Newborn lamb vaccinations essential this season, say vets
© Tim Scrivener UK sheep producers are being urged not to skimp on essential newborn lamb vaccinations to avoid deaths from the silent killers clostridial diseases and pasteurellosis.
The warning follows reports that sheep scanning results are down 20-40% on some farms compared with last year.
This means every newborn lamb will count and everything possible should be done to maximise the number of lambs reared, says sheep vet Phillipa Page from Flock Health.
About pasteurellosis and how to protect lambs
- Causes septicaemia in young lambs aged four to 10 months.
- Caused by B trehalosi and is the most common cause of death in lambs between August and December.
- Breeding ewes require a primary course of two injections given four to six weeks apart, followed by an annual booster four to six weeks before lambing. Immunity will be transferred to the lamb provided they have had adequate colostrum.
- Passive immunity runs out after a few weeks. Lambs should therefore be vaccinated themselves from three weeks of age and a second dose should be given four to six weeks later.
See also: 7 key lambing diseases: How to prevent and treat them
Ms Page says farmers facing a lower lamb crop must not react to a depressed productivity challenge by skimping on essential vaccinations that will protect young lambs against diseases that can cause significant mortalities.
“It looks like lamb numbers may well be down nationally this year. What sheep producers simply cannot afford to do is lose more lambs to easily preventable diseases.
“Clostridial diseases and pasteurellosis are both silent killers. Typically, the first sign a farmer will see is a dead lamb; sometimes losses can be catastrophic.
“In an era when proven and highly cost-effective vaccines are available, no lamb should die from a clostridial disease,” she adds.
Vaccinating lambs
Provided a ewe has been fully vaccinated against these two key disease threats, the colostrum her lambs receive shortly after birth gives them short-lived protection against pasteurellosis and clostridial diseases like pulpy kidney, braxy, blackleg and tetanus.
However, this so-called passive immunity only lasts for so long. This means lambs must be vaccinated themselves from three weeks of age, advises Ms Page.
About clostridial diseases and how to protect lambs
- The common diseases include pulpy kidney, braxy, blackleg and tetanus.
- Breeding ewes require a primary course of two injections given four to six weeks apart, followed by an annual booster four to six weeks before lambing. Immunity will be transferred to the lamb provided they have had adequate colostrum.
- Passive immunity runs out after a few weeks. Lambs should therefore be vaccinated themselves from three weeks of age and a second dose should be given four to six weeks later