Heptavac P plus ?

Bleating Lamb

Owing to circumstances beyond control only got to vaccinate about 60 ewes for lambing today with Heptavac P Plus
Will be lambing from Paddys Day and ya will always have the few who lamb 4 or 5 days prior to that.
Ideally I know they are meant to be injected at least 4 weeks pre lambing...so earliest of these might lamb in 3 weeks time approx....would hope that immunity will be working on lambs at that stage?
What do lads think?

Lano Lynn

they will be grand

arctictree

Similar to yourself, I vaccinated with Heptavac P last Saturday. First ewes due to lamb on Paddys day. Any point vaccinating them again around then? Bottle says they need a booster 4 weeks after the first shot...

Conmaicne Mara

arctictree wrote: »

Similar to yourself, I vaccinated with Heptavac P last Saturday. First ewes due to lamb on Paddys day. Any point vaccinating them again around then? Bottle says they need a booster 4 weeks after the first shot...

Hang on a second. There's a wire crossed here somewhere.

Is the shot you gave these ewes last Saturday their first ever Heptevac P+ shot?

The only time you need to give the second shot is when you start them on Hep P+ first. I mean say you vaccinated a lamb at ten weeks old (for arguments sake) last year, you'd give that lamb another 2ml shot 4-6 weeks later.

However if these are ewes who were already in the Hep P+ programme, as in they have already had their initial two shots as lambs, all you need give them is ONE 2ml booster shot 4-6 weeks before lambing.

arctictree

Conmaicne Mara wrote: »

Hang on a second. There's a wire crossed here somewhere.

Is the shot you gave these ewes last Saturday their first ever Heptevac P+ shot?

The only time you need to give the second shot is when you start them on Hep P+ first. I mean say you vaccinated a lamb at ten weeks old (for arguments sake) last year, you'd give that lamb another 2ml shot 4-6 weeks later.

However if these are ewes who were already in the Hep P+ programme, as in they have already had their initial two shots as lambs, all you need give them is ONE 2ml booster shot 4-6 weeks before lambing.

This is where it gets complicated. Half of my ewes are on the Hep P programme so looks like they won't need another shot. The other half were bought a few weeks ago. The seller advised me to give them a shot a few weeks before lambing.

Conmaicne Mara

arctictree wrote: »

This is where it gets complicated. Half of my ewes are on the Hep P programme so looks like they won't need another shot. The other half were bought a few weeks ago. The seller advised me to give them a shot a few weeks before lambing.

If it were me, seeing as you've given the bought in ewes their first shot already I'd give them the second shot too, 4-6 weeks from last Saturday. Your own ewes should be fine they won't need a second shot, but don't vaccinate THEIR lambs before 7 weeks of age according to my vet.

Now, whether any immunity is going to be passed onto the bought in ewes lambs I do not know.

I would seek the advice of a good vet. If you have a Teagasc advisor could be worth giving them a ring, they sometimes know people in these companies and could ask directly?

Conmaicne Mara

arctictree wrote: »

This is where it gets complicated. Half of my ewes are on the Hep P programme so looks like they won't need another shot. The other half were bought a few weeks ago. The seller advised me to give them a shot a few weeks before lambing.

Hang on a second, I should read things properly.

Do you know the seller, more importantly do you trust the seller?

Could you get in contact with them and ask if they were already in the Hep P+ programme?

sea12

I use to always vaccinate them before I let out with ram. I see here that most people suggest doing it 4 weeks pee lambing to carry over immunity into lambs.

I use to always inject under skin under front leg. I'd turn the ewe over and inject them. Don't want to be turning pregnant over. Where are ye injecting them.

Conmaicne Mara

sea12 wrote: »

I use to always vaccinate them before I let out with ram. I see here that most people suggest doing it 4 weeks pee lambing to carry over immunity into lambs.

I use to always inject under skin under front leg. I'd turn the ewe over and inject them. Don't want to be turning pregnant over. Where are ye injecting them.

"Administration:subcutaneous injection in the lateral side of the upper neck observing aseptic precautions"

http://www.animalfarmacy.ie/assets/products/pdf/1851_heptavac%20p%20plus%20for%20sheep%20500ML.pdf

Good article here with diagram:

http://www.fwi.co.uk/articles/19/10/2011/129638/flock-focus-inject-some-care-into-your-vaccine-programme.htm

J.O. Farmer

Even if ewes only got their first ever dose of heptavac now there should be some immune response in the ewes which will be passed on to lambs. The booster dose is needed to stimulate a stronger response from the second time the ewe is exposed to the vaccine. This is more important for the lamb than the ewe as if the ewe picks up clostridia the immune response will be stimulated naturally where the lamb is relying on it being passed on in the milk.
I hope that makes sense. As for the previous owner I would guess he has been vaccinating with heptavac as if he wasn't he'd never even mention it.
As for injecting ewes it's under the skin. There's no need to turn the ewe up just pull out wool round the neck. The skin comes with it and you should feel if you're in the skin or not with the needle. The ewe will probably jump slightly same as you would if prodded with a needle.

Bleating Lamb

arctictree wrote: »

Similar to yourself, I vaccinated with Heptavac P last Saturday. First ewes due to lamb on Paddys day. Any point vaccinating them again around then? Bottle says they need a booster 4 weeks after the first shot...

Don't know if it would be advisable to be handling heavily in lamb ewes in a months time,would agree with last poster that those ewes more than likely got some Hep P before you bought them.

Bleating Lamb

sea12 wrote: »

I use to always vaccinate them before I let out with ram. I see here that most people suggest doing it 4 weeks pee lambing to carry over immunity into lambs.

I use to always inject under skin under front leg. I'd turn the ewe over and inject them. Don't want to be turning pregnant over. Where are ye injecting them.

Inject in ribcage behind shoulder,have tight wooled ewes so part wool with fingers before holding out skin and making sure needle goes in properly.

Per04

I vaccinated my flock of ewes 4-6 weeks prior to lambing. Lambing went well and lambs are thriving. However is there a need to vaccinate lambs when they are 4-6 weeks old or will the Heptavac P Plus vaccination that their mothers received pre lambing be enough for them??

Nekarsulm

If the mothers have had an annual jab, and ewe lambs/hoggets got two spaced out before lambing, they should be fine, in my opinion.

Connemara Farmer

Per04 wrote: »

I vaccinated my flock of ewes 4-6 weeks prior to lambing. Lambing went well and lambs are thriving. However is there a need to vaccinate lambs when they are 4-6 weeks old or will the Heptavac P Plus vaccination that their mothers received pre lambing be enough for them??

If you vaccinate lambs, who's ewes were vaccinated, before the lambs are 7/8 weeks old you'll interfere with what's passed on from the ewe to the lamb, according to my vet. So I wouldn't give those lambs their first shot until they're 8 weeks old, then 2nd 4-6 weeks later.

rangler1

Connemara Farmer wrote: »

If you vaccinate lambs, who's ewes were vaccinated, before the lambs are 7/8 weeks old you'll interfere with what's passed on from the ewe to the lamb, according to my vet. So I wouldn't give those lambs their first shot until they're 8 weeks old, then 2nd 4-6 weeks later.

you're right, the lambs are covered for 6 - 8 weeks if the ewes are done within 4 wks before lambing

greysides

Connemara Farmer wrote: »

If you vaccinate lambs, who's ewes were vaccinated, before the lambs are 7/8 weeks old you'll interfere with what's passed on from the ewe to the lamb, according to my vet.

Other way around.

The maternal antibodies will respond to the vaccine and 'deal with it' before the lamb itself has time to use it to develop its immunity.