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How to Protect Lambs: Focus on Immunity-Led Disease Prevention to Manage Clostridial Diseases
On My Farm! Blog
How to Protect Lambs: Focus on Immunity-Led Disease Prevention to Manage Clostridial Diseases
Young lambs are particularly at risk from preventable disease threats during spring and early summer, MSD Animal Health livestock veterinary adviser Dr Kat Baxter-Smith recommends sheep farmers protect valuable youngstock to maximise profitability in the long-term.
Colostrum is the best start for lambs
“Lambs are born with no antibodies to protect them from disease threats and rely on passive transfer of immunity from the ewe in her colostrum – but this must take place within the first few hours of life.
“This passive immunity is shortlived, and starts to wear off after three weeks, leaving many lambs vulnerable to a variety of infections as they grow and develop as the weather warms up,” says Dr Baxter-Smith.
Clostridial diseases in lambs
Unnecessary losses from clostridial diseases, such as pulpy kidney or pasteurellosis, are a particular cause for concern with young lambs during spring and early summer.
Data from Farm Post Mortems Limited, shows there’s often a peak of pulpy kidney in the spring when lambs aged between two and eight weeks of age are affected.1
In almost all the cases, neither the dams nor their offspring have been protected by vaccination.
Dr Baxter-Smith says that it is impossible to control the multiple stress-related factors, such as a sudden change in the weather, alteration in diet or parasite infection that can ‘trigger’ clostridial diseases, so vaccination of young lambs from three weeks of age is strongly advised.
Coccidiosis in lambs – risks and treatment
Sheep producers are encouraged to guard against coccidiosis in lambs. Coccidiosis is a parasite-born disease that poses a risk at this time of year once any passive immunity gained from colostrum starts to wear off.
Coccidiosis facts for sheep farmers:
- Lambs’ maternal immunity wanes at 4-8 weeks of age putting them at risk of coccidiosis.
- Clinical coccidiosis is caused by a build-up in the rearing environment of oocysts produced by the Eimeria parasite.
- Susceptible lambs become infected by ingesting oocytes when they lick contaminated objects in their rearing environment or ingest feed or water contaminated by faeces.
- Once taken into the body in sufficient numbers, the oocysts hatch and the parasites invade and destroy intestinal cells.
- Coccidiosis infection often leads to diarrhoea, weight loss and poor growth rates in lambs.
- Good hygiene practices can help reduce the risk of coccidiosis in lambs.
- Anticoccidial treatments can be used to manage the disease threat to young lambs.
- Coccidisosis treatments allow some level of exposure to the parasite so that lambs gain longer-term immunity, but also removes the parasite before it is able to impact on productivity and further contaminate the environment.
“Oral drenches such as Vecoxan® are generally the most convenient way of ensuring that lamb’s receive the correct dose at the right time,” says Dr Baxter-Smith.
“Easy-to-administer as a single oral dose, Vecoxan is a flexible coccidiosis anticoccidial treatment that can be used in both lambs and calves of any weight, without any meat or milk withdrawal period .”
The strategic use of coccidiosis treatments with all young animals in a group allows natural immunity to develop.
Remember, coccidiosis is only one of a number of causes of diarrhoea in lambs. Farmers unsure about a particular disease management situation, should contact their vet for advice.
Read more about Vecoxan here: Vecoxan 2.5 mg/ml Oral Suspension
Vecoxan® contains diclazuril 2.5 mg/ml. POM-VPS.
Further information is available from the SPC, datasheet or package leaflet. MSD Animal Health UK Limited. Registered office Walton Manor, Walton, Milton Keynes MK7 7AJ, UK. Registered in England & Wales no. 946942.
Advice should be sought from the medicine prescriber.
Use Medicines Responsibly.
References
1. Farm Post Mortems Ltd. data
2. Van Leemput & Louineau. Diclazuril for coccidiosis in ruminants: safe for the environment? Poster at the 21st International Conference of the World Association for the Advancement of Veterinary Parasitology (WAAVP), Ghent, Belgium. August 19-23, 2007.
