[Hillview Farm]

I know wormers have been covered before but I cant find any!

I had my housed ewes worm counted a few months back. Small amount of worms so I dectomax'd them.
I plan to turn out after the lambs arrive (10th April) And once the ground is dry enough!

My questions are:
1) Once my ewes are turned out do I worm? The vet said they should by now have resistance. Is this right?
2) When do I worm for fluke? We are not on flukey ground nor did fluke show on the worm counts although I believe the fluke can not show up untill a certain age.

3) Final question. What is the best Fluke wormer and the best General Wormer? I dont want to use combination wormers would rather do it seperatly.

Thanks 

[SallyintNorth]

Ask your vet which meds to use; they know your local conditions, including any local resistance issues.

Generally we expect adult ewes to manage their worm burden unless it's a really horrid year.  We worm twin-bearers at least on turnout/after lambing, then usually don't worm adults again unless there's a reason to.

Lambs need to be watched and action taken swiftly if there is a problem.  We aim to get the first few batches away without any interventions at all, but this cannot be achieved every year.  In particular, watch out for lambs not thriving, especially if their poo is dark/blackish.  That could be coccidiosis (and it loves a cold spring); it's swift, nearly silent, and lethal. 

[Hillview Farm]

He didn't say which to use just told me about clear and yellow wormers

[SteveHants]

I wait until the lambs start grazing (maybe about a month of age) and then start having routine FECs done. I used to say once every 6 weeks, but last year that bit me in the behind. Might try every three weeks this year.


Ask them to look for cocci on the first count and if you have high numbers, put a bucket out. 

[SallyintNorth]

Ask them to look for cocci on the first count and if you have high numbers, put a bucket out.

If you have cocci, treat.

[SallyintNorth]

Get yourself some of the Eblex Better Returns Programme (BRP) guides.

Download them here

Read "Manual 8 - Target Worm Control..." first, then the "Booklet - Parasite Control Guide" which gives you a lookup table of which meds has which active ingredient.

[SteveHants]

Ask them to look for cocci on the first count and if you have high numbers, put a bucket out.

If you have cocci, treat.

Depends on the count with what though - if you have chronic cocci (scours etc) bash them with vecoxan, but at non chronic levels I find the buckets pretty good.

[Sunnybank]

being a novice what bucket do you mean, thanks

[SallyintNorth]

In my experience, if you wait until you have symptoms then you already have dead lambs.

If your worm count shows high levels of cocci then you should treat for cocci unless you are happy to accept losses.  Vecoxan is expensive but dead lambs are moreso.

[SteveHants]

Denis Brinicombe (and others) do a medicated lick bucket for cocci. I only tend to use them if I actually have cocci present as you will need to get a prescription from your vet before you order.


Edited to add: cross posted with Sally there.

[Sunnybank]

thanks stevehants

[SallyintNorth]

I will try that bucket this year, Steve - at least, I'll talk to the vet about getting one to try 

But if I get any indication of active cocci, I'll be out with the Vecoxan asap.

[SteveHants]

Sally - I tend to have fairly regular FECs and when cocci start showing in numbers, I put them out. I tend not to see cocci in threatening numbers, its not normally a problem one associates with an outdoor lambing flock, but I did see them last year, unsurprisingly. I'm hoping I wont have to bother this year.

[Hillview Farm]

I was adviced by my vet due to the number I have that doing egg counts would cost more for me than actually worming them. I'll have a chat with my vet again and my sheep farming friend

[SteveHants]

How much are your vets charging? Mine charge £6 inc VAT. It is also useful to have them done so you know what worms you are dealing with.