[moorlandmouse]

Hi.  I am new to this so hope I am asking my question in the right place.  I have a small flock of registered Jacobs - 3 ewes, 2 ewe and 1 ram lamb born 2013 and 7 lambs born 2014.  The ewes were heptovaced when I bought them in 2012 and have had some slightly irregular boosters (by a friend in the village).  I am  unsure whether they are properly covered and now that I have a reasonable number of sheep want to do it myself so that I can keep proper records and know that I am doing it all correctly as opposed to relying on a mate up the road.

My question therefore is if I inject everything now and then again in 4-6 weeks am I right in presuming that everything is then properly covered?  Should I then give the breeding ewes a booster before lambing and do I also give everything else I still have a booster too then.   I may well have some ewe lambs and some boys fattening up from this year's crop or do I give the 2014 lambs a booster when I give the 2015 lambs their first dose.  Do all new lambs have to have two doses even if their mothers are up to speed.  I have asked the vet but to be honest I was more confused than when I started!  Basically can anyone give me a calendar showing what I should do when.  Would be so pleased to have some advice.  Many thanks

[Backinwellies]

Sorry can't give you an answer but   I am a bit concerned that your vet didn't give you clear guidelines... maybe time to change the vet??

[Me]

The answers are all on the packets/labels pretty much. If the doses have been irregular start again to be sure they are covered. Jab now and then again as you say and you know they are covered. Yes a booster pre-lambing is a good idea. The mothers having had hep does not help the lambs after they are a few weeks old so if you want them covered jab them too as per guidelines on the data sheets and everything will be tikedyboo

[moorlandmouse]

Thanks you for that. The only question I then have is what do I do with the 2014 crop of lambs if I still have them next year.  Do they just need a booster when I am doing the 2015 lambs.  If I don't do the mothers when pregnant presumably they too can have a booster when I do the new lambs next year.  Just want to make sure I have it all clear so I don't waste my money.

[Jukes Mum]

As I understand it, the ewes should be done beofre they lamb. This is the ewes annual booster and all they should need.
New lambs would be done at 4 weeks and then again at 8 weeks.
Last years lambs would be done when the ewes are done pre lambing.
If you are not sure if the ewes/last years lambs have been covered properly, do them with this years lambs (ie two jabs 4 weeks apart).
I think 

[Dan]

There's a summary here that you might find useful:

http://www.accidentalsmallholder.net/livestock/sheep/clostridial-diseases/

HTH. 

[moorlandmouse]

Many thanks for all your help.  I am now sorted and off to buy some Heptavac.  I will be using 13 doses this weekend so if anyone in the Staffordshire Moorlands would like the rest please let me know.  Will also then have 12 spare doses in a month or so too.

[Badger Nadgers]

pm'd you.