Author Topic: Could someone explain Fluke Drenches?  (Read 3441 times)

OhLaLa

  • Joined Sep 2010
Could someone explain Fluke Drenches?
« on: December 16, 2013, 02:28:05 pm »
I'm reading conflicting things about giving Fluke drenches.

From experience please:

How many times/What times of year to drench (have read Sept/Oct and/or Jan)?
Is all the flock given Fluke drench or just the lambs?
If given to all the flock, what if the ewe is pregnant?

Thanks.




Foobar

  • Joined Mar 2012
  • South Wales
Re: Could someone explain Fluke Drenches?
« Reply #1 on: December 16, 2013, 02:41:55 pm »
It really depends on your locality and whether you have a fluke problem or not.  You are best consulting your vet to work out the best plan for your farm.


I posted a link to a couple of videos here: http://www.accidentalsmallholder.net/forum/index.php?topic=39406.0
which detail the lifecycle of fluke etc.  Also good information on the SCOPS website: http://www.scops.org.uk/endoparasites-liver-fluke.html


Flukicides can be given to sheep of all ages, including pregnant sheep (read the label of your particular product obviously).

Marches Farmer

  • Joined Dec 2012
  • Herefordshire
Re: Could someone explain Fluke Drenches?
« Reply #2 on: December 16, 2013, 03:08:53 pm »
Problem with fluke is unless you get reports back from the abattoir or it's almost overwhelming the sheep and you see bottle jaw you don't know your sheep have it (bear in mind it can be spread by rabbits and deer as well as other sheep).  Also you may clear it out with a fluke drench but the sheep can ingest a new batch as soon as they graze. 

landroverroy

  • Joined Oct 2010
Re: Could someone explain Fluke Drenches?
« Reply #3 on: December 16, 2013, 06:33:13 pm »
I give it every back end to my stock - cattle, sheep and donkeys - just in case. If using valbazene, it should not be given in early pregnancy.
Rules are made:
  for the guidance of wise men
  and the obedience of fools.

SallyintNorth

  • Joined Feb 2011
  • Cornwall
  • Rarely short of an opinion but I mean well
    • Trelay Cohousing Community
Re: Could someone explain Fluke Drenches?
« Reply #4 on: December 17, 2013, 09:22:57 am »
We are in a flukey area and on wet ground; we drench from October through March every 6-8 weeks every year.  In recent years the fluke has also been active through the summer, so we've been drenching year-round.

The NADIS bulletins tell us whether we need to be drenching
Don't listen to the money men - they know the price of everything and the value of nothing

Live in a cohousing community with small farm for our own use.  Dairy cows (rearing their own calves for beef), pigs, sheep for meat and fleece, ducks and hens for eggs, veg and fruit growing

Tim W

  • Joined Aug 2013
Re: Could someone explain Fluke Drenches?
« Reply #5 on: December 17, 2013, 09:46:23 am »
You can get an idea of your fluke status by doing a FEC although it's not as definitive as for worms

You can also do a blood test which will tell you if the sheep has anti-bodies for fluke which will indicate if they have been challenged in the past

Talk to your vet

I test a few skanky ewes every year to see what's what----so far so good . mainly due to luck and a strict quarantine of all bought in stock

 

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