Sheep

Revolutionizing Health Risk Management for Beef and Sheep Farmers: A New Web-App for Vets

HerdPlan, funded by the Scottish Government and developed by SRUC’s Veterinary Services team, enables UK vets and farmers to work together to create proactive health plans to improve productivity and increase income on farm.  …

SRUC Veterinary Services
08/10/2024

Quarantine: why and how long?

With sheep sales underway and many more on the horizon, now is an ideal time to review your quarantine procedures to avoid bringing in more than you bargained for. Buying in any stock can pose a significant health risk to your flock. If done well, quarantine can remove or reduce the risk posed by incoming animals.…

SRUC Veterinary Services
13/09/2024

A shortage of EAE vaccine: what sheep farmers need to know

Sheep farmers are likely already aware of the issues with the availability of the Enzootic Abortion (EAE) vaccine prior to this tupping season. This shortage could lead to difficulties for some flocks next lambing season. The impact of this vaccine shortage will vary depending on individual flock circumstances.…

SRUC Veterinary Services
12/09/2024

Sustainable Farming Initiative - Roundworms

As part of the second year of Scottish Government’s ‘Preparing for Sustainable Farming’ initiative, farmers can claim £250 for undertaking up to two animal health interventions in 2024. Two important interventions which will receive funding (and could be claimed for separately on mixed units) are the control of roundworms in sheep and cattle.…

SRUC Veterinary Services
22/08/2024

Haemonchus diagnosed in multiple submissions this week

We have had several submissions of lambs this week. In four of the five submissions, there have been significant numbers of Haemonchus worms visible in the abomasal washes, associated with worm egg counts of 13,650-64,800 strongyle eggs.…

SRUC Veterinary Services
16/08/2024

June cases

Another month has ended and we still seem to be having a very Scottish summer. The balance of submissions and diagnoses has taken its usual seasonal shift away from abortion and towards parasitic disease. Nematodirosis and Coccidiosis were diagnosed across all the hubs and central laboratory in June.…

SRUC Veterinary Services
19/07/2024

Nematodirus

We have recently seen a run of Nematodirus cases in lambs in our PM room. The whole of Scotland and Northern England is currently showing as high or very high risk on the Nematodirus forecast, and we usually see our peak of cases in late May and early June in this area of South West Scotland.…

SRUC Veterinary Services
13/06/2024

Look out for lead

May to August are the peak months for seeing lead poisoning cases with 74% of our diagnoses made during the summer months after turn out, with younger animals more susceptible.…

SRUC Veterinary Services
30/05/2024

Premium Sheep and Goat Health Schemes – podcasts

We have recently produced a few podcasts discussing MV and Johne’s disease Accreditation and Monitoring Schemes, which will hopefully be a useful introduction to the schemes, or a refresher for vets already involved with PSGHS clients.…

SRUC Veterinary Services
17/05/2024

March case highlights

March showed the usual seasonal increase in submissions to both the central laboratory in Edinburgh and to the PM room at Thurso. As lambing and calving continues at pace there are understandably queries about Schmallenberg virus (SBV) presentations, sampling and incidence.…

SRUC Veterinary Services
25/04/2024

Lamb mortality in the first month of life

With the bulk of flocks getting through their lambing, and the weather not really improving, losses in the first month of life may well be higher this year than most. Gross postmortem examination can provide a quick answer for farmers, with diagnostic testing used to support the diagnosis.…

SRUC Veterinary Services
23/04/2024

Parasite risks this spring

The weather conditions this spring could increase the risk of coccidiosis with some very high oocyst counts already recorded in earlier born lambs and suckled calves.…

SRUC Veterinary Services
19/04/2024