[Jacob-list] Docking tails and castrations

[Brenda]

It is probably a good idea to check with your vet re: when to vaccinate 
lambs. I am all in favor of vaccinating, but some evidence suggests that 
lambs do not develop immunities until much later than one month. If I 
understand correctly, there is probably no harm in vaccinating earlier, but 
a dose should be given around 14 weeks and maybe one later still. It seems 
the evidence is not entirely clear, so asking your area's smartest and most 
academically up-to-date vet might be a good idea.

Brenda

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "ARTHUR PARTRIDGE" <aztreaz at earthlink.net>
To: "jacob-list" <jacob-list at jacobsheep.com>
Sent: Friday, May 07, 2010 9:48 PM
Subject: Re: [Jacob-list] Docking tails and castrations



> --Mark wrote--

>>The neighbor's vet visit is over and the tails are all banded, actually

>>double banded. The vet is from New Zealand and comes from a strong

>>sheep background. She said that she prefers cutting and heating

>>(cauterizing), but did not have that equipment with her. She was very

>>comfortable with banding. She said that the tails will be gone in less

>>than one month.

>>We also castrated lambs, kids, and calves and she used a knife for that.

> ==============

> Same with my vet, she prefers cutting instead of banding for tails and

> castrations.  There is no chance of accidentally leaving the ram lamb

> partially intact, it only takes one....  She leaves her cauterizer here

> with me.  It came in handy one day when a ewe laid down on something sharp

> and started bleeding from the chest.  I tried to stop the bleeding, but

> couldn't and then I remembered the cauterizer.  It sealed the wound

> immediately.  Today on Sheep-list was a post about problems with tetanus

> when using bands, apparently it does happen.  One suggestion was to

> sterilize the bands in alcohol.  I would think that the tetanus comes in

> later if there is an open wound around the band and soil, etc. gets in

> there.  Another reason to make certain that the pregnant ewes are

> vaccinated and the lambs are vaccinated at one month, with a booster 

> around

> two months.  I forgot the exact schedule.

>

> Cathy

> Moscow, Idaho

>

>

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