sheep special
october 2011
ram health checks
the value of lambs
cover photo by ren apatu other photos by Richard Hilson
BEEF FOR PROFIT
flystrike
www.vshb.co.nz
How to be the Best Sheep Shagger
Article by Richard Hilson
If ewe want to get the best results in a ewe breeding flock, ewe really
need to be thinking about ewesing teaser rams. Seriously.
Teaser rams will perform two duties in an efficient ewe flock. With
the right timing, they can synchronise the cycling activity of two
tooth and MA ewes so that lambing starts on time and with a
rush. This has the effect of allowing spot-on timing for vaccinating
and set-stocking as well as ensuring bigger lambs, earlier. Do not
underestimate the effect of early birth date in lambs- dragging the
average birth date forward by 10 days could add over 3kg to the
average weaning weight. Or allow you to wean earlier.
This isn’t everyone’s cup of tea as many naysayers do not want the
risk of a storm hitting in the middle of a frantic lambing period. But
does a protracted lambing expose you to risk of more than one
storm? For many Hawkes Bay flocks with mating dates up to the third
week of March, use of teaser rams will have significant benefits.
The other use of the same teasers is for giving ewe hoggets some
ram exposure and sexual experience without the risk of unwanted
pregnancy. This can allow identification of those hoggets that cycle
for selection as two tooths (by using ram harnesses on the teasers)
but this is the least common use of teaser rams.
By putting the teasers in with your ewe hoggets as soon as they
finish with the older ewes, you will allow more of the young ewes to
get pregnant when the real rams arrive. Expect more hoggets to get
in lamb in the mating period (typically 25 days from the start of May)
and for many to get in lamb early.
I believe there is no synchrony effect as lambing in teased hoggets
tends to occur over a full cycle but the effect is usually to avoid mass
lambings late in the expected lambing period. Again, the effect
Ram health checks
The snip
on weaning weight can be marked and you have better options
for a weaning date. If all the ewes lamb in the last week of October
instead of early October, the recommended 70 day weaning for
hoggets will be after Christmas. Does that limit your options? Will it
be dry by then?
We can prepare teasers for you (preferably from retained ram lambs,
not failed/culled sire rams) or point you in the right direction to buy
some sexy two tooth rams that have already had the snip and are
ready to shag!
Sound like you could gain a bit of production in your ewe flock? You
bet.
Article by Richard Hilson
Right now, with new spring lambs on the ground, we are exactly half
a year away from needing our sire rams to do their job again. And
now is a really good time to get them vet-checked for a clean bill of
health.
We organise “Ram Runs” annually to visit as many local rams as
possible. The timing is important as...
• We avoid the big pre-Christmas rush
• Rams that are culled can be replaced easily as the ram selling
season will be just underway
• The identified “simple” issues like scrotal mange or scald can be
remedied well before mating season.
• Issues of serious wastage like brucellosis can be tested or culled
out promptly. This is especially important as rams are relatively
sexually inactive now so transmission of this significant venereal
disease is limited.
Your ram breeder gets all his sale rams vet-checked before sale and
our local breeders are particularly careful when culling. There are
some very good rams turfed out that may have some minor faults,
such as uneven testicle size or small testes. You can buy replacement
sire rams from accredited breeders with confidence as they will
have all rams checked annually and all sire rams are blood tested to
ensure freedom from brucellosis.
Big single lambs from teased ewes
If you have been part of our “Ram Runs” before, we will be in contact
with you soon. If you feel you have missed out before and want your
investment in rams to be guaranteed, please ring the clinic and we’ll
make it happen.
Hawkes Bay Seasonal Comment
The weather has to be the main talking point — wonderful “dry”
weather has made things simple.
While last month snow did bowl significant numbers of lambs
on a few farms, those already lambed/calved or yet to start have
reported some very good results. Early docking tallies indicate
good lamb survival, which is a bit of a bonus as the extra lambs
will go some way to making up the shortfall in scanning results.
Dairy cows are happy too with few calving or metabolic issues
on the whole (shouldn’t try to speak for everyone because it
hasn’t all been simple!). From a veterinary perspective, we most
certainly haven’t been rushed off our feet this spring.
Watch out for virgin pregnancies in heifers as there are a few of
those popping up now.
Hogget lambing will be underway, hopefully in more good
weather. Cows should be tail painted pre-mating and if the sun
shines often enough, mating should start with a flurry.
Things are pretty rosy really. If we could dial up the weather,
we’d probably ask for some warm easterly rain now as things
have certainly dried out. Just a bit of rain though and no snow.
And no wind. Just warm rain for a day or two. Please...
Dannevirke Local Round Up
This season has seen some great weather for lambing in the
Tararua region after the snow melted. This has been very
welcome after last year’s poor lamb and calf survival rates due
to horrendous weather. Calving has been ticking along for the
dairy farmers with very few metabolic issues. Although things
are still very green we need some rain as it is very dry under foot.
Chronic non progressive pneumonia (CNPP)
Acute progressive pneumonia seen in sheep of all ages but especially
in weaned lambs
Chronic Pneumonia
• Usually seen in lambs between 3 -10 months.
• This is a complex disease caused by a combination of viruses,
bacteria and mycoplasmas.
• Usually no clinical evidence of disease is seen but research
has shown it does cause significant suppression of live weight
gain(LWG) and downgrading of carcasses due to pleurisy. On
today’s lamb values that would equate to about $5.00 for
every lamb slaughtered in NZ.
• Vaccines to reduce the incidence of disease have been tried but
results to date have been disappointing.
• Prophylactic antibiotics have also been trialed with some success
but the implementation of such a program is impractical and the
chance of widespread antibiotic resistance is high. We see no
place for antibiotics in the prevention of this disease.
Acute Progressive Pneumonia:
• Can be seen in outbreak form in sheep of all ages but especially
in weaned lambs.
• It is also a major cause of ill thrift and death in ewes and rams.
• This is probably an extension of CNPP caused by a rapid
proliferation of the bacterial component.
• Signs are obvious with weight loss, coughing, heavy breathing,
exercise intolerance and death.
• Treatment of early clinical cases may be helpful.
• Those that recover may be permanently ill thrifty.
So….. What can you do to prevent these diseases??
• Don’t shear lambs at or around weaning. High Risk!!
• Promote maximum LWG and “good health” in lambs. This
includes weaning onto high quality pasture, Vitamin B12
if needed, regular worm treatments (monthly?), fly control
Article by Jeremy Cullwick
We have seen several cases of abortions in beef cows and a
couple have been due to Leptospirosis pomona. There have now
been 7 cases of Leptospirosis pomona abortion outbreaks in
beef cows here over the last 4 years. In some cases up to 20% of
the cows have aborted. So vaccination is well worth considering
if you are not currently doing so!
Sheep Pneumonia
There are 2 types of pneumonia that
affect sheep in NZ
Article by Richard Hilson
article by Mark Matthews
•
•
•
•
•
•
including docking treatments etc. The older the lamb is at
slaughter the higher the risk of pneumonia . High Risk!!
Breeding your own ewe replacements is also High Risk!!
Terminal breeds may be less susceptible and when crossed with
a maternal line, the resultant cross bred (non replacement)
lambs may be more resistant.”
Use Merino based sires. Low Risk!! Be prepared to suffer the
consequences of the other health issues these breeds present if
you follow this path e.g. footrot, parasitism etc.
Prevent hyperthermia i.e. overheating. The main cause of
overheating of sheep in NZ is over zealous mustering. If you see
lambs mouth breathing while mustering they are over heated.
High Risk!!
Don’t shower dip lambs. Potential high risk! Use electrodip,
sprayons etc.
Avoid dusty yards. Utilise sprinkler systems especially on
concrete.
Take the Pratley yards to the lambs for their animal health
treatments.
Sheep pneumonia is a complex disease for which we have few
answers. Follow the basic guidelines above and hopefully the
impact of this serious production limiting disease will be minimised.
The value of lambs
be quick off the mark when they get crook
or don’t grow
The last twelve months has seen a dramatic increase in the value of
lambs. The bulk of the current lamb crop for this year is now on the
ground and if not, will be shortly which means the numbers of lambs
for farmers is set for this season. The way to increase your potential
income from these lambs is to ensure they grow at their optimum
levels. An investment in any of the following factors that could be
affecting lamb growth rates on your farm will yield a better return
than before.
Maximised lamb growth rates mean lambs reaching target
liveweights earlier. There are numerous benefits for the sheep
production system as a whole including:
1 More efficient rate of conversion. Faster growing lambs have a
higher efficiency of conversion (kg meat grown/unit feed intake)
than slower growing lambs of the same weight.
2 Less overall feed requirement for lambs and therefore more for
ewes pre-tup.
3 Less overall animal health inputs required. e.g. Drenching, trace
minerals.
4 Improved financial return for lambs.
5 Improved performance of the adult ewe.
6 Ability to reach target weights to mate hoggets if doing so.
So your lambs aren’t growing to their potential? It is critical to act
quickly if your lambs become crook or their growth rates suddenly
tumble. There are many different factors that come together in order
to achieve high lamb growth rates.
Feed Quality/ Quantity
If this is the reason for your lamb growth rates being low historically,
then you need to plan in advance!
The quantity and quality of feed supplied to ewes and lambs from
lambing to weaning and lambs post-weaning is the primary driver
of maximising lamb growth rates. Much of a lamb’s ability to grow
rapidly is determined by the energy content of its feed. Pasture
requires careful management so that it contains a good amount of
green leaf with good clover content. Post-weaning we see a huge
range of feed options that farmers are currently using successfully
in order to finish their lambs through the drier summer months.
Consulting with your agronomist is the best way to determine which
crops will suit your land type and local climate and how crops will fit
in to your farming system.
Animal Health
Lamb growth rates can be maximised by taking care of any animal
health issues that could cause reduced growth rates and/or clinical
disease and deaths. There are issues that can be prevented by careful
management based on history or acted on quickly if the lambs are
being monitored closely.
Clostridial Diseases
The majority of farmers vaccinate pre-lamb with 5 in 1 or 10 in 1 to
protect lambs in the first few months of life.
We often see pulpy kidney and other clostridial disease causing
death in lambs on some farms in the autumn. Vaccination of
replacement ewe lambs is of huge value and particularly longer term
finishing lambs.
Parasite Control
Effective parasite control is hugely important in maximising lamb
growth rates.
Intimate knowledge of levels of parasite larval contamination of
pasture/ feed should be mandatory.
Develop a strategic plan in conjunction with your vet.
Article by Jeremy Cullwick
Knowledge of your drench resistance status is important, i.e. using
efficacious drenches.
Parasitism is often responsible for reduced growth rates and deaths
in lambs that we see.
Barbers Pole in the summer/ autumn and Trichostrongylus in the
autumn/ winter are responsible for significant ill-thrift and deaths in
lambs on an annual basis.
Pneumonia
The average cost to the NZ sheep industry in NZ is somewhere
between $32.4 and $78.9 million annually.
An initial outbreak can occur resulting in deaths and ongoing
sporadic deaths.
Chronic losses can occur due to decreased growth rates with
condemnation and downgrading of carcasses.
Heat Stress must be avoided which is indicated by open-mouth
breathing.
See the Mark Matthews article in this newsletter for more details!
Trace Mineral Deficiencies
Knowing your farm’s status is the first step. Liver biopsies, blood
tests and pasture analysis can be carried out. Appropriate
supplementation can then be given easily.
Good levels of selenium, vitamin B12/ cobalt, and copper are
important for optimum health and growth rates in sheep in general.
Different farms and different areas within Hawkes Bay have varying
requirements for the supplementation of these minerals.
Selenium deficiency can cause death in newborn lambs due to
white muscle disease as well as reduced growth rates. It can be
supplemented using injections, orally in the drench or as prills
added in the fertliser. Most mineralised drenches contain adequate
amounts of selenium for growing lambs.
Cobalt/Vitamin B12 deficiency can also cause reduced growth rates.
It can be supplemented effectively using injections or with cobalt
sulphate added in the fertliser.
Copper deficiency is something that we don’t see commonly in
sheep in Hawke’s Bay although it can occasionally be responsible for
swayback or bone fragility in young animals.
Scald
Can be a significant problem in young lambs and can be complex.
Scabby mouth
A viral disease of the skin of the muzzle, feet and udder. In severely
affected suckling lambs feed intake will be reduced. If this is a
persistent problem on your farm, vaccination is advisable.
Facial Eczema
Has been a significant problem in certain areas. Be sure to monitor
the spore counts closely. We can carry out spore counts at the clinic.
Fungicidal spraying, zinc drenching and zinc boluses are all options if
the spore counts are elevated.
Other Important Factors
Genetics (and hybrid vigour), stocking rates, lambing date vs pasture
growth curve, weather and geography and management are all
other important factors that should be carefully considered when
trying to achieve better lamb growth rates. They are obviously not
all immediately changeable in one year, but should be all looked at
closely when planning for the future and making the most of the
current improved lamb returns. For advice on how to make sure
you get the most out of your new lambs, contact us at the clinic.
Fishing Competition Winners
Dannevirke: Doug & Linda McNaughtenHastings: David EvansWaipukurau: John Linton
Congratulations to all of the winners above- next draw is end of October
FLYSTRIKE — The latest
Strike flies have posed
serious economic,
animal welfare and
management problems
for as long as sheep
have been farmed in
New Zealand.
Despite the best efforts
of farmers, scientists,
vets and animal health
companies, flystrike
cost the sheep industry
around $60 million each
year in lost production,
chemical cost and time
spent by farmers in
prevention and control.
article by Ivan Bettleheim
more feeding, they drop
off the sheep and seek
shelter.
Blowfly Life Cycle
Mature egg
laying female
Young
adult
Eggs
10 - 14
days
Hatch
18-24hrs
Pupa
1st stage
larvae
4 - 6 days
Mault
3rd stage
larvae
While the impact of
these parasites is often
measured in reduced pelt and wool quality, poor growth rates and
deaths, farmers are all too aware of the suffering that flystrike in
particular can cause sheep.
All dip chemicals on the market today hold onto wool grease. Right
now – lambs that we are trying to protect, have very little wool
grease.
The manufacturers of Vetrazin and Cyrazin have developed spray on
versions of their liquid dips. These spray-on’s carry their own grease/
oils to overcome the lack of it found in lambs. This gives us an ideal
tool to cover the time until they develop their own, which is usually
around December or January.
Spray-on’s are convenient and easy to use, as well as being very safe
for the operator.
LIFE CYCLE & BIOLOGY
Mault
2nd stage
larvae
below the soil surface.
Meanwhile, more flies
are usually attracted
to the open wound by
the smells created by
the first maggots. Left
untreated, the struck
sheep normally dies. By
this time it could have
fed as many as half a
million maggots.
Depending on climatic
conditions, the maggots
may stay at the third
stage of development
under the carcase or
several centimetres
They can remain in suspended animation for long periods during
this resting phase. When conditions are favourable, they form pupae
in which the adult fly develops.
Pupae have higher survival rates in free-draining sandy soils than in
heavy soils, which are more lethal to buried larvae and pupae.
When soil temperatures exceed about 12 deg C, flies hatch out of the
pupal cases and work their way to the soil surface.
The whole life cycle is completed in four weeks at the minimum in
mid-summer; much longer in cooler months.
FLYSTRIKE FACTS
Each year 3-5 per cent of the national flock are struck – some 1.352.25 million sheep.
A new generation of flies begins in the early spring when they
emerge from pupae after over-wintering in the soil as pupae or
maggots. After waiting for their wings to fully expand, they mate and
fly off in search of food – proteins from dead animals, dead plants,
faecal material, sugars from flowers, honeydew and human food
waste.
At least 250,000 lambs die from flystrike each year. If a flock is
seriously affected, lamb losses can be as high as 5 per cent.
A few days later the females start looking for places to lay their eggs.
Females can produce 100 or so eggs every few days – a possible
2000 eggs in a six week life time.
The Aussie blowfly does not deposit live maggots. It lays eggs just
like other fly species.
They are attracted to sheep by the odour of wool grease, bacterial
action, faeces (dags or scours), urine, infected cuts and footrot.
All strike flies lay their eggs on those parts of the sheep where there
is warmth, moisture and a food supply for the maggots. In around 12
hours the eggs hatch and first stage maggots emerge. These feed at
the surface of the skin.
A day or so later, they moult and become second stage maggots.
These feed by scraping holes in the sheep’s skin using hook-like
mouth parts and secreting enzymes that liquefy the skin. After
another 24 hours, the maggots moult again to the third stage. After
After treatment for flystrike, a sheep may take six weeks to regain lost
weight, and up to eight months for its fleece to recover.
The Aussie blowfly is not a back striker by preference. More than 70
per cent of strikes by this fly are around the rump and breech areas.
Only four species of blowflies regularly strike sheep. Farmers
monitoring for flystrike need only worry about the green and
golden-brown flies – other fly species will not strike sheep.
The Aussie blowfly is not totally resistant to all organo-phosphate
(OP) dips. OP dips still work against this fly, but provide a shorter
protection period than in the past.
The Aussie blowfly is now present throughout the North and South
Islands, as far south as Gore.
Drop into any of our clinics for expert advice on how to protect your
sheep from flystrike this season.
Woolshed Meetings
Another round of woolshed meetings will take place throughout October. With over 20
venues to choose from there will be one for you! Topics to be covered include: changes
in fly protection, lamb weaning management and the best use of vaccines.
Visit our website www.vshb.co.nz for a full list of the dates and times.
GO FISHING WITH
veT ServIceS
HaWkeS bay
Purchase $500 of Merial Ancare products and be in to Win A dAy’s free fishing on A
luxury chArter boAt. Applies to purchases made between August – october 2011.
there are 6 chances to win so get in quick! exclusive to Vet services hawkes bay, and
is in conjunction with Merial Ancare promotions.*
Purchase $500 of Merial Ancare
products and be in to Win a day’s
free fishing on a luxury
charter boat. Applies
tohAWkes bAy
Vet serVices
purchases made between August –
October 2011. There are 6 chances to
win so get in quick!
801 Heretaunga Steet, Hastings
43 Takapau Road, Waipukurau
9 Gordon Street, Dannevirke
06 876 7001
06 858 9060
06 374 7021
only available fRom youR local vet
Merial is a sanofi company.
MERIAL NZ LTD. LEVEL 3, MERIAL BUILDING, OSTERLEY WAY, MANUKAU CITY, NEW ZEALAND | WWW.MERIALANCARE.CO.NZ | NZ REGISTERED PURSUANT TO THE ACVM ACT 1997
NO’s A7191, A7353, A9222, A9270, A9888, A8228, & A6481. SEE WWW.NZFSA.GOVT.NZ/ACVM/ FOR REGISTRATION CONDITIONS. *CONDITIONS APPLY.
Exclusive to Vet Services Hawke’s Bay,
and in conjunction with Merial Ancare
promotions.*
From the paddock to the pitch, we KIWIS know what
it takes to make a difference. To get the best you have
to give your best. so treat with merial ancare products
AND we'll flick you SOME OFFICIAL RUGBY GEAR* SO YOU
CAN proudly SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE BOYS.
10
$
.00
OFF
Eukanuba Puppy
and Premium
Performance 18kg
and /or 20kg
Visit:
*Only completed coupons are valid. Limited to one coupon per bag and one
coupon per household. Not exchangeable for cash or valid with any other offer.
* Data on file ** Based on an active 25kg dog, being fed recommended amount 20kg Large Breed Premium Performance at RRP (02/03/10). While stocks last. Offer expires 30/10/2011
HASTINGS 801W Heretaunga Street 06 876 7001
DANNEVIRKE 9 Gordon Street 06 374 7021
WAIPUKURAU 43 Takapau Road 06 858 9060
Available with selected purchases of: IVOMEC PLUS®,
EPRINEX®, ECLIPSE®, ECLIPSE E®, GENESIS®, EXODUS®
Available with selected purchases of: ARREST®, GENESIS®,
EXODUS®, FIRST®, MATRIX®, SWITCH®, IVER MATRIX®
PROUDLY AVAILABLE FROM YOUR LOCAL VET
*while stocks last
Merial New Zealand Limited is the animal health division of sanofi Merial New ZealaNd, level 3, Merial BuildiNg, Osterley way, MaNukau City, New ZealaNd. www.MerialaNCare.CO.NZ
arrest®, eCliPse®, ePriNeX®, eXOdus®, First®, geNesis®, ivOMeC Plus®, MatriX® aNd switCH® are registered tradeMarks OF Merial liMited. registered PursuaNt tO tHe aCvM aCt 1997, NO’s. a6416, a6417, a9270,
a10640, a7191, a10018, a10222, a6859, a7189, a7212, a7353, a7456, a8228, a9222, a6481, a10120, a9544, a9390, a9418, a10131, a10132, a9964 & a9970. see www.NZFsa.gOvt.NZ/aCvM/ FOr registratiON CONditiONs.
©COPyrigHt 2010 Merial liMited. all rigHts reserved. NZ-11-Mal-122
Visit us
today to find
out more
on these
promotions