When should you vaccinate your sheep?
What are we vaccinating against?
For sheep there are a group of diseases commonly called “Clostridial Diseases”. They are called this because they all come from the same family. There are 5 main types that we are worried about and are active and prevalent in Tasmania.
These are:
Clostridial Tetani (Tetanus)
Clostridial perfringens type D (Pulpy Kidney)
Clostridium chauvoei (Black Leg)
Clostridium novyi (Black Disease)
Clostridium septic (Malignant Oedema)
The other common component in the vaccination is “Cheesy Gland”. This is an infection that can be transmitted through shearing cuts. Cheesy Gland can cause major economic loss through loss of meat and skin quality as the bacteria results in abscesses, generally over lymph nodes.
So when do you vaccinate?
To ensure the ewe passes good levels of protection onto lambs, then it is recommended to be completed 2-6 weeks prior lambing.
Once the lambs are out and about enjoying life, then it is recommended they receive two vaccinations 4-8 weeks apart, commencing when the lamb is 6-12 weeks of age.
Other stock - should be given an annual booster, generally to time the booster to ensure they have maximum protection if you have a high risk period.
New stock being introduced should be vaccinated annually, unless you have no knowledge of their vaccination history. If they never have received a vaccination, then they would require an initial vaccination and then a booster 4-8 weeks later.
So what vaccine do I pick?
Generally the vaccines come in combination bottles. You might see a 6 in 1, or a 3 in 1. This just corresponds to the number of diseases they are vaccinating against in one dose. Sometimes there are additives such as 6 in 1 plus B12 or Selenium. This just means that in addition to the vaccine there are vitamins added.
Important factors about vaccinations:
Regardless of your animals size, always give the recommended dose (1 ml for sheep generally!)
Keep the vaccine refrigerated at all times
Do be mindful that once opened the vaccine needs to be used within a certain time frame or it will be inactivated
Animals can develop vaccine site reactions. Generally these are lumps and most will disappear with time
Always use clean equipment when vaccinating
If in doubt ask!