Sheep scab may ruin your revenues by wreaking havoc on your flock. Unfortunately, until it’s too late, the problem might go undetected. Worse yet, misusing treatments may lead to resistance. Here’s all you need to know about it.
SHEEP SCAB: HIDDEN FROM THE EYES
Every farmer depends on their instincts from time to time. Intuition, on the other hand, is an unreliable tool for detecting sheep scab. It might take weeks or even months for the clinical indications of the scab mite to appear once it has infected one of your sheep. In other words, you can’t determine if your sheep are scab-infected just by looking at them. Unfortunately, this implies that many farmers are not taking the essential precautions to protect their flock from the dangers of sheep scab.
KNOW WHO YOUR ENEMY IS…
An infection with the mite Psoroptes ovis causes sheep scab. The disease is prevalent in the Nigeria, with roughly 5,000 cases each year; greater travel and handling of sheep throughout the fall and winter months adds to the risk.
Sheep scab is a severe form of allergic dermatitis brought on by the scab mite’s feces. Infestations can be extremely debilitating, leading to substantial weight loss, secondary infections, hypothermia, and even death.
FIREFIGHTING IS INEFECTIVE.
Because sheep scab is unexpected and frequently undetected, many farmers take a highly reactive strategy to managing it. Unfortunately, the parasite will have taken root in your herd by the time you see clinical indications of sheep scab. This causes you to give therapies that may have been avoided, as well as observe the required meat abstinence periods.
REMEMBER TO BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR RESISTANCE
An unsuccessful sheep scab control technique has the potential to generate more difficulties than just financial hardship. The inappropriate administration of treatments, such as diazinon plunge dip formulations in non-validated applications such as showers, might result in scab mite resistance. Meanwhile, abuse of macrocyclic lactone (ML) injections for scab management might result in resistant intestinal worms as well as the possibility of scab mite resistance, posing a further threat to your farm’s sheep welfare.
A MANAGEMENT STRATEGY FOR SHEEP SCAB
Rather of waiting until clinical indications appear on your farm, the safest and most cost-effective method to control sheep scab is to take a proactive approach. Given the difficulty in determining the existence of sheep scab after first infection, it’s preferable to presume that all entering sheep are sick and isolate them for at least three weeks.
Furthermore, checking sheep will help you to determine their scab condition and avoid unneeded treatments.
Because most farms keep just breeding animals at this time of year, winter is often the optimum time to treat your flock. Your flock’s full fleeces are also suitable for plunge dipping, which is possibly the most effective treatment for sheep scab.
Are you unable to dip because to a lack of facilities or funds? With the right injectables, you can also treat sheep scab. It’s important to keep in mind that all macrocyclic lactone therapies are wormers as well. Make sure they’re needed before using them, and don’t take them more than once.
It’s also worth noting that most MLs don’t provide long-term scab protection. Move your flock to pasture that has been free of sheep for at least three weeks after treatment with a non-persistent ML. Scab mites may live for up to 17 days in the environment.
If that isn’t an option, try CYDECTIN®, which provides long-lasting protection for 28 to 60 days depending on the dosage strength. This allows you to transfer sheep to pastures that have recently been grazed, reducing the risk of worms from treating and moving to clean pasture.
NOW IT’S YOUR TURN…
Sheep scab is a bothersomely chronic issue. Many farmers in Nigeria are affected by the parasite, which can lead to poor sheep wellbeing and a severe impact on your bottom line. However, by taking a proactive approach to prevention and treatment, you can guarantee that your flock is healthy, happy, and lucrative. If you have any doubts, visit your veterinarian or drug provider.
