Dosing for fluke

Username John

Hello all,

Greetings from a lovely bright sunny West Cork.

One thing I feel I might not be doing right is dosing for fluke. I consider it one of those things that can be doing damage without it being very visible. So it's hard to know how bad it is, until it's very bad...
(Could be wrong on those statements, so feel free to correct)

So - what do lads generally do for fluke?

I plan to dose my ewes in the next week or so for fluke, they'll be going to the ram around Middle to end October.

Am I a bit late - I kinda put it off with the fine weather.
When would ye dose them again?

What about replacement ewe lambs? They won't be bred this year. I'll dose them at the same time - do ye do the same? Or would ye dose the lambs a bit more often for fluke?

Thanks.

Edit : I see the title is "dosing or fluke" it should be "dosing for fluke"
Sorted-G.

arctictree

Username John wrote: »

Hello all,

Greetings from a lovely bright sunny West Cork.

One thing I feel I might not be doing right is dosing for fluke. I consider it one of those things that can be doing damage without it being very visible. So it's hard to know how bad it is, until it's very bad...
(Could be wrong on those statements, so feel free to correct)

So - what do lads generally do for fluke?

I plan to dose my ewes in the next week or so for fluke, they'll be going to the ram around Middle to end October.

Am I a bit late - I kinda put it off with the fine weather.
When would ye dose them again?

What about replacement ewe lambs? They won't be bred this year. I'll dose them at the same time - do ye do the same? Or would ye dose the lambs a bit more often for fluke?

Thanks.

Edit : I see the title is "dosing or fluke" it should be "dosing for fluke"

I drafted my lambs today. The ones that I am keeping for another few months, I dosed with Rafazole, a worm and fluke dose. Some of them were getting a bit dirty at the back end. One very dirty lamb had not put on any weight in the last month. I'll see how they get on in the next few weeks.

I'll dose my ewes in the next few weeks just before the ram goes in.

greysides

As yet there are very few lambs showing fluke on slaughter. They are only just showing the early signs of infestation so I'd rationalise that these are lambs from tradition bad areas and draw the conclusion that in medium to good areas there is no need for fluke dosing yet.

skoger

Teagasc are doing free fluke testing.

http://www.teagasc.ie/publications/2014/3288/Fluke_Sept2014.pdf

razor8

Are people dosing for fluke yet? . Normally do here before ram goes in but I'm thinking of leaving first dose this year and doing them in November

What's others at?

Green farmer

With the warm weather I've been more focused on worm burden. Won't be doing any fluke control here until later in winter as land very dry.

Username John

razor8 wrote: »

Are people dosing for fluke yet? . Normally do here before ram goes in but I'm thinking of leaving first dose this year and doing them in November

What's others at?

Putting in the teaser with the ewes next Saturday.
My plan is to give them a fluke dose, and a cobalt bolus as well.
Then the proper ram will be put in 2 weeks later.

Given the year that it's been, might be a bit early for the fluke dose, but I would prefer to give them the dose before the ram goes in...

That's my plan anyways... Others can say whether tis good or bad...

Green farmer

What's the best dose for fluke anyway ? I have some trodax here, but prefer drenching as opposed to injecting ewes where possible.

greysides

I'd say it's still early for worrying about fluke on drier land. On wet land it getting to the point where it would be beneficial.
Basing this on results of liver exam at abattoir PM.

razor8

Normally dose with trodax or flukivor before the ram goes in but going to leave it for another while I think. Sheep look in great style. Gave them growvite yesterday for first time so il see how that experiment goes at scanning time.

Username John

greysides wrote: »

I'd say it's still early for worrying about fluke on drier land. On wet land it getting to the point where it would be beneficial.
Basing this on results of liver exam at abattoir PM.

Hi Greysides,
Thanks for that info - I might push it back a bit now, given your wisdom (and profession)

If it was pushed back til start Dec - would this then be a bit too late?
(ram would be going in mid Oct, so would leave it til start Dec)

I know its hard to say, as if the weather turns, it would affect things - but if we assumed that the weather was 'average' would Dec still be early enough do you think?

Green farmer

I'm just reading the teagasc book. They've a study. Turns out that albex works on fluke from 10 weeks on, trodax works from 7 weeks on, flukiver works at 3- 4 weeks on, but triclabendazole products ie fasinex and tribex work from 2 weeks on.
Learn something new every day !!! Only downside is a lot of the better fluke products have long withdrawal dates, up to 60 days.

greysides

I think I'd give something active against early immmatures now just to have the sheep starting at zero. The problem is that sheep can be killed if high levels of early immatures migrate around the liver in one burst. The likelihood of this with depend on the weather. If it stays mild the snail host will be slow to hibernate and could shed infection onto the pasture for quite a while. This hibernation could take longer to occur than early Dec. even in a normal year given how mild it often stays until after Christmas. It's a long time not to be able to dose and it's a small cost for the peace of mind it would give.

Lambs on dry ground I think could wait for 3-4 weeks. Other than that it's dicey to be trying to predict.

The 'fluke forecast' should be out soon (early Nov. ?) and the experts will have their say in that.

J.O. Farmer

Green farmer wrote: »

I'm just reading the teagasc book. They've a study. Turns out that albex works on fluke from 10 weeks on, trodax works from 7 weeks on, flukiver works at 3- 4 weeks on, but triclabendazole products ie fasinex and tribex work from 2 weeks on.
Learn something new every day !!! Only downside is a lot of the better fluke products have long withdrawal dates, up to 60 days.

You want to be careful with the triclabendazole products. In some parts of the country the fluke is resistant. Also if sheep have damaged livers it may not be effective either as it won't be broken down to its active form.

greysides

The Fasinex data sheet claims: For the treatment and control of liver fluke infections in sheep caused by all stages of triclabendazole susceptible Fasciola hepatica from 2 day old immature to adult fluke.

Cattle start at two weeks old.