Here we discuss one of our Flock Health Advisory Package member farms – the Northovers at Marsh Farm. They are a family farming business in the West of the practice, in Dorset’s Marshwood Vale.
Josh and the family have 280 ewes lambing in October (Poll Dorsets), and Dorset Cross ewes in February and April, selling most lambs finished to Exeter market with a few sold as stores through Sedgemoor. Josh joined the Flock Health Advisory Package in 2022 when the flock was at 100 ewes but with the hope of expanding and “doing it well”.
By analysing data, collected at the FHAP visits, it highlighted some opportunity for improvement with ewe fertility. High barren rates (over 10% of ewes put to the tup) especially in the early lambing mobs were a particular issue.
After a difficult scanning, we decided to rule out infectious causes which might be causing a problem, but before we had chance, we found ourselves in the midst of an abortion storm. Initial results from aborted lambs did not yield results, but further blood samples from the ewes found Toxoplasma. We also found that the same ewes were low in Iodine. We introduced iodine supplementation and Toxoplasma vaccination, along with reviewing our flock health calendar.
We also decided we wanted to ensure no base was left uncovered, and given that the flock is lambing early, decided to use other FHAP visits to make some teasers and look at the rams- to ensure our ram power was “firing on all cylinders”.
Scanning 2024 has shown a huge improvement! Overall, the barren rate has dropped down to target (now 4%) in the main group of ewes and the scanning percentage has shot up by 40%. With a flock size of 280, assuming lamb losses stay within target (<14% from scanning to sale), this will equate to an extra 100 lambs on the ground this year. Toxoplasma and low iodine can also cause lamb health issues so its likely there will also be benefits for lamb health and performance (especially important with such a wet spring!)
The three visits as part of the FHAP membership package have helped spread the cost and kept us looking at the data the flock were producing. We are booked in to complete the annual review soon (part of the FHAP package) and I can’t wait to see what other benefits have come about from all his hard work.
Do speak to a member of TeamSheep to find out more about our health packages and how we can help investigate poor fertility in your flock.
Written By Imogen Rogers, Veterinary Surgeon
