By Ben Strugnell, specialist vet with Eblex/John Warren ABP post mortem project

WITH this being the last report of the year, perhaps some predictions for the coming year may be in order.

The first relates to sheep and specifically ewes which may be turned out onto, or lambing in pastures which have been grazed by hogs or weaned lambs this back end.

On the evidence of my case load, the worm season this year has been unusually prolonged on account of the very mild wettish weather we saw before the recent cold snap. This caught out many people who were not used to dosing lambs so late in the year. The poorer quality of grass may also have reduced lambs’ ability to fight off worms. Whatever the reason, there will have been lots of eggs deposited onto pastures, some of which will remain infective to ewes and lambs, leading to a likely significant ‘spring rise’ (in egg counts on pastures), and likely significant challenge to lambs aged six to10 weeks. If possible, such pastures should be avoided for ewes and lambs unless we have a very harsh winter.

The other noticeable point this year has been the very high challenge from Pasteurella, which started in October and was not seen much before. Lambs which have had an ovivac P booster or initial course at or after weaning may be better off as immunity will be stronger as acquired more recently.

OPA (ovine pulmonary adenocarcinoma), a slowly progressive lung tumour, caused by a virus, continues to be quite a common diagnosis. Never ignore thin sheep which struggle to keep up with the others- otherwise this insidious disease may get ahead of you.

In cattle, the disease of the moment is BVDV (Bovine Virus Diarrhoea virus), specifically as it affects beef finisher units. Here, the major threat is ‘persistently infected’ animals (infected in the womb on the farm of origin. These animals always have the virus and shed it in large amounts, causing a knock to the immune system to pen-mates, which have never previously come across it. These animals will also themselves die of the invariably fatal ‘mucosal disease’, which occurs when the virus mutates and turns nasty, killing the animal. Both are expensive and preventable if persistently infected animals (PIs) are weeded out at purchase by as simple ear tag and test, consult your vet for details.

Pneumonia in cattle, either bought-in or homebred is also common at present. It is almost always better to plan housing and vaccinate in advance with likely effective vaccines, than to spend money on antibiotics, anti-inflammatories and losses once an outbreak has started.

My predictions for the cattle year centre on lungworm, of which there has been quite a lot this year, and later than usual. There may be lots of eggs on the pastures, so consider vaccination for animals in their first season at grass. Usually, only one dose is required in a lifetime, as immunity is topped up with natural exposure. It is convenient, effective and cheaper than mis-timed wormers and possibly even a dead beast.