Author Topic: Short date medications (Read 9987 times)

Dans · « **on:** April 11, 2016, 10:51:43 pm »

Hi

Another silly newbie question. Just bought our first sheep medication, crovect, but the expiry date on it seems really short, 08/16. They say that it has 18 months from packaging so 4 months seems really short. Should I complain to where I bought it from or is this standard? Thanks

Dans

Fleecewife · « **Reply #1 on:** April 11, 2016, 11:12:27 pm »

I would certainly complain Dans - you will only get 4 months use from it. When we have bought Crovect it has always had a good year and a bit of lifetime.
They're just dumping old stock on you - make them change it. Was it bought online, or from a shop?

Hellybee · « **Reply #2 on:** April 12, 2016, 12:19:43 am »

I think it does deteriorate. I would very annoyed. Ask for your money back. We only keep it just in case now, but I did use it as a lice spray earlier on. clik n click zen brilliant.

Dans · « **Reply #3 on:** April 12, 2016, 01:13:31 am »

It was online. I'll give them a call in the morning. I'm really annoyed as we are away at the weekend so wanted to get the girls done before we went and tomorrow is the only day we have someone to watch our daughter (with all the stories I've heard about crovect being awful I don't want her near).

Dans

nimbusllama · « **Reply #4 on:** April 12, 2016, 08:44:30 am »

How long are you away?... your sheep shouldn't need Crovect yet as the flies are not about, especially as they are Castlemilk Moorits, with not much fleece and are not prone to fly strike as a breed. I would imagine they will be fine until you come back.

pharnorth · « **Reply #5 on:** April 12, 2016, 09:53:00 am »

It's a seasonal product so the manufacturers will estimate the year's needs and make a few batches, but it is probably not made all year round so you have some of last year's stock. 18month shelf life means either it degrades below specification between 18 and 24 months or that it hasn't been tested and the data registered for 24 months. Realistically as a pour on it is something I would use to the end of this season (October). To be fair to the supplier, if they don't hold last year's stock over winter (e.g for lice) then they have no stock and 6 months is fine if you are dosing a sizeable flock in the spring and going to use it all.

nimbusllama · « **Reply #6 on:** April 12, 2016, 10:32:20 am »

Another thought .... if you want to use the fleece for hand spinning, most spinners will not want Crovect on it..... I don't usually do my CM's until after shearing if I can avoid it...

Dans · « **Reply #7 on:** April 12, 2016, 11:15:52 am »

Gave them a call and they said their whole seller only supplies it with a 6 month guarantee so that is the only guarantee they do. This only has 4 months left so they will take it back and refund.

We're only away for the weekend but I've seen a few flies out and I went on a course about an hour away the other weekend and his sheep already had some eggs laid, though they were in need of dagging and he thought they were old eggs.

Nimbusllama when do you shear?

We'll gather them up today anyway give them a check and see if they need dagging. Flystrike is the one thing that makes me really nervous abut keeping sheep.

Thanks guys

Dans

Hellybee · « **Reply #8 on:** April 12, 2016, 11:31:34 am »

What? Greenbacks? Already?

Hellybee · « **Reply #9 on:** April 12, 2016, 11:34:45 am »

I hope not, although we have been on about spraying a little earlier, we started mid may last year.

Dans · « **Reply #10 on:** April 12, 2016, 11:42:29 am »

Not been close enough to see colour but large flies resting on the sheds in the sun and on the brickwork of the house. Is it only the greenbottles I need to worry about?

Dans

Hellybee · « **Reply #11 on:** April 12, 2016, 11:55:34 am »

Yes. They as big as bluebottles. But are green where the other is blue. Very beautiful but vile in equal measures. There's plenty of reading out there. Type in blowfly. Lucilia seracata (sp.)

Preventatives, we use clik or clik zen. Clik for lambs, click zen for ewes as its got a shorter action, ready for shearer, beginning of July. But saying that if we spray earlier the ewes will be clik ed too.

nimbusllama · « **Reply #12 on:** April 13, 2016, 08:48:01 am »

I usually have mine shorn mid to end of May.... they will be done a week or so before Staffordshire County Show which is 1st-2nd June. I imagine the sheep you saw with eggs were not CM's? I think you are being over cautious especially if your sheep don't have dirty bottoms.

Hellybee · « **Reply #13 on:** April 13, 2016, 11:37:48 am »

Why are castle Moorits less likely to get strike? very genuine question?

Womble · « **Reply #14 on:** April 13, 2016, 12:22:55 pm »

Short fleece, tails without much wool, and not as prone to having long daggy bits hanging about!

Short date medications - The Accidental Smallholder