[Justin]

after having 6 wethers to raise on to hogget over the past year, which are now in the freezer, we have just picked up our little breeding flock of 5 Devon Longwool ewes and a couple more wethers. They've had their first dose of Heptevac where they were bred so I'll be doing their second dose in a couple of weeks.

After reading on here about the sterivax system, I looked at getting the 2ml Mole valley brand gun and needles/tips. I notice that the actual sterivax version is adjustable up to 5ml, is it worth getting the larger one for any other vaccinations that might be needed or is heptevac the only vaccination usually needed for sheep?

Also, given that we only have 7 sheep and the flock will always remain small, is it worth getting a gun that has the tube for connecting to the bottle or just the one where the small bottle fits on the syringe itself?

I have an adjustable drench gun which was needed for worming/fluke last year so that's in the cupboard. I also have a 10ml and 20ml luer lock syringe with a variety of needles which we got when we needed to dose a pig with antibiotics a couple of years ago.

I have a couple of marking crayons and some purple spray.

Is there anything else to keep in the box that might be needed? We're a year away from our first lambing so that kit will be bought nearer the time.

Thanks.

[twizzel]

I only have my sheep vaccinated with heptavac, that’s the main one. I have the mole valley gun and never needed anything else really. Mine has the tube attachment then I put the bottle in a green holder round my neck. Just make sure the sheep are dry when you vaccinate as wet fleece can increase the risk of abscesses.


A bottle of blue antibiotic spray from the vet is useful to have, I’ve never had good results with purple foot spray. Other than that a pair of Jakoti shears are really useful to have. Sheep that aren’t in lamb are fairly low maintenance over the winter in all honesty.

[Womble]

Also, given that we only have 7 sheep and the flock will always remain small, is it worth getting a gun that has the tube for connecting to the bottle or just the one where the small bottle fits on the syringe itself?

We have the fixed bottle one and it works fine. No tubes to have to sterilise and no wasting of vaccine either.


Do you have some foot shears? In general hooves are best left alone, but you'll have to trim one sooner or later.

[twizzel]

The sterimatic with tubes doesn’t waste any of the vaccine. The vaccine cannot be kept for another day so anything that’s left in the tubes and bottle after you’ve done all the sheep would be thrown away anyway. I’ve always found I get the full amount of doses from the bottle anyway.

[Justin]

thanks for the replies. I'll get the standard mole valley one then.

I have some Jakoti shears already and we'll have the vet round at some point for a primary visit and care plan so will ask about the blue spray then.