[kate7590]

Please don't jump on me for this…..
My vet actually advised us not to bother vaccinating or worming our very small herd of sheep. we've had 2 lots of twin lambs born (bringing us up to 9 altogether) who are 5 weeks and 2 weeks now.
The vets reasoning was that if you vaccinate routinely they will build up a tolerance and the drugs will become less effective and if they ever did catch something the drugs wouldn't work on eradicating it.
The home we got the 3 original sheep from said they didn't vaccinate or worm their sheep either so we just took it as we were small time and not to bother…
Im beginning to wonder now though if we should vaccinate and worm the sheep?

If we should, could I have advice on when, how and what to use?

[Backinwellies]

Worm .... no not unless you have any problem.

 Vaccination .... presume you are referring to Heptovac P?  I personally wouldn't risk not doing this..... dead lambs at several months old would be your first sign you should have vaccinated.

[Anke]

Vaccination - always! Heptavac is quick, cheap and after the initial double dose 4 weeks apart it is only an annual booster. I have had two wether goat kids dying from suspected enterotoxaemia (pulpey kidney) despite appropriate vaccine cover (goats are somewhat different for effectiveness of these vaccines) - it is a HORRIBLE death, there is no anti-dose available in the UK (as far as I know).

Worming - only if faecal agg counts indicate you need to.

Fluke treatment - routinely twice a year, more often if wet conditions, summer like 2012 etc.

[princesslayer]

I'm watching this thread with interest as we are in exactly the same boat. We bought four shearling Jacob's ewes from a breeder who hadn't vaccinated any of her ewes or lambs.  But I get it only takes one outbreak to make it a very bad time.

It would be interesting to hear from someone who has not done it, and either is glad they haven't or wished they had!

[Womble]

A related question:  Two of our ewes were vaccinated with Ovivac, and the rest with Heptavac+.
 
If I want to stick to the heptavac, what do you think I should do re annual boosters for the two who haven't had it before?

[Rosemary]

I'm watching this thread with interest as we are in exactly the same boat. We bought four shearling Jacob's ewes from a breeder who hadn't vaccinated any of her ewes or lambs.  But I get it only takes one outbreak to make it a very bad time.

It's not so much an outbreak - clostridial bacteria live in the soil, so are present all the time. Tetanus is one of them - so it's not really an outbreak, but deadly if they get it. We're just about to vaccinate our cattle for clostridial diseases - would hate to find one stiff in the field in the morning 

[Me]

Please don't jump on me for this…..
My vet actually advised us not to bother vaccinating or worming our very small herd of sheep.

Really? Are you sure he/she didn't just mean not to worm?? This is strange advice I must admit ref vaccination

[shep53]

A related question:  Two of our ewes were vaccinated with Ovivac, and the rest with Heptavac+.
 
If I want to stick to the heptavac, what do you think I should do re annual boosters for the two who haven't had it before?

To keep it simple inject all the ewes with hep+  4wks before 1st ewe due then give the 2 ewes their 2nd injection 4-6wks later hopefully when in a lambing pen

[Moos and ewes]

I'm slightly shocked the vet recommended not vaccinating, personally I would change vets they obviously aren't intrested in preventing problems, but that's my opinion.
It's well worth vaccinating with hep p plus, the antibodys are their for passed on in the mothers milk and prevents a risk to various problems, if you've had sheep on these fields few years now the risk increases each year, only  a matter of time till one day you'll have a disastrous lambing, or start picking up nice healthy looking lambs dead, pets or lively hood it'll be heart breaking. For what it costs better to do even for peice of mind.
Don't have to buy from vets it's not prescription only can get it most farm stores.
As for worming worth doing an egg count, for the vet to say don't bother he must be telepathic to just know if they do or don't have a problem, if their infested enough will result in them pineing from worms taking everything out of them, be sure to take samples from a majority might be one or 2 you collect from are clear, and others full of them,and test again a week later, tests aren't always 100% along with this you'll know what wormer to use to cover what worms you may have, not all cover all worms. Fluke is harder to test for but one of the worst this time of year now. Hope this is some help to you

[Rosemary]

I have to say, your vet has a very casual attitude to health and welfare management.

[shep53]

To vaccinate or not is a personal decision , while I do,I know flocks that have never and seem to be ok ,  if you are  organic you are asked to reduce your vaccinations to hopefully zero .

[Anke]

To vaccinate or not is a personal decision , while I do,I know flocks that have never and seem to be ok ,  if you are  organic you are asked to reduce your vaccinations to hopefully zero .

Well that's just idiotic IMO - we are not stopping vaccinating human babies against tetanus are we? Some diseases can only be eradicated by a thorough vaccination programme (polio and problems in Pakistan spring to mind) and other like tetanus will never be eradicated as bacteria are always present...

Another reason not to go organic...

[Womble]

Perfect, thanks Shep!

So I inject ALL of the sheep with 2ml each 4 weeks before lambing, then the 2 'new' ewes again 4-6 weeks later. Then the lambs get one dose at a minimum of 3 weeks old, plus a booster 4-6 weeks later. 

Four bottles though - will need to find someone else local who wants to share!

[Jukes Mum]

Four bottles though - will need to find someone else local who wants to share!

I would have thought that lots of people will be in the same situation and would like to share, but I have offered Hep P Plus sharing and had no interest. Strange.

[landroverroy]

Sheep carry worms. If on extensive grazing or sharing the pasture with other species it does not necessarily become a problem and they build up a natural immunity and can cope with the worms they have.
I would always worm when buying in unless I had detailed knowledge of their worming status. You could be bringing in a large worm burden that will adversely affect the lambs.
So I would worm the mothers but leave the lambs to give them a chance to develop a natural immunity. But keep a close eye on the lambs and if they start to scour badly then worm them as well.
I used to vaccinate, but haven't done for the last 20 years and have not had any deaths to my knowledge from clostridial diseases.
Obviously, this is just my opinion, and what works for me.