[Chris H]

Hopefully I am having my 10 sheep sheared next week, none have lambed this spring, blame Bob the ram   while they are in for shearing what else can I do for them? clearly I will foot trim but is this the time to worm drench, and 'spot on', I have 4 heb ewes who hate being cooped up and handled so trying to do as much as poss in the one go.

[Backinwellies]

probably a good time to give parasite prevention eg clik   ..... as for worming   ewes unlikely to need worming ... they develop immunity to worm infestation ... you can get a faecal sample done by your vet to check. This is much better than worming and increasing the likelyhood that your ewes develop worms that are resistant to wormers.   My ewes (bought in earlier this year) are resistant to white wormers so am very keen that other people are not worming unnecessarily.

[shep53]

Very fit ewes should not require worming at this time of year, maybe treat for adult fluke if fluke a problem . Personally i would only cut lame or very overgrown feet . Spot-on only prevents ticks or lice .  After shearing blowfly shoudn't be a problem for 2--3wks this allows wool to grow back and gives clik/crovect/dysect something to stick to .  You could check mouths and udders and sell any one you don't want to keep while prices are good .   You could get BOB semen tested if you still have him , infertility may have just been a short term problem

[SallyintNorth]

Very fit ewes should not require worming at this time of year, maybe treat for adult fluke if fluke a problem . Personally i would only cut lame or very overgrown feet . Spot-on only prevents ticks or lice .  After shearing blowfly shoudn't be a problem for 2--3wks this allows wool to grow back and gives clik/crovect/dysect something to stick to .  You could check mouths and udders and sell any one you don't want to keep while prices are good .   You could get BOB semen tested if you still have him , infertility may have just been a short term problem

This.

Plus, a lot of experienced farmers had infertility issues this last year - some could have been Schmallenburg, some were certainly fluke. 

DO check with the vet whether you should be flukeing - a lot of areas that used to never need to fluke had a bad time with fluke last year, so you need up-to-date local info.

[Chris H]

Thanks for the help, Bob is an older ram, untried, he seemed keen but nothing! not that we minded. They would have been kept for wool only. Will check with the vet about fluke. Still looking for a shearer who will shear the hebs.

[smudger]

Chris


I agree leave any pour on for a few weeks and only trim feet if needed but you could spray with Battles or similar (real farmers have foot baths but if you are likely stocked/ do paddock rotation foot probs should be rare).  Could you set up hurdles in the corner of a field to do any maintenance / checks to save bother and stress of bringing them in?  I trained my shetlands by feeding them in there a few times a week so they weren't suspicious ad now they run ahead of me.  There's always going to be the odd time you want to catch one up to check on it anyway.  However, you also need to think how you are going to lamb - inside or out. Might be better to get them use to being in before you lamb.


I have just done worm counts for the first time and surprised that all were low (horses and sheep) - gather some poos fresh when you have them in.  In my mind the main times for sheepy MOT's are pre tupping and immediately post lambing/pre turn out - that's when I call in my 2 legged sheepdog for assistance!  A worm test will also show up the fluke situation but it is usual to give a flukicide spring and autumn but last winter people were doing it thru winter as well (discuss with your vet).

[smudger]

Forgot to say there was a discussion regarding pour-ons last week - pros/cons of different types. Or look at alternative is you are high up / exposed/ less midge or fly risk.

[SallyintNorth]

It's also worth mentioning that (a), as far as I understand it, worm tests don't show fluke unless you specifically ask for a fluke test, so if you've had a worm test and no-one mentioned fluke it does not mean your sheep don't have fluke and (b) a sheep can have fluke and not have any fluke eggs in the poo, it depends on where the fluke is in its lifecycle - so if you've had a fluke test and no fluke was found it still does not mean your sheep don't have fluke

[SteveHants]

It's also worth mentioning that (a), as far as I understand it, worm tests don't show fluke unless you specifically ask for a fluke test, so if you've had a worm test and no-one mentioned fluke it does not mean your sheep don't have fluke and (b) a sheep can have fluke and not have any fluke eggs in the poo, it depends on where the fluke is in its lifecycle - so if you've had a fluke test and no fluke was found it still does not mean your sheep don't have fluke

This. Most vets advise you treat for fluke on a risk-based model.

[Chris H]

Have the sample pot from a supplier to send off for worm/fluke testing. I have an enclosed area that was prepared for lambing, the Hebs just do not like to much handling, they do come to a bucket or biscuit   We do get a lot of midges here (Lewis), I have a spray on to help if they get to bad.

[thenovice]

I too wait until 3 weeks after shearing before using the pour on. That way theres a bit of fleece for it