Coccidiosis risk

7 June 2002

Coccidiosis risk

FLOCKMASTERS with May-born lambs should avoid overstocking or they risk coccidiosis infection, according to VLA sheep specialist Mike Sharp.

"Producers who have moved to later lambing in an attempt to cut costs, may be stocking ewes and lambs tighter on summer grass and should beware of coccidiosis infection,"

The main period of infection for lambs is from three to nine weeks old. Most spring lambing flocks should be at the latter stages of risk now.

However, later lambing flocks are now at the peak of this period. Producers can minimise the risk of infection by supplementing grass with creep feeds or mineral blocks which include in-feed medication. &#42