Some e ssentials from the Vet

1. Some essentials from the Vet By Emily Ross BVM&S MRCVS

2. Vaccination • Worming • Ectoparasites

3. Register with Rural Payments Agency and Defra (CPH number). Poultry register, cattle passports • Movement restrictions and licences • Disposal • Display contact numbers

4. 5 freedoms • 1. Freedom from Hunger and Thirst - by ready access to fresh water and a diet to maintain full health and vigour. • 2. Freedom from Discomfort - by providing an appropriate environment including shelter and a comfortable resting area. • 3. Freedom from Pain, Injury or Disease - by prevention or rapid diagnosis and treatment. • 4. Freedom to Express Normal Behaviour - by providing sufficient space, proper facilities and company of the animal's own kind. • 5. Freedom from Fear and Distress- by ensuring conditions and treatment which avoid mental suffering.

5. Nutrition and condition

8. Vaccination

9. Clostridial diseases in sheep Blackleg, braxy, malignant oedema, several types of enterotoxemias, and tetanus. The most common infections tend to be enterotoxemia types B, C and D lamb dysentery, bloody scours and pulpy kidney disease respectively

10. From 3 weeks of age 2 doses 4-6 weeks apart then annually Under the skin (subcutaneous/sc) Give ewes a booster 4-6 weeks pre lambing for protection to lambs from colostrum

11. Pasteurella Causes septicaemia in young lambs during the spring and summer, pneumonia in older sheep and mastitis in ewes.  Common cause of sudden death in lambs

12. Abortion EAE- Chlamydophila abortus- responsible for over half of infectious abortions. Transmission is at lambing time (bought in sheep). Toxoplasma- responsible for 25% of abortions. In cat faeces. Both affect people (esp pregnant women), care with vaccine. Vaccinate replacements and new sheep at least 4 weeks pre-tupping

13. Other Vaccines • Orf (Scabivax)- from 1 day old but not less than 7 weeks pre lambing. Do not use if orf is not a problem • Footrot (Footvax)- 2 injections 4-6 weeks apart, every 6 months (or yearly if controlled). Do not do if moxidectin 1% has ever been used • Louping-ill

16. Goats • Different immune system • Only really get enterotoxaemia (perfringenstype D) and tetanus • Lambivac (5 in one) every 6months

17. Colostrum • Vaccines given to sheep can be of real benefit to their lambs. For this to work • Ewes need their booster at the right time • Lambs must get colostrum (50ml/kg within 2 hours of birth)

18. Vaccination in pigs • Suiseng- vs ETEC, necrotic enteritis and Clostridium novyi • Erysipelas • Porcine circovirus 2 • Atrophic rhinitis • Respiratory disease

19. Vaccination in poultry • MareksDisease (given to day old chicks) • Infectious Bronchitis (IB) • Avian RhinoTracheitis (ART) • Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) 2 injections 4 weeks apart then annual • Salmonella only protects against certain strains

20. Some tips • Make sure animals are dry and equipment is clean • Don’t vaccinate sick animals • The second dose really is important where needed • Is the vaccine beneficial in pregnant animals or not allowed?

21. Parasites • Worms • Fluke • Lice • Mites • Blowfly

22. Worms in ruminants • A complicated subject • Has a big impact on ruminants when unmanaged Management relies on • Worm egg testing • Pasture management • Appropriate treatment

23. Sheep have an age related immunity • Goats do not! • Resistance to wormers is common • Many animals are wormed when they don’t need it • Follow recommendations from your Vet and NADIS- worms are highly weather dependent • Worm at lambing time (periparturiant rise)

24. Faecal Worm Egg Counts • Start collecting from around June • Fresh samples from at least 6 animals from each group, pooled • For example when the lambs come to feed, pen them in for 10 minutes, then collect off the ground • Cheap and quick test. Drop in or post

25. Quarantine • Bought in animals can bring in resistant worms • Treat with two different wormers on arrival (one should be the new generation- monepantel or derquantel) • Keep on hard standing for 48 hours (so resistant worms are shed here and not on pasture)

26. Fluke • Life cycle involves a water snail, which needs wet areas to live in • Fluke (and resistant fluke) can be brought in with sheep • Treat all incoming sheep with triclabendazole • Follow parasite forecasts and use testing (faecal, blood tests, abattoir reports)

27. Coccidiosis • Orphans and later born lambs at risk • Usually 4-6 weeks old but also after stressful event such as weaning or in bad weather • Rapid weight loss, straining and foetid diarrhoea • Faecal exam • Decoquinate, diclazuril and toltrazuril • Hygiene move feeding troughs

28. Ectoparasites

29. Lice • Sheep with underlying problems/ in poor condition are affected the worst • Highciscypermethrin or deltamethrin pour ons, best used soon after shearing • Also Diazinon and OP dips • Injections don’t work

30. Sheep scab (Psoroptes ovis) • Causes severe reactions • Dip or injection (ivermectin, doramectin, moxidectin) • Showers and pour onsdo not work • Survive in the environment for 17 days

31. Does this sheep have scab or lice? • There is no way of knowing without testing • Treatment for scab is complicated and if one sheep is missed, it will spread again as soon as the product has worn off • Get advice

32. Biosecurity • Quarantine treatments eg moxidectin injection which will also treat worms • Neighbours

33. Blowfly • Watch the forecast • Protect all sheep • 80% of flocks have at least one case every year • Pour ons, spot ons and plunge dips- watch for duration of protection • Watch for faecal staining, footrot and tail swishing

34. Pig parasites • Worms- thin sows should be suspected of having worms. Treat 2-4 times a year. • Lungworms- via earthworms. Coughing and weight loss. Worm every 4 weeks. • Also Ascaris and Trichuris • Worming should be integrated with movement to new ground. • Avermectins and benzimidazoles

35. Coccidiosis in piglets • Scouring in suckling piglets from 10-20 days of age • Caused by isospora suis • An accurate diagnosis in needed • Hygiene. Difficult to disinfect

36. Ectoparasites of pigs • Sarcoptesscabeisuis • 2 injections of avermectineliminatesthem • Treat on arrival

37. Lice in pigs • Common, especially in winter months. • Visible if you look closely • Inject with an avermectin

38. Poultry parasites • Worms • Red Mites • Northern Fowl Mite • Scaly Leg Mites • The Depluming Mite • Lice

39. Poultry worms • check your stocking density and condition of your litter. • move free ranging birds onto fresh pasture to minimise worm burden. • test faeces • routinely worm your birds with Flubenvet, recommended at least every 3 months. Add to food for 7 days, there is no withdrawal for eggs. • use deep litter woodchips and gravel. Completely remove this once a year and replace.

40. If in doubt, get advice • From a friend • From reliable websites and publications • From your vet

41. Resources • Rural Payments Agency (0845 603 7777) • DEFRA (www.gov.uk/defra) eg code of recommendations • National Animal Disease Information Service (www.nadis.org.uk) a great resource, including parasite forecasts • Sustainable Control of Parasites in Sheep, SCOPS www.scops.org.uk • National Sheep association www.nationalsheep.org.uk • National Farmers Union www.nfu.org.uk • Goat Veterinary Society www.goatvetsoc.co.uk • British Veterinary Camelid Society www.camelidvets.org • www.britishllamasociety.org British Alpaca Society www.bas-uk.com • British Pig Association www.britishpigs.org.uk • British Veterinary Poultry Association www.bvpa.org.uk • Your Vet