Plan now for managing coccidiosis

As winter lambing approaches farmers should be planning ahead to keep losses to a minimum, says Janssen Animal Health

“Coccidiosis can be a serious problem at lambing time, but farmer should be reassured that good management practices can reduce the risks and enhance productivity.

“Consider how your management practices during winter lambing might increase the risks – batch similar age lambs and try to avoid contact between them until some immunity has developed.”

Other management areas to consider include:

• Think about the risks of indoor lambing and take steps to improve hygiene, not just during lambing, but by cleaning out housing properly after lambing is finished.
• Be alert to the dangers of coccidiosis and consider the possibility in the face of reduced weight gain and mild scouring.
• Stress caused by a sudden bout of bad weather or other factors can act as a trigger – 45% of farmers told Janssen they felt bad weather was the main trigger on their farm – and you may be able to pre-empt the disease by timing treatment in line with known disease triggers on the farm.
• Treat early to avoid intestinal damage and future problems with weight gain

Trial work

One study involving a flock of milking sheep looked at the incidence of coccidiosis in early weaned lambs, separated into two groups of earlier lambs and later lambs.

The management practice was to move the first group of lambs into a clean shed after weaning at eight days of age. The later lambs were moved into the same shed after weaning.

It was found that 100% of yearlings excreted oocysts at least once, as well as 97% of ewes, but lambs showed different profiles between batches:

The older lambs excreted oocysts from five weeks of age, with most lambs being affected by six weeks and the highest levels of excretion occurring at about seven weeks.

The second group of lambs had already reached peak numbers affected and highest levels of infection by five weeks. Researchers concluded the second batch had predominately become infected by oocysts excreted by the older lambs.