As the spring lambing season approaches, sheep farmers are being advised to be on the look out for coccidiosis: cases usually rise in March and peak in April and May. Lambs in the 3-8 week age range are most often affected. Some reports also suggest that the incidence of coccidiosis in calves may apparently increase during the grazing months.
The Vecoxan® Coccidiosis Survey in 2008 and 2009 asked farmers about their experiences of coccidiosis and identified that bad weather was a major trigger particularly in lambs; while castration and weaning were also factors in calves. Janssen Animal Health says that it is important that farmers closely monitor lambs following cold, wet weather and as the parasite life cycle is 21 days, should be alert to disease occurring 2-3 weeks after a stressor event.
The Eimeria parasite that causes coccidiosis is widespread in the UK. Young animals may be infected by oocysts shed by asymptomatic carriers or older infected lambs. Low levels of challenge can help young animals develop immunity but exposure to high oocyst numbers, particularly in combination with stress can lead to clinical and subclinical forms of the disease.
One of the big risks is that gut damage can be so severe that survivors of clinical disease, or subclinically infected animals, experience significantly depressed weight gain – lambs eat just as much as before but take longer to get to finishing weights.
In addition to taking measures to reduce stock density, improve hygiene and avoid stress, Janssen Animal Health suggests that farmers treat at-risk lambs preventatively. All the lambs in the batch should be given a coccidial treatment, such as Vecoxan® (diclazuril) at 4-8 weeks of age, two weeks after a stressful event. Vecoxan® does not interfere with the development of immunity and as all stages of the parasite in the host are killed, treatment will also help keep environmental contamination at a low level.
Vecoxan contains diclazuril 0.25% w/v Legal Category POM-VPS
Further information about Vecoxan® and coccidiosis is available from Janssen Animal Health, 50-100 Holmers Farm Way, High Wycombe, Bucks, HP12 4EG Tel 01494 567555 Fax 01494 567556 Email: ahealth@jacgb.jnj.com
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