Fewer farmers routinely give antibiotics to newborn lambs
WELSH sheep farms with good flock husbandry can prevent newborn lambs succumbing to diseases much more successfully than by routinely treating them with antibiotics, especially when the focus is on colostrum and hygiene.
With good management, most lambs should be at low risk of watery mouth, joint ill and other diseases, sheep specialist Dr Fiona Lovatt, of Flock Health Ltd, assured farmers in a recent Farming Connect webinar.
The RUMA (Responsible Use of Medicines in Agriculture Alliance) targets state that it is not appropriate for all new lambs to be treated routinely with antibiotics, yet it is very common for farmers to orally dose all lambs for watery mouth or inject every lamb to prevent joint ill.
Preventative treatment is only justified in individuals that have a significant risk of disease, such as triplets or very small lambs, Dr Lovatt insisted.
Apart from resistance issues, there is evidence to suggest that routine antibiotics could be detrimental to future performance because they upset the fragile gut microbiome of the newborn lamb.
Joint ill is caused by Streptococcus dysgalactiae; there is evidence to suggest that ewes can be carriers, infecting lambs via the birth canal and milk.
It is a disease exacerbated by many different issues, including the application of tags or rings for castration.
Dr Lovatt advised dipping navels twice, at birth and six hours later, in a solution of 10% iodine and with a high alcohol content.
Ear tags and applicators should be cleaned with surgical spirit before use on every lamb, as they could introduce the bug into the lamb’s bloodstream.