[Hillview Farm]

One of my lovely Shearlings has started to lose her fleece around her neck, some of it has gone right down to the skin and other parts has short fleece. No signs of itching and none of my others are showing any signs. The only thing I can think of is either when they feed shes caught it on the corner of the hay rack/sometimes they put their heads through the gate or its wool slip as they came home from the ram just after xmas so went in a trailer?

Any ideas would be greatly welcome!

[lachlanandmarcus]

One of my pregnant ewes once lost nearly all her fleece - thankfully a while later in the year and it was mild. She recovered completely.  Definitely wasn't anything medical in that case. Might not be the same with yours but it can happen.

[Marches Farmer]

Can have a number of causes.  Most likely at this time of year is probably stress or, this year, rain scald.  If she's otherwise OK I'd suggest spraying the bare skin with antibiotic spray and putting her in the shed for a few days and see how she goes.

[smee2012]

One of my girls had this a couple of months ago - just around the neck - but there was no bare skin, just short fleece. It wasn't until a week or so ago that I noticed all four of them itching like mad. Prior to that, despite observing them all daily, there was no sign of anything - not even when I looked in their wool. As soon as I noticed them itching, I gave them all a good dose of Crovect.

[Remy]

Stress most definitely can be the cause of losing fleece - two of mine lost theirs entirely after being very ill with worm infestation; it just peeled off completely (I picked most of it all off by hand!) and underneath there was lovely new fleece.  I wish I could do all my sheep like that!

[Hillview Farm]

They are all in the barn as the fields are far to wet! Should be getting some dectomax nexk weekend so can treat her and see if that helps. Dont believe its rain related as they've been in for nearly a month now! Is crovect expensive?

[smee2012]

I got mine from MedicAnimal. It was £27.25 inc free delivery. I also ordered some purple spray to bring my order over £29 because then you get 15% discount (JANUARY1 is the code to use) off your first order. I've been a long term client of theirs because that's where I used to get my cat's renal food from but he died in June and my account was closed. This meant I was effectively a new customer again so could use the code!

If you do get anything from there, could you let me have your email address so that I can 'recommend a friend'?

[Pedwardine]

Dectomax should sort it for you. Do them all though. Ours had woolslip in first year. It's characterised by a sticky brown residue at base of wool where little nasties have been munching. The wool will grow back, don't worry. If too much is lost however I would provide shelter.

[Hillview Farm]

I was going to do all of them anyway. Only thing is i'm sure its spread :S I may be overly paranoid