Hi all,
Sorry it has been such a long time since my last blog but I have been working every spare minute for my local farmer who is lambing.
My sheep are looking brilliant at the moment and the lambs are coming on well. They are looking strong and I am proud to say that they are my own. This morning I dagged the ewes (this means I cleaned their backsides which were dirty from being on fresh grass!). I then gave them a dose of worming drench.
You have probably heard already that a disease called Schmallenberg has hit England. The disease happens in cattle, sheep and goats. A total of 83 farms in the south of England have been confirmed to have Schmallenberg. Across Europe a total 1,129 cattle, sheep and goat farms have been affected by the new disease. Germany has been the worst affected area in the world. Schmallenberg was thought to be brought over here by biting midges. Cattle and ewes were bitten in Autumn of last year when they were pregnant.
Schmallenberg virus is the second midge-borne disease known to have invaded the U.K., with bluetongue virus having arrived in 2007. Professor Matthew Baylis pinned the blame on climate change. "The spread of bluetongue virus was driven entirely by the temperature changes in Europe," he said. "Our changing climate is making it more likely these things happen."
I am lucky as my ewes have lambed but I feel really sorry for all the farmers who have been affected by Schmallenberg and I also feel sorry for farmers who are still to lamb as they do not now if Schmallenberg has attacked their ewes.
Speak Soon
Jack
Sorry it has been such a long time since my last blog but I have been working every spare minute for my local farmer who is lambing.
My sheep are looking brilliant at the moment and the lambs are coming on well. They are looking strong and I am proud to say that they are my own. This morning I dagged the ewes (this means I cleaned their backsides which were dirty from being on fresh grass!). I then gave them a dose of worming drench.
You have probably heard already that a disease called Schmallenberg has hit England. The disease happens in cattle, sheep and goats. A total of 83 farms in the south of England have been confirmed to have Schmallenberg. Across Europe a total 1,129 cattle, sheep and goat farms have been affected by the new disease. Germany has been the worst affected area in the world. Schmallenberg was thought to be brought over here by biting midges. Cattle and ewes were bitten in Autumn of last year when they were pregnant.
Schmallenberg virus is the second midge-borne disease known to have invaded the U.K., with bluetongue virus having arrived in 2007. Professor Matthew Baylis pinned the blame on climate change. "The spread of bluetongue virus was driven entirely by the temperature changes in Europe," he said. "Our changing climate is making it more likely these things happen."
I am lucky as my ewes have lambed but I feel really sorry for all the farmers who have been affected by Schmallenberg and I also feel sorry for farmers who are still to lamb as they do not now if Schmallenberg has attacked their ewes.
Speak Soon
Jack
I am young farmer and i would like your advice on a couple of things:
ReplyDelete1. I live in Yorkshire and i am woundering if there is a possible that i get Schmallenberg?
2. Will i need help at lambing?
Robert