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Veterinary Surgeon
Russell Fuller
XLVets Practice
Tyndale Vets Ltd
There are two choices where to buy sheep
from – direct from farm or through a market.
The key here is to try to source replacements
from as few farms as possible (ideally one) and
to find out as much about the disease status
where the sheep are coming from, as well as
any vaccinations etc. that they might have had.
This is usually easier buying direct from farm,
but flocks needing several hundred sheep are
going to find sourcing them from one farm
nearly impossible.
Irrespective of where the sheep are bought
from, it is important that you use what you are
told as a guide - don’t believe everything you
hear, as not too many people will admit in the
market that their flock has sheep scab!
BUY ING IN SHEEP
7
LIVESTOCK MATTERS
WORKING
TOGETHER
FOR A HEALTHIER FUTURE...
RU S S E L L F U L L E R MA V e t MB MRCV S
A
s autumn approaches, many sheep flocks will need to buy in
replacement ewes or rams. However, when buying in any sheep,
there is always the risk of buying in either diseases or wormer
resistance at the same time, even if the seller is well known to you.
Consequently, it is vital that every flock has quarantine procedures set up
to make sure that only new sheep arrive on the farm, not new diseases
as well. This article will act as a starting point for setting up quarantine
procedures, which should be drawn up alongside a vet, as all too often
the sale is only a week before the ram is due to go in…
Buying in Sheep
without buying in trouble...
Buying in sheep:
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Buy from as few farms as possible
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Find out what you can
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Assume the worst
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Quarantine properly
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Protect the existing flock
and replacements