The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: Sprig on August 13, 2019, 01:49:44 pm
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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
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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
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Thanks Me.
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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.
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We too have Wiltshire Horns. They come to the bucket so I am looking at them closely every day. I appreciate your tips. Thanks
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Fair enough, should have emphasised saving on fly treatments as opposed to definitely not using any
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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?
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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