would you cull a ewe who had 2 still born lambs

Tomjim · 23-02-2014 09:17PM #1

As the heading suggests, I had 2 ewes who had 2 dead lambs each. The ewes were in a shed. The lambs were born before they were born. Will this happen the ewe next year, would you cull these ewes?

farming93 · 23-02-2014 09:44PM

If it was me I would keep them, if they aborted this year its more than likely they will be immune to the virus next year I had a couple of ewes abort last year which I kept and so far so good theyve just started lambing now.

farawaygrass · 23-02-2014 09:49PM

i would cull them, especially when price of culls is going so good. keep two ewe lambs then and bob is you uncle, your numbers wont be affected

Green farmer · 23-02-2014 10:07PM

Depending where your located, there might be a department of agriculture vet lab near by. A phone call from your vet to them, any you could drop off the animal for autopsy.think it costs about €6 or €10. Could help you identify any abortion disease

grassroot1 · 23-02-2014 10:21PM

If its toxo they will lamb ok next year, if its enzotic abortion they will have dead lambs every year and infect all of your sheep. Why take the chance kill and replace with a hogget

Farrell · 23-02-2014 10:24PM

Green farmer wrote: »

Depending where your located, there might be a department of agriculture vet lab near by. A phone call from your vet to them, any you could drop off the animal for autopsy.think it costs about €6 or €10. Could help you identify any abortion disease

Personally I'd cull, no passengers, but that's me. Could be worth breeding if you can afford

Green farmer · 23-02-2014 11:04PM

Farrell wrote: »

Personally I'd cull, no passengers, but that's me. Could be worth breeding if you can afford

She might have already passed on any possible disease to others that you won't find about until this time next year. If you diagnosed the problem you could take steps to ensure it doesn't take hold. It's true if it was toxo, then she's immune for life. Could be a very cheap €6

willfarmerman · 23-02-2014 11:41PM

I'd let her off soon as she straightens up. Long wait till tiil next year and no scarcity of breeding stock about.

tabby aspreme · 24-02-2014 09:54PM

grassroot1 wrote: »

If its toxo they will lamb ok next year, if its enzotic abortion they will have dead lambs every year and infect all of your sheep. Why take the chance kill and replace with a hogget

My experience with enzootic abortion is that it only affects them once, there is a question over the vaccination as to whether it provides protection for the lifetime of the ewe

Conmaicne Mara · 26-02-2014 07:17PM

I'd sell a ewe that wasn't going to rear a lamb. Different story if the fox had her lamb away. Maybe if it was a hard lambing and the bag got the lamb I might reconsider, then again, would she be prone to that and who wants hard lambings, life is too short to waste on problems.

1809allan · 27-02-2014 09:38AM

Might be Schmallenberg. I'd have her tested, and then the rest of your flock.

would you cull a ewe who had 2 still born lambs

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