Veterinary corner

Parasite Resistance.

In more recent times, further understanding of parasites and their development of resistance to anti-parasitic drugs has led us to the understanding that it is advantageous not to completely wipe out all the worms. Some of them need to be kept so that there is a population of worms on the farm that are susceptible to the drugs.

This can be achieved by specifically targeting key animals, not blanket treating all sheep, not treating the healthy ones. Pre lambing ewes and growing lambs are the worst affected by internal parasites, so just treat them. Use faecal samples to test the efficacy of your drenches. Weigh the animals and dose accordingly.

Update 2022

Regenerative farming - hot topic. This requires an active dung beetle population and thus massive reduction in the use of ivermectins. These compounds last a long time in the soil and will be detrimental to the fertility of your pasture. Please contact your vet to make a plan to reduce their usage.

Topic from 2017 - Antimicrobial Resistance

One of the topics bound to be discussed at the International Sheep Veterinary Congress in Harrogate in May is bacterial resistance to antibiotics.

This is when continued use of a single group of antibiotic leads to selection of a group of bugs resistant to the antibiotic. After a while they become the predominant strain and that particular antibiotic is rendered useless.

MRSA (Multiple Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus) is one such instance where this occurs. There is increasing focus on farming practices and the use of antimicrobials in the development of this problem.

MRSA is most often referred to in hospitals and in humans, but in a world wide effort to combat this issue, farming is on the front line. Already in the Netherlands the use of antibiotics in animals has been greatly reduced, they say with no major effects on production. Many of the practices they are currently using could be adopted here.

It is worth chatting to your veterinary surgeon about this issue and seeing whether there are area where you too could reduce antibiotic usage. Vaccination, footcare, shed constuction, general management etc can all be utilised in this way.

2020 UPDATE on Moxidectin 2% LA. New advice is for not treating lambing ewes every year or indeed rotating. Don't treat all sheep. Over-use with this particularly potent drug (often used fro scab treatment) is leading to resistance.

Maedi Visna

Maedi Visna is a viral disease of sheep causing pneumonia, mastitis and sometimes CNS signs. MV accreditation is a scheme offered by SAC to keep your flock free of the disease.

You need to find out about this diseas and make sure you are doing everything you can to protect from it. Join the SAC scheme, have two seperate flocks if you have to. This is a storm coming, especially in BFL.

On a lighter point, there are things you can do to salvage your flocks genetics should you get some sheep come down with it. If you email me, all communication will be carried out with the utmost discretion. Together we can beat this disease and protect your sheep and everyone elses.