Sheep producers must reduce abortion levels

摘要

Sheep producers should take every possible step to reduce abortion levels this season after last year's shortage of anti-abortion vaccine could herald higher lamb losses. According to John McFarlane, Alnorthumbria Vets, Alnwick, many sheep farmers were unable to vaccinate replacements against enzootic abortion, with even fewer able to protect stock against toxoplasmosis. "The success of vaccination relies on protecting replacements, and as a result, there has got to be a higher level of abortion thisseason," he says. However, it is not too late to reduce the level of losses in your flock. "The antibiotic, oxytetra-cycline (oxytet), can work well to reduce abortion levels when administered at 115 days of pregnancy or 115 days after the tup has goneout," Mr McFarlane explains.