The National Sheep Association (NSA) has urged sheep farmers to be vigilant of issues that can arise this lambing season.
The trade association for UK sheep farmers hosted a webinar centred on successful lambing season tips this week, which featured sheep veterinarians.
Leading vet of the discussion, Fiona Lovatt of Flock Health Ltd, said there are many issues to be considered at lambing time including colostrum management and factors causing lamb losses and impacting flock performance.
Sheep farmer, Emma Harle, who manages a flock of 1300 ewes in the hills outside Durham also joined the session to explain how she has made significant reductions in lamb losses over the past six years.
Discussion concluded that several small steps and good team work and communication can lead to big gains in terms of improving lamb survival.
Harle and Lovatt emphasised the role of data and details in maintaining a good lambing system, as well as being knowledgable on disease threats.
NSA chief executive Phil Stocker said: “The sheep industry has made exponential progress towards lowering the reliance on antibiotics and this webinar highlighted this as well as the key aspects to consider when preparing for lambing.
“We thank both Fiona and Emma for joining NSA for this discussion that provided some essential advice for anyone ahead of lambing season.”
SBV and bluetongue
The NSA said there is concern among sheep farmers amid an emerging spike in confirmed cases of Schmallenberg virus (SBV) as well as the ongoing bluetongue outbreak affecting areas of south east and eastern England.
“During both webinars the impact of Schmallenberg at both lambing and calving times was discussed. It is extremely concerning to hear of proven (and assumed) cases of this virus,” Stocker said.
“These are from naive animals that were bitten by infected midges back in the autumn during their early stages of pregnancy.
“NSA would urge all working with sheep and cattle at these times to be vigilant to the signs of SBV and to contact their vets should they suspect the presence of any cases on their farms.”
There are currently 56 confirmed bluetongue cases in England on 33 premises.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has said that there is still no evidence that bluetongue virus is currently circulating in midges in Great Britain.
The most recent case was confirmed in a cow on a premises near Canterbury on Tuesday (January 23).
