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SHEEP-fed-barely-sprouting-fodders, page : 111
Lice cause intense irritation and itching, and this makes sheep restless, and causes them to scratch continually, rubbing against walls and fences. This causes interrupted feeding, weight loss, and damages the wool. A sign to be on the look out for is wool hanging from places such as fences, trees and elsewhere, if you find this be certain there is a lice problem.
Treatment for lice is that of the use of insecticides, two treatments are often needed. The good news is that once they are removed from the sheep, they will not return – that is unless you introduce lice-infested sheep into your flock! Prevention is better than cure, so treat any new animals before turning them in with your flock to avoid reinfestation.
Maggots:
Maggots are the larvae of several types of flies – these flies are called "blowflies" and are about twice the size of large houseflies. Most have distinct shiny bodies that are colored blue, green, or silver. They make their presence known in the spring and start reproducing all though hot weather. They lay their eggs at the edge of a wound or in manure-soiled wool. When they begin to attack, it is called "flystrike"
Eggs hatch in between 6 to 12 hours, and the maggots feed on the flesh at the edge of a wound, enlarging it. If not detected and treated this can lead to the death of the animal. Maggots often infest dog bites, so if your sheep have been chased by dogs it is a good idea to check them to see if they have any wounds and for the subsequent flystrike.
Maggots are not a tremendous threat, the real danger is not knowing they are there, what may be a problem is your being able to overcome your dislike of dealing with them. Sheep that are not to heavily infested can be ridden of them easily.
Inspect your sheep and if anything looks at all suspicious treat. Be on the look out for flystrike. A sign is the sighting of large numbers of flies continually pestering an animal. Also check the sheep for moist areas in their fleece. Notice if an animal scratches excessively on a fence – look for white specks in the wool that look somewhat like individual curds of cottage cheese and know that these are egg sacks deposited by flies.
The following procedures will help to lessen problems you encounter with maggots:
Maggot prevention:
1. Keep the rear ends of ewes clean, free from feces that becomes attached to wool, especially if the feces becomes loose. Urine also attracts blowflies.
2. Treat any injury, small or large immediately and spray with fly repellent during hot weather, this includes insect bites.
3. Put a fly repellent on tails that have been cut off (docked) and on castration sites on lambs in warm weather. It is best to dock and castrate them during the spring or in the autumn when the weather
Treatment for lice is that of the use of insecticides, two treatments are often needed. The good news is that once they are removed from the sheep, they will not return – that is unless you introduce lice-infested sheep into your flock! Prevention is better than cure, so treat any new animals before turning them in with your flock to avoid reinfestation.
Maggots:
Maggots are the larvae of several types of flies – these flies are called "blowflies" and are about twice the size of large houseflies. Most have distinct shiny bodies that are colored blue, green, or silver. They make their presence known in the spring and start reproducing all though hot weather. They lay their eggs at the edge of a wound or in manure-soiled wool. When they begin to attack, it is called "flystrike"
Eggs hatch in between 6 to 12 hours, and the maggots feed on the flesh at the edge of a wound, enlarging it. If not detected and treated this can lead to the death of the animal. Maggots often infest dog bites, so if your sheep have been chased by dogs it is a good idea to check them to see if they have any wounds and for the subsequent flystrike.
Maggots are not a tremendous threat, the real danger is not knowing they are there, what may be a problem is your being able to overcome your dislike of dealing with them. Sheep that are not to heavily infested can be ridden of them easily.
Inspect your sheep and if anything looks at all suspicious treat. Be on the look out for flystrike. A sign is the sighting of large numbers of flies continually pestering an animal. Also check the sheep for moist areas in their fleece. Notice if an animal scratches excessively on a fence – look for white specks in the wool that look somewhat like individual curds of cottage cheese and know that these are egg sacks deposited by flies.
The following procedures will help to lessen problems you encounter with maggots:
Maggot prevention:
1. Keep the rear ends of ewes clean, free from feces that becomes attached to wool, especially if the feces becomes loose. Urine also attracts blowflies.
2. Treat any injury, small or large immediately and spray with fly repellent during hot weather, this includes insect bites.
3. Put a fly repellent on tails that have been cut off (docked) and on castration sites on lambs in warm weather. It is best to dock and castrate them during the spring or in the autumn when the weather