A flock of 150 ewes arrived to Tullamore Farm on Thursday afternoon. About 140 of the ewes are Mules, with 10 Texel x Mule ewes contained in the batch.

The farm was lucky to come upon an entire flock when the previous owner changed his system from lambing ewes to operating a ewe lamb-to-dry-hogget replacement enterprise.

Having an age profile allows the farm to get up and running from the outset, with ewes aged from two and a half years upwards.

They join 20 hoggets purchased in July through the Mayo Mule and Greyface Group.

Quarantine period

On arriving to the farm, the ewes were transferred straight on to a quarantine programme.

Two worm treatments were administered to reduce the risk of importing worms that have developed anthelmintic resistance.

The two products used were Zolvix, a prescription-only medicine with the active ingredient monepantel, and Cydectin Triclamox, which is a moxidectin-based wormer.

Ewes received a two-product worm treatment to reduce the risk of introducing worms with anthelmintic resistance on to the farm. They also received the Footvax vaccine.

Startect, the combination product with the new active ingredient derquantel and abamectin, is the other product on the market that can be used instead of Zolvix in the latest quarantine programme recommended.

Cydectin Triclamox also contains the active ingredient trichlabendazole which covers early immature, immature and mature liver fluke.

The ewes will also receive treatment with a flukicide with another active ingredient, as per Teagasc quarantine recommendations.

The ewes were previously on a vaccination programme for lameness and received the footvax vaccine on arrival.

They will also be foot-bathed while the new flock and the hoggets will be plunge-dipped to cover against all external parasites at the earliest opportunity. There are no dipping facilities on the farm so a contractor with a mobile plunge dipper will be used.

Toxoplasmosis

Outside of this, the farm is also in consultation with its vet about a vaccination programme for toxoplasmosis and enzootic abortion.

The disease status of the flock is known with no previous issues with enzootic abortion. Therefore, it is likely that just the batch of 20 ewe hoggets that were purchased earlier will be vaccinated.

The ewes were divided temporarily into two groups and will be grouped on turnout depending on body condition score.

Ewes are being maintained indoors while the health treatments are being administered. They are bedded on straw and have access to hay.

The ewes will also be graded on condition in the coming days and those requiring preferential treatment will be let to reseeded pastures while ewes in strong condition will be placed on a maintenance diet until breeding begins in late October.

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