Author Topic: Orf: should I be telling my neighbours (Read 1682 times)

Jon Feather · « **on:** January 04, 2016, 02:04:25 pm »

New to sheep and now they have orf. Don't know the etiquette here: do I tell mt neighbours or will they just think Im mad for telling them???

Marches Farmer · « **Reply #1 on:** January 04, 2016, 02:13:53 pm »

What's between your neighbour's land and yours? If it's fence and a good hedge, or a stone wall, the chance of orf being transferred across is miniscule.

Jon Feather · « **Reply #2 on:** January 04, 2016, 02:23:18 pm »

To the south there is a clear 30m of ungrazed land between our sheep and a neighbour. To the north and east there are just sheep netting fences. To the west: 40 miles of sea until you hit the Isle of Man (don't think this one will be an issue).

Thing is, I don't want to look a nana for ringing them up but want to give them the opportunity to move their sheep if it's a problem.

Anke · « **Reply #3 on:** January 04, 2016, 02:34:38 pm »

It may well be that's where yours is coming from.... but I don't have direct sheep-keeping neighbours, so can't really advise.

But really orf is just like Herpes in humans (same family of virus), you get it, live with it for a while and it will go away again/you should become immune... I would not classify it as a disease as such.

Womble · « **Reply #4 on:** January 04, 2016, 02:39:51 pm »

I'd tell the folks to the North and East, just because I'd like them to tell me if it was the other way round. What harm can it do?

Foobar · « **Reply #5 on:** January 04, 2016, 03:27:07 pm »

What you need to do is accidentally bump into your neighbours and in casual conversation ask about sheep, ask them how often they get orf etc, maybe also ask what other health problems are common in your area like fluke, scab etc. You probably got it from them / the local environment / any previous occupants.