Animal health
Sheep producers urged to protect lambs this spring
S
heep producers are be- ing urged to protect fl ocks from preventable diseases after pregnancy scanners reported many ewes carrying fewer lambs than last year. Some fl ocks are carrying 20- 40% fewer lambs than last season, according to fi gures from MSD An-
Key points
• Clostridial diseases and pasteurellosis threaten unvaccinated lambs • Colostrum from vaccinated ewes helps protect newborn lambs • Adequate colostrum in fi rst 24 hours lasts for a limited period • Vaccination of lambs from three weeks of age boosts protection
imal Health. The concern is that productivity could be driven low- er unless action is taken to max- imise lamb numbers.
Challenging Farmers facing a lower lamb crop this spring should avoid making the season even more challeng- ing by skimping on essential vac- cinations that protect young lambs against diseases which can cause signifi cant mortalities, say experts. “It looks like lamb numbers
may well be down nationally this year, but if we get a kind spring weather-wise that will certain- ly help producers maximise the number of lambs reared, which is what counts,” says sheep vet Phil- lipa Page from Flock Health. Sheep producers simply cannot afford to lose more lambs to easi- ly preventable diseases, she adds. “In an era when proven and high-
ly cost-effective vaccines are avail- able, no lamb should die from a clostridial disease.” Changes in the weather, diet and parasite infection – which can trigger clostridial disease and pas- teurellosis in lambs – are diffi cult to mitigate, so vaccination of these newborns is essential, advises Ms Page.
Passive immunity
Colostrum given to lambs shortly after birth from a ewe fully vacci- nated against these two key dis- ease threats gives lambs provides short-lived protection against pas- teurellosis and clostridial diseas- es like pulpy kidney, braxy, black- leg and tetanus. But Ms Page warns: “This so- called passive immunity only lasts for so long. This means lambs must be vaccinated themselves from three weeks of age.”
Lamb numbers are expected to be lower in some fl ocks
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APRIL 2019 • ANGLIA FARMER 67
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