[Helen Wiltshire Horn]

I posted on hear a few days ago that I have twin ewe lambs and a ewe with orf.  It doesn't seem to have spread to the rest of the flock and the scabs on the lambs noses have crusted over and you have to look closely to see that they have orf.  Unfortunately I think that Mum has a touch of mastitis.  When I tipped her this morning one quarter seemed a bit hot and lumpier than the other one (though only marginally).  I have given her some Betamox LA and will monitor her over the next few days.  She is in no way off her food and I think that I have caught it early.  The lambs are still feeding and other than the very slightly warmer lumpier quarter she seems fine.  What do I do now?  Should I be thinking of culling the ewe even if I caught the mastitis at a very early stage?
Helen

[SallyintNorth]

Strip the affected quarter as often as you can, at least twice a day.  And keep on with the a/b's, personally I'd jag daily even though it's a longacting a/b.  Check with your vet if uncertain.

We discuss recovery from mastitis and whether to cull or retain frequently. 

If there are after-effects in the bag, then cull.

If the bag returns to normal then it's your choice.  Some find these ewes milk fine, others, myself included, find that they can struggle to feed twins thereafter.

You've caught it very early, so she's a better chance than most.   

[Helen Wiltshire Horn]

Thanks for the advice.  I rang the vet this morning who recommended Betamox LA every other day for 6 days.  When I asked whether I would be able to tell if there was any long-term damage to the udder he said that the only way to tell would be to see when she next has twin lambs.  Is this right? 
Helen

[SallyintNorth]

In a word, no.  I don't know what your vet was thinking  .

First off, if there is a lot of damage, she may lose a quarter.  It literally sloughs off - horrible to see (and smell!) but it isn't life-threatening (although make sure you keep it protected from flystrike.)  It would of course mean she shouldn't breed again.

Hopefully, as you've caught it early, that won't happen and she won't totally lose a quarter.  However the next level of damage would be if it leaves lumps, bumps, hardenings in the udder.  You should check all your ewes 'above (teeth) and below (udder)' before tupping anyway; anything with hardenings or lumps is suspect and may not be suitable to breed from.  (Whether or not you know them to have had mastitis.)  Experience helps you decide which should be ok and which must go - if, when the time comes, this ewe has anything other than a 100% soft, pliable udder, then personally I would at that point cull her.

She may make an apparently full recovery, nothing untoward to feel at pre-tupping checks - but then struggle to produce enough milk for two if required to do so.  In my experience, this is a very likely outcome - sorry. 

However, you've caught it good and early, and are treating it aggressively (you are stripping the affected quarter out at least twice a day, aren't you?!), so if any sheep can make a full recovery then she has a good chance of being that sheep. 

[Helen Wiltshire Horn]

Thanks.  I am only hoping that I was over-reacting slightly and that the mastitis hasn't set in yet for real.  They all have milk and are eating well.  I am going to give them Betamox LA for the next 6 days and see if this helps.  Culling 3 out of 5 of this year's breeding flock would be such a shame.  Incidentally, if I do cull once the infection has passed can the meat be eaten as mutton?  What would a 3 year old ewe taste like? 
Helen

[SallyintNorth]

I am going to give them Betamox LA for the next 6 days and see if this helps.  Culling 3 out of 5 of this year's breeding flock would be such a shame. 

I am confused now.  I thought we were talking about one ewe who has twin ewe lambs with orf, and the ewe has mastitis.  Who is 'them'   3 out of 5

Incidentally, if I do cull once the infection has passed can the meat be eaten as mutton? 

Firstly, anything given any kind of meds must be out of the meat withdrawal period before slaughter or no, it can't be eaten.  Check the bottle, most a/b's are 31 days withdrawal, so you wouldn't be culling her then anyway.

You'll want her to rear her lambs before you think about culling.  And put some condition on if she needs it.  If she starts to slough off the udder or part of it, then you'd want that process over and what's left to be healthy flesh and not smell before sending her away.  But all of that done then yes there's no reason you couldn't eat her.

What would a 3 year old ewe taste like? 

Fabulous.  Sally (Bionic) 's just asked the same question linky

[Helen Wiltshire Horn]

Sorry I should have said that I suspect another 2 have got the early stages of mastitis even though it is only 2 lambs that appear to have orf.  No signs of sloughing or anything other than a bit of heat and hardness so I hope that they will recover enough to rear their lambs who seem to be feeding fine at the moment. 
Helen

[SallyintNorth]

Oh no - I hope the others don't have it too

It would be some weeks before you saw any sloughing, if it happens.    it doesn't.

[shep53]

 If you have 3 out of 5 ewes with mastitis you really really need to get your vet involved to find the cause, that's not normal