The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: Bullseye on April 20, 2012, 10:44:26 am
-
I'm confused as to when it's best to vaccinate my Ryelands- my new ewe wasn't vaccinated before lambing and lambs are 3 weeks on Saturday- since you can vaccinate from 3 weeks am I best doing them on Saturday, or am I best risking it and waiting until they're 5 weeks but having the benefit that the lambs are more mature? ???
-
I assume you are vaccinating with Heptavac P Plus?
You shouldn't vaccinate lambs younger than 3 weeks because it compromises the passive immunity they get from their mothers. Some folk don't vaccinate lambs until they have them gathered for shearing in June - I guess whatever suits your management system. I do ours when the youngest is about 4-5 weeks, so the oldest will be 8 weeks or so but we have small numbers, so gathering them isn't a major task ;D
If the mother wasn't vaccinated herself, then she will not have passed any immunity on to the lambs, so in the same circumstances, I'd do them sooner rather than later.
-
if mother wasnt done I would also suggest doing her too at the same time you do the lambs.
-
Definitely and if you are not sure if she was ever done, give her a double dose as well, same as the lambs.
-
Thanks, yep Heptavac, I was planning to do them all and obviously repeat 4 weeks after. I think I'll do them this weekend- so much conflicting information on the internet and I was cautious in case I bugger up their maternal antibodies but better to be safe than sorry I guess!