Fluke- they haven't gone away, you know.

greysides

Maybe this won't be news for some but in case it benefits anyone...

Today I saw the first cases of fluke infestation in livers of this years lambs in an abattoir.

The damage wasn't bad so not likely to have any significant effect on growth.

Numbers of migration tracts in the liver ranged from one to many- not the huge numbers that can be seen later in the year.

The lambs were from Donegal.

So, the way I see this is that for areas that got the same wet weather as Donegal and where land is flukey then it's time to start to bear fluke in mind.

Lambs from the other side of the country aren't affected yet. Lesions in these are confined to multiple mini-abscesses from meal feeding, the odd single big abscess and tapeworm tracks/cysts; all minor stuff.

razor8

This is sort of info we should be seeing in the journal, thanks

roosky

Why wont the factorys report it to us.....its a win win if there is less damaged livers

rangler1

roosky wrote: »

Why wont the factorys report it to us.....its a win win if there is less damaged livers

they'll check specific livers if you ask, but it'd be a big ask to look at all the livers, 3000 maybe.....wonder did greysides notify the owner

Green farmer

rangler1 wrote: »

, 3000 maybe.....wonder did greysides notify the owner

I can only assume he did if owner was present, and had an interest in knowing. In fairness the vets in factory are sound if you ask them .

greysides

rangler1 wrote: »

..wonder did greysides notify the owner

No owner present and no feedback mechanism is in place.

Bleating Lamb

There has been so much rain in NW for last month it is no surprise that Fluke is rearing its head,


Would those lambs comrades(if being kept) benefit from a fluke dose now?....prob a silly question but is it a bit early to have to be dosing lambs for fluke?

greysides

Probably not needed just yet.

Disclaimer: Purely going on what I saw...........

Farrell

Bleating Lamb wrote: »

There has been so much rain in NW for last month it is no surprise that Fluke is rearing its head,


Would those lambs comrades(if being kept) benefit from a fluke dose now?....prob a silly question but is it a bit early to have to be dosing lambs for fluke?

As drenches do both fluke & worms, would you not give the a shot now anyway?

greysides

In most combined drenches the fluke component only covers adult fluke. The fluke in livers at the moment are still immatures.

Green farmer

I'd be fair disappointed if I still have lambs hanging around this year, by the time I need to fluke dose them. Making every effort to get them gone early !!!

charolais0153

Green farmer wrote: »

I'd be fair disappointed if I still have lambs hanging around this year, by the time I need to fluke dose them. Making every effort to get them gone early !!!

When do u lamb and how much do u creep to get them all sold

Green farmer

charolais0153 wrote: »

When do u lamb and how much do u creep to get them all sold

Mid March onwards. Ended up carrying over more then I wanted last winter and finishing in the spring this year, but planning on pushing them harder this year, with target of having mostly them gone by October. Haven't creeped them , but will get in a bit of lamb finisher as soon as their weaned ( this week) to keep them moving. and cobalting / dosing every 3 weeks and fresh grass every 5/6 days.

Farrell

Green farmer wrote: »

Mid March onwards. Ended up carrying over more then I wanted last winter and finishing in the spring this year, but planning on pushing them harder this year, with target of having mostly them gone by October. Haven't creeped them , but will get in a bit of lamb finisher as soon as their weaned ( this week) to keep them moving. and cobalting / dosing every 3 weeks and fresh grass every 5/6 days.

Dose every 3 weeks?
What do you use?

Green farmer

Farrell wrote: »

Dose every 3 weeks?
What do you use?

Sorry, meant to say drenching every 3 weeks with the cheap cobalt drench, at this time of year to keep the lambs moving. I also blanket dosed ( wormer) the lambs last time, but only the odd dirty one next time out. Used cheapest white drench. Will move to yellow next, which will be 6-8 week gap for majority of lambs. Find the scabby ear to be a bigger problem here then the worms overall, also if they stall ( as they did last year) takes twice as long to get them moving again, so just trying to fix any mistakes from last year really.
Apologies for rambling off thread greysides !!!

roosky

Is there any thing to be said to just bolus the lambs to reduce the labour

charolais0153

Green farmer wrote: »

Mid March onwards. Ended up carrying over more then I wanted last winter and finishing in the spring this year, but planning on pushing them harder this year, with target of having mostly them gone by October. Haven't creeped them , but will get in a bit of lamb finisher as soon as their weaned ( this week) to keep them moving. and cobalting / dosing every 3 weeks and fresh grass every 5/6 days.

I read your other post wrong. I thought you had all your lambs gone already

Green farmer

charolais0153 wrote: »

I read your other post wrong. I thought you had all your lambs gone already

If only. Very easy to take the eye off the ball, and takes them ages to get moving again if they stunt any bit. I cannt remember what happened last year, but could have been something like a month of constant rain or something , that stunted them here.

Bleating Lamb

The wet weather is definitely affecting lamb thrive and weight gain....grass eaten is so blooming wet.Sorry also Greysides for veering off thread:)

roosky

Bleating Lamb wrote:

Would those lambs comrades(if being kept) benefit from a fluke dose now?....prob a silly question but is it a bit early to have to be dosing lambs for fluke?

Feceal sampled lambs last week and it was only 4 euro extra to test for fluke as well all clear thank god

Farrell

roosky wrote: »

Feceal sampled lambs last week and it was only 4 euro extra to test for fluke as well all clear thank god

Where do you get it done? & is it hard to do?

ganmo

Farrell wrote: »

Where do you get it done? & is it hard to do?

plastic sealable bag & patience.

I did my own FEC last night and I noticed more lungworm than I've seen before, some coccidia and the stonglyes too but over all not at the level to require a dose.

I don't know what to look for fluke so I can't say anything about them

cuff92

ganmo wrote: »

plastic sealable bag & patience.

I did my own FEC last night and I noticed more lungworm than I've seen before, some coccidia and the stonglyes too but over all not at the level to require a dose.

I don't know what to look for fluke so I can't say anything about them

How did u do ur own fec?? Interesting

ganmo

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=74128331#post74128331

roosky

Farrell wrote: »

Where do you get it done? & is it hard to do?

Emlagh lodge in Elphin co Roscommon,

I have a very simple technique....

1. ring the mother, tell her get 8 freezer bags

2. get her to go to field and stand and collect dung from the first 8 lambs she sees dunging.

3. post off and wait for results...

It only takes about ten minutes in the field

J.O. Farmer

roosky wrote: »

Feceal sampled lambs last week and it was only 4 euro extra to test for fluke as well all clear thank god

Is there any point in testing for fluke. By the time eggs are produced they are adult fluke and it's the immature fluke that do the damage.