 09:28:27 pm

Interesting. We use Clik on our Wiltshire Horns along with other non-shedding sheep. Having experienced fly strike in Lleyns , I don't want to risk it in any of our sheep.


Is there anyone with shedding sheep who successfully rears them without fly strike prevention?

Title: Re: Treatment programmes (and differences for shedding sheep)
Post by: Tim W on August 25, 2019, 08:39:19 am

I keep between 600 & 1000 shedding ewes (depending on land availability) and very rarely treat adult sheep with a fly strike preventative
Sometimes if i am going away for a couple of weeks i will treat lambs if they haven't shed well

I graze land on top of Salisbury Plain ---- low risk due to wind/low humidity as well as places like Stourhead , Wilts which has many lakes and is surrounded by woodland---hi risk and hi humidity

When we kept Wiltshire Horns we would sometimes experience head fly problems and would have to treat with a dab of something on the head

It's about risk assessment , management and genetics  ---any sheep that ever gets strike gets culled in my Charollais flock and i am convinced that this reduces risk