Biosecurity measures

There are significant numbers of in-lamb ewes, foster ewes and pet/foster lambs being traded at present. Those purchasing need to be mindful of the biosecurity risks and take the necessary precautions.

Animals should be isolated on arrival and remain quarantined until such time that any risk of spreading disease has passed. In-lamb ewes should be lambed where at all possible in a separate area unless there is a robust background history and you are confident that no risks are present.

Enzootic abortion is a major threat to be on guard for and, as there are no visual warning signs, a good quarantine programme is essential. Lameness and external parasites are two significant risk factors while treatment should take place to guard against the risk of intruding resistant worms (treat with Zolvix and a moxidectin-based product) or liver fluke parasites (treat with trichlabendazole and another active ingredient).

Abortion incidence

As touched on above, every incidence of abortion in a flock should be treated as a potential outbreak, with ewes isolated and aborted materials handled with care. There will often be a case or couple of cases of abortion depending on flock size caused by factors such as ewes getting hurt or unrelated issues such as twin lamb disease leading to death of the foetus(es) and subsequent abortion.

Alarm bells should ring once abortion incidence hits 3%. The two most common causes of abortion are toxoplasmosis and enzootic abortion. Toxoplasmosis is characterised by the death of weak or mummified lambs or a mixture of one lamb appearing relatively healthy and another infected lamb while the placenta can also appear with white spots. Nothing can be done in the face of an outbreak.

Enzootic abortion generally occurs in the final two weeks of pregnancy. Lambs can be mummified or dead for a period and decomposing while it is also common in ewes going full term for stillbirths or the birth of weak lambs. The placenta often appears thickened. Administering a long-acting antibiotic (oxytetracycline) to remaining ewes in the flock in consultation with your vet can help reduce the number of subsequent abortions. It is important to submit samples through your vet for post-mortem analysis to get an accurate diagnosis.

Teagasc sheep conferences

The Teagasc lowland sheep conferences take place on Tuesday 28 January in the Great Southern Hotel, Killarney, Co Kerry, and on Thursday 30 January in the Springhill Court Hotel, Kilkenny. Both events start at 6pm. David Wall, Teagasc soil researcher in Johnstown Castle, will present strategies for the efficient use of nutrients including a discussion on protected urea. Teagasc sheep geneticist Noirín McHugh will discuss how improved genetics can be used to increase litter size and lamb growth rates along with the important role of performance recording in commercial flocks. Teagasc researcher Orla Keane will address anthelmintic resistance and outline sustainable strategies for administering wormers to slow the rate of resistance developing. Teagasc BETTER farm sheep programme participant John O’Connell will give his experience on how working to a business plan can reap rewards.

The Teagasc Hill Sheep Conference takes place on 19 February in Donegal.