The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: farleigh on May 22, 2014, 10:11:30 pm

Title: Heptavac
Post by: farleigh on May 22, 2014, 10:11:30 pm
Can anybody help? We stupidly forgot to give our ewes their Heptavac booster before lambing. Is it too late to do so now or do we have to start again as if they were lambs and give them two doses?
Title: Re: Heptavac
Post by: Me on May 23, 2014, 08:03:23 am
How long has it been since the last Heptovac they had? If over a year then to be sure of cover probably yes. In practice though they would probably be ok if you were a little late
Title: Re: Heptavac
Post by: Young Ed on May 23, 2014, 01:27:23 pm
not much help but the heptavac is passed on through the colostrum and not the milk and as the lambs got their colostrum in their first feed if you were to heptavac the ewes now it would only affect/cover the ewes and not the lambs. if this makes sense?
sorry if i am trying to teach a granny to suck eggs here!
Cheers Ed
Title: Re: Heptavac
Post by: Melmarsh on May 23, 2014, 01:41:19 pm
I would start again with the ewes if over a year or check with the vet, mine charge nothing for good advise. Don't forget to start the lambs on something though because they don't have the passive immunity from their mums.