Lamb vaccinations & sheep management

[shimmergirl]

I am trying to find out what I should do re vaccinations and immunisation for lambs. I asked my local vet and they had no idea. Where do I buy these from and what age do they get given them?

And any other advise regarding breeding and raising my small flock would be helpful.

Thank you.

[milifestyle]

This thread might help a little...

http://forums.permaculture.org.au/showthread.php?8247-more-shit-questions

[shimmergirl]

No not much help at all :-) sorry... although I did pick up this poster made reference on losing lambs, which may be related to my specific question.

What I do know is that lambs are or should be vaccinated with something but I don't know what this is, which prevents a disease which I think is called Stumpy Leg, which is caused by a protein build up from feeding grain, it causes them to become bloated and die. But this is all I know about it. I am seeking more information in relation to these vaccinations and where I get these from.

The worming and shearing are done yearly by my shearer at the same time.

[Grahame]

Are you growing your lambs organically?

It seems to me a solution for a problem where the sheep are reacting to being fed grain would be to stop feeding them grain. A healthy lifestyle with a well-rounded diet will go a long way to solving all sorts of problems

[shimmergirl]

Yes I am :-) At the moment I only grow enough to supply my family and my extended family, but I would like to eventually grow enough to supply locally.

Feeding excessive grain is definately a problem for the unvaccinated lambs. But feeding grain has its advantages.

My sheep run freely and graze all day on pasture, but at night I confine them to a smaller yard to keep them safe, feeding them grain makes them friendly and helps me keep their routine.

[Tegs]

I would recommend Pat Coleby and her book Natural Sheep Care, a wonderful source of information!!!!

[shimmergirl]

Thank you Tegs, I will go see if I can find it.. Thanks for that.

[geoff]

Hi Shimmergirl,

When I've helped with lamb marking in the past the lambs all get a shot of vaccine and a dose of drench at marking time. This marking is sometime around 2 months after birth (for some!) and then they get another dose of vaccine 4 - 6 weeks later at weaning time. The vaccines can cover a number of different afflictions (2 or 3 in 1 up to 6 in one, maybe even more these days). The following agfact has more information on vaccination programs, though it is a bit old (2005):

http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/179860/sheep-vaccination-programs.pdf

Your local rural supplies store will have the vaccines, drenches and other gear you need and can probably offer some better, locally applicable advice.

[shimmergirl]

6 in 1 is what I have heard. Thanks for this. I will have a look at that website.

No my local produces must be to city to stock them or know about them :-) My vet was no help either. I am going to go to see a vet further out today so maybe he will know and sell them.

[geoff]

No my local produces must be to city to stock them or know about them :-)

They've taken the "rural" out of rural supplies, lol!

[shimmergirl]

lol yes they have :-)

[eco4560]

Hi shimmergirl - have moved you over to the animal section in the hope that it gets you more answers.

[hardworkinghippy]

If lambs get colostrum from their ewe (or another ewe ideally in the same flock) they grow up fine and healthy and immune from many diseases without much in the way of veterinary help. You can inject for all sorts of things as a prevention, I suppose it depends on your area and what kind of diseases and conditions are prevalent.

We worm them after they've been on grass for a few weeks, keep them in for a couple of days until the worms have worked their way through the digestive system and possibly worm them again at six months depending on our pasture growth and if we've been able to adhere to the rotation programme. That's it.

[Tegs]

While were on the topic of sheep management I would like to pose a question (if no-one minds me hijacking the thread for a minute). I have a sheep with what I think is "buffle head" or "big head syndrome". All I can find out about it is that it is most likely caused by a weed in our pasture (crofton weed, i think) but I can't find any information on how to treat the sheep. All the information I have come across basically says that some animals die others don't ... not very helpfull! I could be wrong but it seems to have something to do with excess copper and locking up calcium within the sheep I have made sure there is extra dolamite out as a free choice mineral lick but I don't know if this will help or what else I can do.
Any advise would be greatly appreciated!!!

[Tegs]

P.S. Just like your experience Shimmergirl, my vet must be far to city as she is unable to help me at all :(

[Tegs]

My ewe is looking somewhat better today and eating well. FYI I gave her cod liver oil and olive leaf extract in her feed last night, not sure if it was the cause of the improvement but can't have hurt!?!?!?!

[Terra]

Worming sheep , we only worm once a year , best time is when its hot and dry (Worm Eggs struggle to survive) , easy here as we have long dry summers so a drench through january is ideal . More difficult if you have constant green feed , you will need more paddocks to spell from grazing .
Vaccinations will protect from a whole host of problems depending on your location , diet is critical for health and carcase and wool quality.

[DONBEAR]

Hope this helps.
The vaccines can be 5 in 1, 6 in 1 and 7 in 1. Basically the cover disease in sheep that can be fatal, such as tetanus, blacks disease and pulpy kidney. Generally the first vaccine is done at marking time 6-8 weeks of age then a booster is given 4 weeks later, then yearly to maintain resistance.
You can buy them from any Ag supplier, not sur what the smallest package is, maybe ten doses. The injection is given under the skin, not into the muscle.
Then consider drenching to complete the job.

[DONBEAR]

G'day Tegs,
Just check the gums, skin, and roll back the eyelids of your sheep. If they appear white, your sheep may have barbers pole worm. If so they need immediate attention. One of the signs is "bottle jaw", swelling under the jaw which then spreads to the whole head. You will not see any sign of the worm in the dung.
Drench with a multi-combination drench to save the sheep. It can be fatal.

[Tegs]

Thanks Donbear, The "big head" symptoms appeared after we cleared up a case of worms, the ewe was anaemic but no longer is. It definitely isn't bottle jaw, I have seen that before. In this case the swelling starts on the top of the face mostly around the nostrils and forehead... She seems to be getting better the extra minerals + cod liver oil and olive leaf extract must be doing some good. Fingers crossed!

I tend to think that vaccination is unnessasary, I like to take the organic approach where ever possible. Obviously if an animals life is on the line and there is a chemical treatment that will save them and no organic alternative then I am all for it.

[sun burn]

I would think the department of primary industries would help you find a suitable vet and information about raising sheep.

[adrians]

similar to buying things like fencing at reasonable cost.. i don't know where you are, but get away from urban / fancy / horsey areas and drop in at a good rural produce store.
They would be selling something non-organic though.. there are standard drenches available. I'll be looking into it when I finally get my fences happening

[shimmergirl]

Horses get Bighead to, it is caused by Kikuya grass if they are not supplimented when they are growing.

[shimmergirl]

Tegs that is so funny, one of my city vets that doesnt' know moved to Chinchilla.. lol

[shimmergirl]

Donbear that is what I was looking for, the man which told me about the vaccines who I can't get hold of now, said the name and I forgot.. 6 in 1 it was.. So now to find a supplier..

Thank you for this, cause I had no idea when to give it to them either.

What is better for the coast... 6 in 1 or 7 in 1?

[andrew curr]

photosensitization can also cause wool to fall off ears nose etc
caused by several varietys of plant summer growing usually
a rapid change in diet which you described will cause wool to break other forms of stress ie fly strike,worms etc will also cause this phenomenen
haemonchus contortus (barbers pole can kill rapidly)
grow some artemesia (wormwood)
wrere are ya shimmer (what climatic zone)
baa

[immago]

Right now sheep should be tanking up on fall fescues and such and probably wont want much hay unless this is not available. Post a pic of your new lamb? Id love to see a pic of a Royal White.

[shimmergirl]

Baaaa Andrew,

I am East of Brisbane in the Bayside. What is wormwood, is this safe for horses? Yes she got stuck into the foals dinner a couple of times so this may have caused it. We don't have a big fly problem, I hate fly's so am an avid fly baiter, swatter :-)

Immago what is fall fescues ? My sheep are standing up to their ears in green grass, even the horses don't get hay at the moment :-)

[andrew curr]

it grows well in briznyland
good luck

[shimmergirl]

Where can I buy it from, it sounds amazing?

[andrew curr]

i could send some back with my bro after easter
or try northey st

[shimmergirl]

What and where is Northey St?

How much and yes please that would be fantastic, I read about it and it sounds like a must have plant. There are 2 varietys is that correct? Which do you have?

[andrew curr]

there are more than 2 varietys ( i have lots of prostrate and some erect and one called mugwort)
northey st is an urben permaculture garden in brizvagas

[shimmergirl]

Oh wow I am going to go to these gardens:-) Where in Brisvegas are they?

Holey moley, haha go the names of them.. Do they all do the same thing, or do they have individual properties? I was really interested that I could use them as bug repellent, that would be great to spray on my animals and a better and cheaper alternative to what I use now.

[adrians]

they are on northey street, windsor.
Actually, I just dropped in over lunch, the very nice lady there, didn't have any potted up, but happily gave me some cuttings! Go northey street city farm! I promised to pass on cuttings to others when mine grows :-)