The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: Clay on February 09, 2018, 05:59:18 pm

Title: Wool loss
Post by: Clay on February 09, 2018, 05:59:18 pm
Any ideas what is causing this in one of my ewes, she has been scanned with twins which are due the last week in March. I have noticed some new wool on the barbed wire fence but have not noticed her or any of the girls rubbing or itching.
Title: Re: Wool loss
Post by: shep53 on February 10, 2018, 12:21:19 pm
Could be many things , but she a very clean fleece and the semi bare patch looks healthy .  She looks slightly rotund so be carefull or lambing may be a problem
Title: Re: Wool loss
Post by: Clay on February 10, 2018, 12:26:05 pm
Thanks for that. I need to get them in to conditions score. They are only getting about 100g each of beet pulp/16% ewe nut so hopefully I’m not overdoing it. But grateful for your comments
Title: Re: Wool loss
Post by: Marches Farmer on February 10, 2018, 01:06:36 pm
Could be rain scald but if you notice her scratching or the same symptoms in any of the others then worth getting the vet to check for scab or mites.  Has she been scanned?  Over six weeks to lambing might produce a very big single on 100g a day if she's in good condition anyway and has good grazing or ad lib good quality hay.
Title: Re: Wool loss
Post by: Clay on February 10, 2018, 01:22:24 pm
She’s been scanned with twins and not on the best of grass. I have only got limited hay supplies which I am saving for lambing so I thought I might give a bit of hard feed. I am 6 weeks away from lambing

Aware my logic might be wrong and I am open to suggestions.
Title: Re: Wool loss
Post by: Clay on February 10, 2018, 01:24:12 pm
Scald sound about right we have had a lot of rain
Title: Re: Wool loss
Post by: shep53 on February 10, 2018, 07:25:09 pm
If you had Dermatophilosis ( rain scald / fleece rot / rain rot ) you wouldn't have a lovely fleece  and  a healthy skin . Interesting that all your ewes are loosing wool  , wonder if they have shedding genes ? if you see wool in their mouths or persistant scratching /rubbing then as Marches says get the vet to skin sample .  In the second picture  she now looks about perfect condition so 200gms a day for twins  spot on