Sheep

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

Louping ill: Vaccine support sought

Louping ill virus is a flavivirus, transmitted by Ixodes ricinus ticks, and is commonly found in the Highlands, Perthshire and Argyll & Bute in Scotland. SRUC makes ten to 25 diagnoses of louping ill in flocks of sheep every year, and around five diagnoses in cattle annually.…

SRUC Veterinary Services
08/11/2023

Liver fluke update

So far this autumn we have examined a lot of sheep and not seen any evidence of recently acquired liver fluke infection in sheep coming through the postmortem rooms at Dumfries and Glasgow.…

SRUC Veterinary Services
07/11/2023

September case highlights

Parasitic disease dominated the diagnoses made in Aberdeen in September with lungworm and Ostertagiasis diagnosed in cattle and gastrointestinal parasites in sheep causing ill thrift and death.…

SRUC Veterinary Services
31/10/2023

Acorn toxicity

Acorns and oak leaves contain phenols and tannins, such as gallic acid and pyrogallol, which when ingested in excess will bind and precipitate proteins leading to renal failure in cattle and sheep.…

SRUC Veterinary Services
26/10/2023