Sheep

Nematodirus

We have recently seen a run of Nematodirus cases in lambs in our PM room. The whole of Scotland and Northern England is currently showing as high or very high risk on the Nematodirus forecast, and we usually see our peak of cases in late May and early June in this area of South West Scotland.…

SRUC Veterinary Services
13/06/2024

Look out for lead

May to August are the peak months for seeing lead poisoning cases with 74% of our diagnoses made during the summer months after turn out, with younger animals more susceptible.…

SRUC Veterinary Services
30/05/2024

Premium Sheep and Goat Health Schemes – podcasts

We have recently produced a few podcasts discussing MV and Johne’s disease Accreditation and Monitoring Schemes, which will hopefully be a useful introduction to the schemes, or a refresher for vets already involved with PSGHS clients.…

SRUC Veterinary Services
17/05/2024

March case highlights

March showed the usual seasonal increase in submissions to both the central laboratory in Edinburgh and to the PM room at Thurso. As lambing and calving continues at pace there are understandably queries about Schmallenberg virus (SBV) presentations, sampling and incidence.…

SRUC Veterinary Services
25/04/2024

Lamb mortality in the first month of life

With the bulk of flocks getting through their lambing, and the weather not really improving, losses in the first month of life may well be higher this year than most. Gross postmortem examination can provide a quick answer for farmers, with diagnostic testing used to support the diagnosis.…

SRUC Veterinary Services
23/04/2024

Parasite risks this spring

The weather conditions this spring could increase the risk of coccidiosis with some very high oocyst counts already recorded in earlier born lambs and suckled calves.…

SRUC Veterinary Services
19/04/2024

Campylobacter abortion in sheep

Although too early in the season to finalise the numbers Campylobacter abortion in sheep is a common diagnosis this season, a continuation of trends set in recent years.…

SRUC Veterinary Services
14/04/2024

Abortion sampling

You may find it useful to review our sampling guides for ovine and bovine abortions this calving and lambing season.…

SRUC Veterinary Services
12/04/2024

December case highlights

Bacterial pneumonia dominated the December cattle diagnoses, although two high morbidity pneumonia outbreaks associated with IBR were also investigated.…

SRUC Veterinary Services
29/02/2024

Rickets in hoggs

A suspected case of rickets was submitted for postmortem last week and are waiting for histopathology to confirm the diagnosis. It is worth keeping an eye out for this condition over the next few months.…

SRUC Veterinary Services
26/01/2024

December liver fluke update

We last sent out our liver fluke forecast and thoughts in November, so thought that now would be a good time to update things given that we are approaching or already in a handling window for ewes in mid pregnancy.…

SRUC Veterinary Services
21/12/2023

Investigation of high barren rates at scanning

It is common to see sheep scanner’s trailers on the road just now for earlier lambing flocks. Hopefully early indications of scans are good, but the check list below which we issued two years ago is a useful reminder if called to investigate problems with poorer scans through this winter and put in plans to manage this going forward.…

SRUC Veterinary Services
04/12/2023