The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: Hazelwood Flock on February 18, 2012, 04:59:28 pm

Title: Coccidiosis.
Post by: Hazelwood Flock on February 18, 2012, 04:59:28 pm

My first born lambs have been hit hard despite being dosed with Vecoxan, moved, and dosed again. A couple of the lambs born the same time have not shown symptoms at all, but I dosed them anyway and they have remained clean. All had plenty of colostrum, and I don't know why some have got it so persistently yet others the same age are clean as a whistle...any ideas?

Title: Re: Coccidiosis.
Post by: Rosemary on February 18, 2012, 05:48:32 pm

Can't help with the problem except offer sympathy that you've got it  :bouquet:

Title: Re: Coccidiosis.
Post by: Anke on February 18, 2012, 08:18:56 pm

I have treated both goat kids and lambs with INTRADINE injections, once I have observed the mucky bums etc etc. It has worked a treat, but is now not available as a direct treatment for cocci, just veccoxan. However as far as I know your vet can still prescribe it if you specifically request it.

Title: Re: Coccidiosis.
Post by: shep53 on February 18, 2012, 08:24:26 pm

Sorry your having a problem,normally its late born lambs that are infected and one treatment does the job, if you have done a faecal egg count and found cocci , dosed at the correct weight, moved to fresh ground then you have done well. The only suggestion i have is dose the adult sheep to stop any re- infection, speak to your vet.  To young for worms the weather is very mild ???????

Title: Re: Coccidiosis.
Post by: woollyval on February 18, 2012, 08:32:15 pm

Some are more prone to it according to my vet! Ask the vet for medicated feed buckets....have to have a prescription.....for your ewes as they can carry it even if not affected. I had a problem with this about 7 years ago when I rented a lovely field which unbeknown to me was affected. I had up until this point thought it was more of an indoor overcrowding thing but apparently it can hang around a pasture for a very long while! Luckily my vet also keeps sheep so we got it sorted very quickly with vexcoccan AND the buckets for the ewes to stop them keep dropping out the oocysts in their droppings preventing reinfection.... :-\

Title: Re: Coccidiosis.
Post by: Hazelwood Flock on February 19, 2012, 06:06:51 pm

Thanks folks, the vet has told me it has come from infected ground when it got muddy around the hay feeders. They are finally drying up and are a lot more lively in the sunshine today. I was advised not to treat the ewes, just the lambs at 3 weeks old.