Jerry: I try to check my ABB every couple of weeks or at least monthly for anemia (FAMACHA) and drench only those that are in need. I'm doing two things to try and reduce parasite burden (in addition to rotational grazing). I give all of the animals a small ration of feed each day and add DE to it and I started giving high copper cattle minerals free choice - not sure how much it helps but since I started (about a year ago) I have had to worm fewer sheep and less often. I too rotate 2 or 3 flocks among 6 paddocks - graze 2-3 weeks, move the sheep, mow the paddock, let the grass grow back, repeat. We have been soooo dry that parasites probably were depressed, but now that the rains have started I'll have to be more diligent in checking the eyes. I rotate wormers annually (or thereabouts) - I have used Panacur with good results, Ivermectin is what I'm using this year and in dire emergencies (near death) I have used cydectin for cattle. Sometimes it seems to get them overnight. I have lost very few sheep in recent years (maybe 3 or 4 in 5 years) due to parasites/anemia.
By the way, I have a buyer from Tuscaloosa, AL that is wanting more ewes that I have to offer right now. If you have some for sale let me know and I'll send him your way. John Carlton Double J Farms Spanish Fort, AL -----Original Message----- From: blackbelly-boun...@lists.blackbellysheep.info [mailto:blackbelly-boun...@lists.blackbellysheep.info] On Behalf Of blackbelly-requ...@lists.blackbellysheep.info Sent: Tuesday, July 19, 2011 5:01 PM To: blackbelly@lists.blackbellysheep.info Subject: Blackbelly Digest, Vol 7, Issue 53 Send Blackbelly mailing list submissions to blackbelly@lists.blackbellysheep.info To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit http://lists.blackbellysheep.info/listinfo.cgi/blackbelly-blackbellysheep.in fo or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to blackbelly-requ...@lists.blackbellysheep.info You can reach the person managing the list at blackbelly-ow...@lists.blackbellysheep.info When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific than "Re: Contents of Blackbelly digest..." Today's Topics: 1. Parasite deaths (Jerry) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Message: 1 Date: Tue, 19 Jul 2011 15:34:00 -0500 From: "Jerry" <blueberryf...@bellsouth.net> To: "Sheep Group" <blackbelly@lists.blackbellysheep.info> Subject: [Blackbelly] Parasite deaths Message-ID: <506BE7EFED3A42EAB8A1CBDD7D3FD8F5@JerryPC> Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1"; reply-type=response Fellow Blackbelliers, I have lost 3 ram lambs (all born in January) in the past 6 weeks, all from anemia due to parasites. I have had ABBs for 6 years now and lost a few others along the way but nothing like this year. I have been operating on the theory of letting those least resistant ones die out rather than pass on their genes. But three out of about 40 is too many and I took another one, clearly with anemia, and acting lethargic, to the vet today. These were all destined for the November market. The vet recommended Panacur at 10 ml per animal for the entire flock today and again in two weeks . Our farm is in hot, humid South Mississippi with lots of rain and grass. Our flock is divided into three sub-flocks. Two of these smaller groups are rotated onto various paddocks of pasture when the grass gets higher in another paddock. The biggest group is on more pasture than they can eat down (in the spring and summer anyway). All of the deaths have occurred in the smaller two flocks. My questions are these: Those of you who do not deworm, what is your average loss rate? I suppose it would be different in arid climates than in humid ones. Has anyone in a similar environment to mine found that you have to deworm regularly to keep the flocks healthy? And if so, how often? And with which pharmaceuticals? Thanks for your help and for any advice you may have, Jerry Kirby Windmill Farms LLC Picayune, Mississippi ------------------------------ _______________________________________________ This daily digest is from the Blackbelly mailing list. Visit this list's home page at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info/ End of Blackbelly Digest, Vol 7, Issue 53 ***************************************** _______________________________________________ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
