Author Topic: Sudden scour (Read 2838 times)

ThomasR · « **on:** May 10, 2016, 11:28:53 am »

Hi guys
Over the past week all my ewes and lambs have suddenly got really bad scour. What causes this, the ewes were wormed before going out a few weeks ago but I wormed them again along with the lambs on friday. They were getting scour in one field so I moved them into a different field with slightly better grazing and now it has gotten worse and with some lambs they are white with a black bum. I wormed them with endospec which is what I have always used since I started with sheep. I s there a better wormer or is it not worms that have caused the scour. Is there anything I can do to stop this as it will attract blow fly and It will make showing and shearing difficult and horrid.

m3joeEm · « **Reply #1 on:** May 10, 2016, 11:42:12 am »

Read label, Ensure the wormer covers nematodes. If no improvement And if the lambs are anywhere around 4-6 weeks then If it was me I would dose for coccidiosis with vecoxan. Vecoxan is very expensive so you may want to get a Dung sample done first to eliminate other problems.

m3joeEm · « **Reply #2 on:** May 10, 2016, 11:43:20 am »

I normally rotate wormers from time to time , they can build resistance of the same class of wormer is used repeatedly.

ThomasR · « **Reply #3 on:** May 10, 2016, 11:44:57 am »

Ok thanks will go into vets tomorrow. It's odd because there are a few ewes and lambs that don't have any sign of scour

SallyintNorth · « **Reply #4 on:** May 10, 2016, 11:45:26 am »

Have they been fluked?

m3joeEm · « **Reply #5 on:** May 10, 2016, 11:49:43 am »

Good point Sally . Thomas nadis is a good site with a parasite forecast, coupled with good stockmanship it gives a good idea what to watch out for every month http://www.nadis.org.uk/parasite-forecast.aspx

Fleecewife · « **Reply #6 on:** May 10, 2016, 11:51:51 am »

Bimastat aka pink mixture from the vet is very useful for drying up the scours in the short term whatever the cause. Obviously you would treat the cause as well.

fsmnutter · « **Reply #7 on:** May 10, 2016, 12:26:35 pm »

Could it just be from the fresh grass?
Worth getting samples to the vet who can discuss risks of various parasites in your area and your fields specifically and advise a worming plan.
It is no longer recommended to rotate wormers to prevent resistant worms developing because you are selecting for worms that are resistant to multiple drugs!
Look at scops website and ask your vet to get the best tailored advice.

Marches Farmer · « **Reply #8 on:** May 10, 2016, 12:26:50 pm »

I suggest checking out the SCOPS website for the latest thinking on worm resistance. Basically you need to switch wormer groups (white/yellow/clear) as resistance builds up over time and any resistant worms passed onto the pasture will breed with those still on the pasture, even if they're not resistant, and produce more wormer resistant worms. Are you using the same field or turnout each year? If so it may be carrying a very high worm burden. Might be worth getting a FEC count done by your vet so you target the problem correctly.

Foobar · « **Reply #9 on:** May 10, 2016, 12:38:38 pm »

Get a FEC done.
The wormer you used is a group 1 wormer so would cover nematodirus (the only worm that sometimes doesn't show in a FEC). Sudden scour is unlikely to be fluke (in my opinion), especially if your lambs are also scouring.
It could be the lush grass, so put some hay out and see if they take any - it can help their poo dry/firm up.

ThomasR · « **Reply #10 on:** May 10, 2016, 01:12:38 pm »

Hi
Yes we only have 3 smallish fields so there are lambs on our main one each year but this is our second year lambing. I will go in and speak to the vet tomorrow or this afternoon to see what the problem is and get a test done.