The Farmers Mart Feb/Mar 2015 - Issue 38 | Page 39

Sheep

LAMBING CHECKLIST TO MAINTAIN VITAL HYGIENE
»»First class hygiene at
lambing is vitally important
to reduce the major disease
challenges facing newborn
lambs. But a momentary slip,
amid the intense pressures
of lambing management, can
allow serious infections to take
hold; especially where large
numbers of ewes are lambing
indoors within a short time.
This timely warning comes
from rural hygiene specialists,
BASF, whose Lambing
Hygiene Checklist will help
northern farmers maintain the
best possible hygiene guard
throughout 2015 lambing.
“A third of all lamb losses in
lowland flocks occur during
the neonatal period, so
effective protection against
infections is vital at this critical
time,” stresses Charlie Ives of
BASF.

“The risk is compounded
by the substantial build-up
of bacteria in housing and
lambing sheds. A hygiene slip
can result in infections such as
watery mouth, joint and navel ill,
clostridial disease and enteritis
to cause serious damage. And
for every lamb that dies there
will be many more whose early
performance is compromised.”
“Modern disinfectants like
Sorgene 5, proven to be
effective against all major
disease-causing agents - even
in the presence of severe soiling
- as well as safe to use around
ewes and lambs offer the right
protection required at lambing,
but they must be used diligently
as part of a well-established
routine to ensure consistent
and reliable protection. That’s
what our checklist is designed to
ensure.”

The lambing shed is also an ideal
environment for breeding bacteria.
You can protect against unnecessary
lambing loss with Sorgene® 5.

Key essentials:
• Thoroughly disinfect all
accommodation before the
start of lambing, pressure
washing the sides and
floors of pens with a
good quality detergent
before spraying them
with a 1:100 solution of
Sorgene 5 broad spectrum
disinfectant.
• Isolate sick ewes and
lambs in specially-prepared
pens well away from the
healthy flock and tend
them last to minimise
cross-infection dangers.
• Wear clean overalls, dip
boots in a 1:100 solution of
Sorgene 5 before entering
the shed and wash hands
with bactericidal soap
before and after examining
ewes and lambs or
assisting with lambing.

‘Keep a bucket
of 1:100 solution
of Sorgene 5 on
hand at all times’
• Keep a bucket of 1:100
solution of Sorgene 5
on hand at all times to
routinely disinfect all
lambing equipment,
water bowls, teats
and milk dispensers,
refreshing it regularly.
• Muck out pens
frequently, replenish
them with fresh bedding
generously and disinfect
exposed surfaces with a
1:100 solution of Sorgene
5 in a knapsack or a
hand-held sprayer at
least daily.

Use biocides
safely. Always read
the product label
and information
before use.
Sorgene® 5
contains peracetic
acid and hydrogen
peroxide.
Sorgene® 5 is
a registered
trademark of BASF.

Disinfection is better than infection.

150 years

www.farmers-mart.co.uk Feb/Mar 2015 39