The Mayo Mule and Greyface Group will have all stock at their upcoming breeding sales vaccinated with Heptavac P, having received their initial shot and booster well in advance of the sales. The decision to vaccinate all stock going to the sale was made in January at the annual general meeting.

This management practice follows on from other group decisions over the years from adopting a minimum weight for sale, to double tagging, for example, with the primary aim in listening to customers and delivering on their needs.

The replacement breeding group produces and sells its stock to lowland producers all over the country, and is continually looking at ways to improve returns from its enterprises through better grassland management, adopting better breeding technologies, keeping costs to a minimum and looking for feedback from longstanding and new customers as to how they can improve the stock and sales service.

According to Damien Barrett from the vet laboratory in Sligo, respiratory disease accounts for 12% of sheep deaths of all ages, with Pasturella pneumonia (Mannhaemia haemolytica) accounting for the vast majority of cases on the island of Ireland. Clostridial diseases continue to cause many deaths despite the availability of effective vaccines.

When ewe lambs and hoggets are transported, they are exposed to other sheep, marts, trailers and transported both short and long distances.

All these factors contribute to animals coming under stress which can in turn predispose them to pneumonia. The last thing any purchaser wants is to buy and bring home safely, real quality replacements, and find one dead the following morning or a few days later.

The buyer’s thoughts

John Flannelly farms 23 adjusted hectares just outside Ballinrobe town carrying 300 hoggets annually. The majority of the hoggets are bought at the annual sales and are sold the following year at the same sales. According to John, “vaccinating all stock gives great peace of mind and confidence to buyers who are coming to the sales”.

Sheep farmer John Fagan from Gartslandstown, Co Westmeath, is a regular visitor to the mule sale. He welcomes the initiative: “This will add value to the sale, as you are buying good-quality stock from farms with good health plans, leading to more uniform crossovers into sheep flocks.”

Tomas Carter farms 60ha in Killawalla, between Westport and Ballinrobe, carrying 16 sucklers and 200 breeding ewes. The Carters are in the breeding group over 20 years and produce ewe lambs for the sales. Tomas vaccinated the lambs with Heptavac P in late May and again in the last week of June.

Tomas said: “If I was buying in ewe lambs, I would like to see them vaccinated, reducing the risk of deaths.”

Oliver Cawley, Derryribbeen Clogher, Westport, farms 55ha, carrying 25 dairy cows and a 200-ewe flock. The Cawleys are bringing lambs to the sales for the last 23 years and Oliver thinks that it is vitally important farmers buying stock are covered for pneumonia. Farmers have seen the benefits of vaccines over the years, with prevention better than the cure. The costs are reduced in terms of labour and the vaccine cost also.

Details of upcoming sales are on the group’s website www.mayomuleandgreyface.com.

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