Livestock

“I treated my stock so why have my livers being condemned?” is a common question that comes up from time to time.  There are several possible reasons and in some cases it is difficult to avoid despite doing everything right.

Ovine Pulmonary Adenocarcinoma (OPA aka Jaagsiekte) is a significant cause illness and death on many sheep farms. The number of infected farms in the UK remains uncertain, but post-mortem data on cull ewes shows it could be present on many farms without the farmer’s knowledge.

Johne’s in your sheep flock poses a risk to your beef cow herd.  This can be best mitigated by preventing co-grazing or grazing of pasture with both sheep and cattle in the same year.

Unfortunately statements on the Johne’s status of an animal, based on a single test are meaningless.

Johne’s is an increasing concern with many pedigree breeders striving to reach Risk Level 1.

Sheep, like cattle, can be affected by ergot. Ergots seen on grain and grasses are more common this year.  Assume no margin of safety for breeding stock. 

There are 3 way in which ergotism can affect livestock.

The best advice for grain contaminated with ergot is NOT to feed it to livestock.  In particular NEVER feed it to breeding females due to the increased risk to the foetus from even very low levels of ergot.