[shrekfeet]

I treated the ewes before they lambed. Do the lambs now need to be treated?

[VSS]

Yes. We do ours at shearing when the lambs are about 10 -12 weeks old as it fits in with when we fetch them off the hill

[Rosemary]

Yes, two doses, 6 weeks apart, then annually thereafter.

[egglady]

can someone remind me what haptavac does please?  and is it for girl lambs only?  boys? 

[ScotsGirl]

I thought only ewes (mothers) had the vaccination unless of course you are keeping ewe lambs for breeding?  I did mums only last year and this year and have had no problems.  All my lambs go to slaughter and my vet didn't recommend (or otherwise) doing lambs and the idea is doing during pregnancy protects lamb for first three months when most vulnerable.

Will have to call vet tomorrow now and check...

[Hellybee]

We did them all just to be on the safe side as it would be a pity to loose lambs just for the cost of a few quid.  It covers them for Pulpy kidney, Tetanus,lamb dysentery,  struck, , braxy, blackleg, black disease and clostridial metritis

[Shnoowie]

All of ours get done as soon as they are ready; I'd definitely advise doing it, as Hellybee said, it is better to be on the safe side!

[bazzais]

All sheep both young and old if not already started on a haptavac plan need two injections to start and then its only one annual booster thereafter.

The best time to give a ewe her booster is 4-6 weeks before pregnancy as she will pass some of this to her new lambies in her colostrum - these lambs will later on need to start with a two injection course as on the bottle instructions.

I spose many people may not vaccinate the boys if they are going to slaughter, but this is probably to do with taking an educated risk and having less medical outlays.  It will not do them any harm to give it too them.  If the ewes were fully upto date with their jab when they lambed then of course its less risk to leave your slaughter animals not covered than if they didnt, but its still a small risk.

Ta

Baz

[Rosemary]

Given the small number of sheep I have and the fact that the bottle is 20ml, I just do all the lambs.

[Anke]

Same here, the minimum size bottle just covers my 24 lambs! Also as I do not know when I will sell mine (some of the Shetlands are definitley staying on for mutton)  it seems a risk that is not worth taking.

As a matter of routine I also do ALL new stock that arrives, unless I buy from someone I trust.

Also goats will need the same vaccines, but Lambivac is recommended and at 6 monthly intervals for boosters.

[ballingall]

We use Heptavac for our goats, and have no issues. I would always do lambs as well, one year we had 6 orphan lambs, whose mothers had not been vaccinated. Only 1 of those orphan lambs made it past 8 weeks old.

Beth