Larkmead Vets are proud to introduce our XLVets Sheep Lameness Champion, Andrew Isles of Marcham Farms Ltd. Andrew runs 320 Mule and Suffolk cross ewes near Abingdon in South Oxfordshire. Andrew and his wife Pam are keen to reduce lameness on their farm, which becomes a particular problem at housing and around lambing time. Alongside their vet, Adelle Isaacs, the lameness issue has been discussed and a reduction strategy based on the 5 point plan began pre-lambing this year. The particular concerns on this farm are that lameness in the tup group may be affecting fertility and that lame ewes at lambing may be lying on new born lambs resulting in lamb losses.
There have been some hurdles along the way, for example, when deciding on the culling policy. Without an EID software system on farm, how are we going to keep track of how many lameness treatments a ewe has had? We have settled on a system of using stock marker sprayed on to the head for the first treatment, mid-back for the second treatment and then rump for the third treatment. Ewes getting a third treatment in the season will also get a cull tag. All sections of the 5 point plan have been addressed in this manner. We hope that this joined up and practical approach will not only reduce lameness and lameness treatments but may also improve production in measurable terms like scanning percentage and lamb growth rates and mortality. To follow Andrew’s progress follow us on Twitter and for more information contact your local XLVets practice.
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