Sheep scab

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Sheep scab

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judith

Joined: 16 Dec 2004
Posts: 22789
Location: Montgomeryshire

Posted: Thu Apr 12, 12 10:58 am Post subject: Sheep scab

I have just been offered the use of some grazing for my sheep. We had them penned up and ready to go, when the chap who had been using the land has just 'fessed up that he has had scab in his flock, and had unfortunately been keeping half a dozen barren ewes on there temporarily. He tells me that he has treated them, but isn't 100% certain that they are clear.

My problem is that I really do need to move my sheep asap. I have four of last year's lambs that are going to the abattoir in a couple of weeks time, plus three ewes and six lambs that need some decent grass as I am spending a small fortune on feed and hay.

My thought was to put the lambs that are going to be slaughtered in there now, and then to move the other sheep and lambs in there once they have gone. Is that a really stupid idea? Or can I treat them prophylactically before I move them? Or something else that I haven't thought of?

VSS

Joined: 14 Jan 2007
Posts: 2845
Location: Llyn Peninsula, North Wales

Posted: Thu Apr 12, 12 1:15 pm Post subject:

Personally I wouldn't touch it with a barge pole.

BUT... you can treat prophylactically. There are two products commonly used for scab, Cydectin injection for sheep and Dectomax injection for sheep. We have used this on rare occasions when a neighbour has had scab, just as a precaution. It will also clear out most other worms. It would be OK for the ewes, but you would have to double check if it was OK to use in young lambs.

What you can't do is use either of these products on lambs going to slaughter in a couple of weeks. They both have pretty long withdrawl periods - I am not 100% sure but it might even be as long as 70 days!

The product data sheets are all available online so you should be able to get the information you need to help you make the right decision.

At least he told you BEFORE you took the sheep there

judith

Joined: 16 Dec 2004
Posts: 22789
Location: Montgomeryshire

Posted: Thu Apr 12, 12 1:24 pm Post subject:
Thanks for that, VSS. When you say you wouldn't touch it with a bargepole, do you mean not ever or not until the land had had a few weeks with no stock on it?

judith

Joined: 16 Dec 2004
Posts: 22789
Location: Montgomeryshire

Posted: Thu Apr 12, 12 1:25 pm Post subject:

VSS wrote:

At least he told you BEFORE you took the sheep there

Yes indeedy.

Rob R

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 31902
Location: York

Posted: Thu Apr 12, 12 1:29 pm Post subject:

judith wrote:

Thanks for that, VSS.

When you say you wouldn't touch it with a bargepole, do you mean not ever or not until the land had had a few weeks with no stock on it?

For me it'd be a case of putting cattle on it for at least one season.

judith

Joined: 16 Dec 2004
Posts: 22789
Location: Montgomeryshire

Posted: Thu Apr 12, 12 1:37 pm Post subject:
Ah well. Looks like I need a plan B.

Cathryn

Joined: 16 Jul 2005
Posts: 19856
Location: Ceredigion

Posted: Thu Apr 12, 12 5:57 pm Post subject:
Sheep scab lasts off the sheep sixteen days if there are no sheep to prolong the life cycle. There are other products you can use but they all have long withdrawal periods so not for those going to the abattoir. The sheep will not show many signs of scab in two weeks but it will prolong the cycle.

VSS

Joined: 14 Jan 2007
Posts: 2845
Location: Llyn Peninsula, North Wales

Posted: Thu Apr 12, 12 9:38 pm Post subject:

judith wrote:

Ah well. Looks like I need a plan B.

I think so.

judith

Joined: 16 Dec 2004
Posts: 22789
Location: Montgomeryshire

Posted: Mon Apr 16, 12 9:23 am Post subject:
A plan B has been found. Hurrah! Thanks for talking me out of doing something stupid.

Cathryn

Joined: 16 Jul 2005
Posts: 19856
Location: Ceredigion

Posted: Mon Apr 16, 12 11:41 am Post subject:
Is that pookie involved at all?

judith

Joined: 16 Dec 2004
Posts: 22789
Location: Montgomeryshire

Posted: Mon Apr 16, 12 11:42 am Post subject:
Not on this occasion. I think she may have been put off sheep for life!

pookie

Joined: 01 Aug 2006
Posts: 4984
Location: Mid-Wales

Posted: Mon Apr 16, 12 2:23 pm Post subject:

judith wrote:

Not on this occasion. I think she may have been put off sheep for life!

Noooooooo! I haven't, but if we had 8 ft high fencing with a 24 hour security guard on duty, I would have them no worries.

I'll even admit to crying just a little when they went

VSS

Joined: 14 Jan 2007
Posts: 2845
Location: Llyn Peninsula, North Wales

Posted: Mon Apr 16, 12 3:36 pm Post subject:

judith wrote:

A plan B has been found. Hurrah!
Thanks for talking me out of doing something stupid.

Any time

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