[Hillview Farm]

Turned out 12 days ago. Have a lamb that is mucky at the back end. The ewes are a little loose and this lamb tucks into cake when I feed the ewes.

Waiting for a fec. Does this sound like worms or am I over worrying and it's likely to be a lamb that's eaten too much grass and cake.

[Tim W]

1) get on ebay and buy a cheap microscope and a McMaster slide so that in future you can do your own FEC and make a decision within minutes rather than days via the vet

2) Dosing an individual lamb wont hurt so get on with it if you are worried---you can always do the rest next week if needs be

(if they have grass do they need cake too?)

[Melmarsh]

Unfortunate that your vet takes days, I get a pm answer if taken in am. I would have thought unlikely to be worms as insufficient time as yet since turnout for a cycle of worm development unless your ewes had a problem at lambing. You don't say how old the lamb is ??  More likely to be grass and rub and a little Piggie on your hands !! 

[Marches Farmer]

How long were they in the shed for?  Could have taken Coccidiosis outside with it.  Did you worm the ewes at housing or after lambing?  Could make a considerable difference to the worm burden on your pasture.  Is the field they're in one that was used for turnout last year?  Ditto, if so.

[farmvet]

How old are you lambs? Were there lambs on the field last year? Up here we've had a perfect conditions for a big rise of nematodirus on the pasture. Acute larval infections can kill lambs long before eggs are produced so although egg counts are useful for general worming they are misleading for nematodirus. Have a chat with your vet and see what the risk is like in your area. Sustained cold conditions prevent the larvae developing then when it does get warm there can be a massive synchronised development on the pasture. They are usually sensitive to white wormer even if you have resistance problems with other worm species. You usually need to redoes in 10days or shift to a lower risk field.