WELCOME TO THE ROYAL OAK 28th February 2017, Bill Hill and Lin Burnell 1 1 1

Healthy Stock on Exmoor 2

The farmers on Exmoor are renowned for their healthy livestock. I have spoken to many buyers from all over the country who turn up year after year at Cutcombe and Blackmoor Gate markets and they all say the same thing. “there are very few places we can go to buy the quality of livestock seen here”. 3 3

Breeding I have been very privileged, over the past 20+ years, to visit many farms on Exmoor advising farmers on animal health and for some preparing annual animal health plans. When I visit a new customer I always look at their stock and the quality. In order to produce good quality livestock breeding plays a very large part. 4

Breeding It is very easy to spend a lot of money trying to improve poorly bred animals. Strong well bred animals are less susceptible to disease and parasites, and can handle infection much better than weak ones. 5

Lucott Farm, Porlock 6

Vitamins and Minerals Because of the well known shortage of vitamins and minerals on our area, it is very important to supplement cattle diets all year round There are several ways in achieving this; Boluses, liquid drenches, mineral licks and mineral powder. 7

All these have their merits depending on the time of year and what the cattle are being fed. Boluses Bolusing adult cattle every six months is a labour intensive job, but it ensures all cattle get what they need all year round. 8

Boluses If their mothers have been bolused, the suckled calves should not require bolusing until after weaning. So for those farmers who sell their calves at weaning, this means they will not have to be bolused. If however the calves are being kept on the farm they should be bolused shortly after weaning. 9

Lucott Farm, Porlock 10

Liquid Drench The use of liquid multi-vitamin drenches is not that popular, but it is useful if cattle need a sharp boost. Mainly used when a problem has been detected which requires immediate action. This is often followed up by bolusing or licks to maintain the mineral and vitamin levels in the animal. 11

Licks Licks are probably the most popular means of getting minerals and vitamins in to cattle. However controlling the amount they consume is virtually impossible as they are given on a “free access” basis and there is no means of knowing which animals use them regularly and which do not. 12

Licks are available in all shapes and sizes 13

Worm Control If cattle are healthy, adult animals should have a natural immunity to gut worms, therefore should not have to be routinely treated. Younger cattle who have no or partial immunity will need to be treated. Young cattle should be allowed to get a small build-up of worms before they are treated to help improve their immunity. 14

Treatment By far the most popular treatment method is using a “pour-on” wormer. I have a real concern with this as the only chemical used in these wormers, what ever brand, is Ivomectin. There are signs that Ivomectin resistance is becoming more widespread in cattle. The only way to stop this is to use orally administered wormers of a different group There is also a limited range of injectable wormers containing Levamisole (group 2) 15

External Parasites Flies On Exmoor flies are not normally a major problem in cattle and are easily treated with various pour-on or spot-on products. 16

Cattle with Lice 17

Lice Lice on cattle normally appear during the winter months when cattle are housed or in a close proximity to one another. Beware! There are many types of lice found on cattle and they need to be treated differently. 18

Lice Sucking lice - 3 species common in the UK. Pierces skin and sucks blood. Causes anaemia in large numbers. Found around the head and neck of cattle. Biting lice - 1 species found worldwide. 2mm long, large brown round head. Feeds on skin debris, blood and scabs. Biting causes severe irritation. Found on the neck, shoulders, back and rump. 19

Controlling Lice Sucking Lice Controlling sucking lice can be achieved by using an injectable Ivomectin solution. Biting Lice Controlling biting lice can only be achieved by using a topical (pour on) application. 20

Ticks 21

Ticks Ticks on cattle can cause any number of problems including; Anaemia, Louping Ill and Redwater Fever. Control. The use of pour-on Pyrethroids is the most common solution. Ticks also carry the Lymes Disease virus which is transferable to humans (Zoonotic). 22

Other Cattle Diseases There are several other disease you need to be aware of including; black disease, black leg, tetanus and botulism. Clostridial spores are widespread in the environment, particularly in soil and organic material. 23

Familiar Faces 24

Sheep The health and welfare of sheep is just as important as cattle and for some they are the same and can be treated in the same way. They all need to be treated for worms and fluke when necessary, but lambs will need treating for worms more regularly than young cattle. Worms are host specific, so sheep worms will not affect cattle nor will cattle worms effect sheep. 25

As with cattle, sheep also need vitamins and minerals. These can be supplied by various means such as; Boluses, liquid drench, licks or mineral powder. 26

Vitamins and Minerals Boluses Giving ewes boluses 4 weeks before tupping can often help to increase lambing percentage. Also bolusing 4 weeks before lambing can help to boost the ewes and the new born lambs through the ewes colostrum and milk. Lambs should be bolused at weaning. Thought should be given when doing this, if you are selling store lambs. 27

Vitamins and Minerals Boluses If weaning lambs in July and selling store lambs in September, the use of a bolus lasting 6 months is not advisable for two reasons; 1) The lambs whilst on your farm will only get 1/3rd of the benefit so this is costly for you. 2) These lambs are often purchased by farmers from other areas that do not have problems with low vitamins and minerals, this can cause a potential overdose. 28

There is now a short term bolus available which only lasts Vitamins and Minerals There is now a short term bolus available which only lasts 3 months at a much reduced cost. Alternatively use a liquid drench on a monthly basis. 29

Vitamins and Minerals Liquid Drenches Liquid drenches need to be administered at regular intervals of no more than 1 month apart. This can be done at the same time as worming, But do not mix together in 1 can. 30

Vitamins and Minerals Licks Mineral Licks can be used to help boost vitamins and minerals in both ewes and lambs. Pre-Tupping Licks can also provide an extra boost to ewes before tupping. These normally contain added energy and protein as well as vitamins and minerals. 31

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Vitamins and Minerals Mineral Powder The use of mineral powder is normally for housed sheep. Putting powder outside normally means quite a lot of waste especially in wet weather. Powdered minerals do not contain the same amount of energy as licks. 33

Flies Flies can be a real problem during the summer months. They can be treated by using a pour-on product or by plunge dipping. Care must be taken when treating lambs that are close to finishing, as some products have a longer withdrawal period than others. 34

Flies 35

Ticks The rise in tick numbers on Exmoor has meant increased problems for sheep farmers. An increasing number of farmers are having to treat very young lambs maybe 2 or 3 days old. If they do not the lambs will not survive. Effect treatment can be carried out by using a pour-on product. 36

Ticks Ticks are also known to carry viruses such as Louping Ill. There are some farmers who vaccinate their ewe lambs every year to prevent this. Adult sheep normally build up immunity and do not need to be vaccinated. 37

Lice Lice can be a major problem during the winter months especially for housed sheep – close proximity. Lice can also occur on sheep outdoors and can transfer from animal to animal when they are feeding close to one another at troughs and feeders. Care must be taken to diagnose properly as the symptoms for lice and scab are very similar. 38

Lice Ask your vet to carry out a skin test to determine the problem as the treatments are very different and treating for the wrong parasite can be very expensive if you get it wrong. 39

Sheep 40

Sheep Scab Sheep Scab is still a major problem on farms in this area. Treatment can be achieved by either injecting or dipping sheep. Care must be taken to treat every sheep in the batch, if one is missed re-infection can occur. 41

Sheep Scab 42

Getting it wrong can be costly. Sheep Scab We have already discussed the importance of a correct diagnosis when determining whether sheep have scab or lice. Getting it wrong can be costly. 43

Tapeworm Although there are tapeworms on most farms they are not considered to be a major parasite and only need treating once or twice a summer. The problem with tapeworms is the only treatment is a Benzamidasole (G1) wormer which some farmers have round worm resistance too. 44

Dog Tapeworms Sheep are the intermediate host of some tapeworms, whose adults live in dogs. These can cause cysts to form in the brain and muscle of the sheep, causing illness and condemnation of carcases. Products used to kill the sheep tapeworm have no effect on the intermediate stages of the dog tapeworm and effective control can only be achieved by the worming of dogs! 45

Dog Tapeworms Footpaths Shoots Farmers with busy footpaths should erect signs explaining the impact of dogs running around and leaving their faeces in fields. Shoots Shoots should be asked to check if all their gun dogs are regularly treated for worms. 46

Potentially one of the main culprits Dog Tapeworms Potentially one of the main culprits 47

Dog Tapeworms Undisposed sheep carcases are thought to be the way foxes pick up the dog tapeworm larvae. For sheep on common grazing land this can be a real problem. Some sheep carcases will never be found. Perhaps you should catch the foxes and worm them!!! 48

Other Sheep Treatments Coccidiosis Medicated Licks or Feed. Anticoccidial Drench. Clostridial Diseases (vaccines) Heptavac P+, Ovivac P+, Bravoxin. Footvax. 49

Invitation 50

Thank you for your attention Have a safe journey home 51

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