FW's Pembrokeshire Management Matters farm had trouble with inconsistent lamb size and some abortions last season - part of the flock has had an anti abortion vaccine this time to try and identify the cause of problems. Red clover in silage is a suspect...any thoughts or experience?

Suzie H:

Red clover in silage is a suspect...any thoughts or experience?

Why ? I didn't know clovers would affect lamb size. As far as I know the only problem with red clover is that it causes infertility at tupping. Far more likely to be an abortion problem of some sort or just pure and simple dietry problems ie some eating too much whilst others don't get enough.

I assume that they've been scanned and condition scored and sorted accordingly ??

Stress, over-handling shortly after tupping time and or dogs could lead to those problems.

Suzie H:

inconsistent lamb size

My first thoughts are:

Was there adequate space to feed silage?  Is there any connection between ewes affected and age or condition at lambing?  Had they been treated for fluke?

 

 

 I'm no vet but i would hazard a guess at stress

Sounds like a toxoplasmosis abortion problem, classic signs are weakly lambs and mixed sizes plus some abortions. Tends to be in the younger ewes and replacements. They develop immunity so this is why it tends to affect younger ewes. You canvaccinate with toxovax, normally just do replacements. It is meant to be spread by cats.

could they be low in something such as selenium and or vit E?, has the cake been analyzed or ewes checked that they are not deficient in anything?