Sheep 2018 Farm to Fork, which takes place this Saturday 7 July in Teagasc Mellows Campus, Athenry, Co Galway, will include a major focus on flock health.

The flock health village combines the latest research and advice from across all vested stakeholders, with Teagasc specialists, the Department of Agriculture regional veterinary laboratories and veterinary specialists from animal health companies present to speak with producers.

The focus will centre on a range of important diseases which can take a heavy toll on flock health, some of which are increasing in frequency. This includes information on internal parasites, which will be split into two aspects.

The first includes viewing of parasites under microscopes, the latest research being carried out by Teagasc, along with advice on tackling parasite resistance to veterinary medicines. The second element is a workshop format demonstrating faecal sampling and drenching procedures and programmes that can be utilised.

The identification of resistance developing in sheep scab mites to commonly used macrocylic lactones in the UK has raised alarm bells. There will be a large practical exhibit covering all control options for external parasites at Sheep 2018.

Lameness is another ailment that continues to present massive challenges at farm level. A dedicated workshop will cover identifying the cause of lameness, treatment options and preventative programmes which should be adopted in light of a growing spotlight being placed on use of antibiotics and antimicrobial resistance.

The topic of reducing antibiotic usage also ties in with a workshop which will take place on the safe use of vaccines. This will deal with the role of vaccination in preventing disease, the time frames involved and correct administration and storage protocols.

There will also be information presented on emerging diseases which were previously classified as rare, but are now becoming more apparent to Irish farmers and the veterinary profession.

Two examples of such diseases include caseous lymphadenitis (CLA) and Jaagsiekte sheep retrovirus, with difficulties in detecting the disease and then putting a treatment and prevention programme in place adding to complications.

Emerging diseases in intensive units

There are new diseases which are emerging with a growing focus on finishing lambs intensively in a feedlot environment. Two parasitic diseases highlighted by the regional veterinary laboratory (RVL) which will be covered on the day are sarcocystosis and cysticercosis.

Both diseases affect the appearance of meat, causing significant cysts, abscessation and other faults and can result in partial or complete condemnation of carcases following veterinary inspection in meat plants. Both diseases have a life cycle involving carnivores (dogs, cats, foxes) and sheep.

The Department RVLs advise that issues occur more frequently with lambs finished intensively indoors due to a higher risk of feed or forage being contaminated.

Seamus Fagan from the Athlone RVL outlines the diseases and control measures.

Sarcocystosis is caused by a protozoan (microscopic single-celled organism) that lives in the intestine of carnivores and infects sheep if their feed or forage is contaminated by an infected dog or cat. The life cycle is completed if the sheep carcase is not properly disposed of and cats/dogs consume part of it and enable the cycle to continue.

Cysticercosis is caused by a tapeworm, Taenia ovis, which lives in the small intestine of dogs and foxes, and, again, is transmitted to sheep when they consume feed or forage contaminated by dog/fox faeces.

There will be a strong focus on developing health programmes that safeguard animal health while reducing the rate of resistance developing to commonly used veterinary medicines.

Seamus said: “At pasture, these diseases occur at very low prevalence and are almost impossible to completely eradicate, but they are relatively uncommon and cause very low levels of carcase trimming and condemnation.

“ In housed sheep, and especially where lambs are being fed mixed rations, the contaminated feed may be spread through a large amount of feed, and a lot more lambs or other sheep exposed. Thus the need for specific controls is much more acute in intensive rearing units,” he said.

The control measures recommended by the RVL for this group of diseases are very simple:

  • Worm dogs regularly on the farm with a wormer effective against tapeworms. This should be done every eight weeks with the farm dog on sheep farms – less frequent dosing risks infection with tapeworms and the shedding of eggs.
  • Ensure that meal is stored in a completely secure store, ideally in a purpose-designed steel silo. The stores should be secure and rodent-proof (to prevent other disease such as salmonella). A feed store that is mouse-proof definitely won’t be contaminated by a dog or a cat. Similarly, for forage storage areas, these are attractive areas for dogs and cats, and their exclusion from hay, straw or silage that is to be fed to sheep is essential.
  • Dispose of sheep carcases promptly and properly. Do not allow foxes, dogs or cats have any access to dead sheep. Control carcases, retrieve and store them securely in a predator-, bird- and rodent-proof store (eg an enclosed steel trailer), and dispose of them promptly.
  • Ensure that any farm you purchase stock from is implementing the same preventive measures, otherwise you may carry the risk and the cost of losses at the factory, even though you are implementing good preventive measures on your farm.