I am a little late with the announcement but I am really pleased to tell those of you who hadn’t already heard of the safe arrival of a baby boy for Lucy. George John Searle was born on the 13th July weighing 9lb 9oz. Lucy and Richard are of course delighted and are enjoying parenthood. We are pleased to welcome Sophie back for a few months to help cover Lucy’s leave.
I have mentioned before here but this season is really an exceptional season for Haemonchus or Barbers Pole worm in sheep. Haemonchosis is a cause of ill thrift and increased mortality in weaned lambs with no scour seen. It is definitely one to watch and be aware of this autumn. Worryingly, some cases we have seen, is in lambs that have recently been wormed at weaning, suggesting either ineffective dosing or wormer resistance. Haemonchosis presents differently to other gastrointestinal parasite burdens so deaths are associated with anaemia. Scour is not a feature unless the infection is mixed with other gastrointestinal worm species. Animals found dead will usually have pale mucous membranes and are often thin. It is also seen in adult ewes as immunity after exposure is generally poor. We would normally hope that the population on a pasture is dramatically reduced by heavy frosts over the winter months. The parasite is able survive from year to year inside the gut of sheep that will then contaminate pasture the following year. It is important that a treatment regime is put in place to prevent this on farms with known infection. We tend to recommend Closantel as the drench of choice (normally used as a flukicide) as haemonchus are susceptible to this molecule. Using closantel for treatment will not affect the development of resistance for the usual classes of wormers. Haemonchus will be brought on to your farm with infected sheep and this really does highlight the importance of best practice quarantine dosing.
We are starting to see cases of lungworm in the practice this season. Please be watchful of young cattle at grass especially 1st season grazers. Infection can have dramatic effects on growth and future production. If they have a dry cough, commonly after running over to you it is highly likely to be lungworm. We can test a dung sample in the practice to confirm infection.
Many of you will have heard by now of the incursion of Blue Tongue Virus 3 into the UK. As it stands control zones are in place across Suffolk, Norfolk and Essex, limiting the movement of Ruminants and Camelids. Today we have learnt of the UK licensing of the 3 vaccines that are available. Unfortunately the vaccines are not entirely protective and serve only to reduce the signs and severity of disease. The vaccine is only being used in the High-risk counties of Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Kent and East Sussex for now. It is likely that vaccine will be made available to other regions when it is known what uptake looks like. From what we have learnt so far in continental Europe the clinical signs are worse in sheep and affected animals commonly need euthanasing; treatment with supportive medicines and care is of little benefit. Obviously, we are praying that the weather patterns reduce midge movement from East to West.
We will be offering refreshments to you all at the Dairy Show at the Bath & West on Wednesday 2nd October. We are in our usual position, in our trailer towards the top of Avenue B. Please come and say hello.