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Preventing Lamb Losses Perinatal lamb mortality in the majority of UK flocks is quoted as 15 to 25 per cent which represents 3 to 7 million dead lambs annually. In well-managed UK flocks, vaccinated against toxoplasmosis and enzootic abortion (or EAE-accredited flock), lambing indoors (or outdoors during good weather) the target perinatal lamb mortality figure should be less than 7 per cent
Test your knowledge - Lamb Losses Quiz
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Navel Bleeding Following birth of the pig, a proportion of the blood volume will be left in the umbilical cord. This should constrict and “push” this blood into the body and the remaining blood immediately clots to prevent leakage. If this constriction does not occur fully – such as with the “black pudding” navel, or if relaxation recurs or if the blood fails to clot, loss of blood will occur.
Test your knowledge - Navel Bleeding Quiz
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Parasitic gastroenteritis (PGE, gut worms) usually affects growing cattle grazing contaminated pasture during their first summer at grass, typically dairy calves where the same pastures are used for this class of stock every year. Typically these fields are too small, or are away from the home farm and not suitable for the main dairy herd.
Test your knowledge - PGE in CattleQuiz |
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Stillbirths - Pigs that are born dead may have died at any time during the farrowing process or before. If they have died in earlier pregnancy (up to 110 days gestation) there will be evidence of complete or partial mummification, whereby the fluid component of the foetus is reabsorbed leaving just skin and bone. If the piglet dies in the few days prior to birth, it is likely to be swollen, slimy and may show early signs of decomposition.
Test your knowledge - Stillbirths Quiz
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BVD - It is estimated that more than 90% of UK herds have had exposure to bovine virus diarrhoea virus (BVDV). Losses result from reduced fertility, poor production and increased susceptibility to other infections especially in young calves. Test your knowledge - BVD Quiz
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Feeding Ewes throughout Pregnancy It can be a sobering experience for sheep farmers to compare ultrasound scanning rates in February (often 205% for lowground mule flocks) to lamb weaning rates in August (often only155% at best). What can be done to reduce such losses, most of which occur within the first three days after birth
Test your knowledge -Feeding Ewes Quiz
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Shoulder Sores in Sows Ulceration of the skin over the point of the shoulder producing a “shoulder sore” is a common finding in indoor sows. It is regularly reported by NADIS veterinary surgeons attending pig farms. It represents not only a welfare problem in the individual but can be the cause of premature culling or even euthanasia.
Test your knowledge - Tail biting Quiz |
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