How to deworm sheep?

Are you tired of seeing your sheep constantly itching and scratching? Are they losing weight or looking run down? Before you start thinking that they are suffering from a mystical curse, it is highly likely that they have worms. But don’t worry, we’ve got just the magic spell – I mean solution – for you: deworming!

Deworming is an essential part of good animal husbandry, so let’s dive into everything you need to know about how to deworm sheep.

Signs That Your Sheep Needs Deworming

Not sure if your fluffy friends need some magical intervention? Well here are some signs that will give it away:

• Loss of weight
• Diarrhoea
• Anaemia
• Weakness
• Rough coat/wool

If any of these symptoms occur when checking on your woolly buddies – then be sure they immediately need deworming treatment.

Types of Worms in Sheep

Believe it or not, there isn’t just ONE type worm but MULTIPLE types who infect sheep with impurities which can result in poor health.

There’s:

1. Roundworms (Ostertagia and Haemonchus species)
2. Tapeworms
3. Liver flukes

Each worm has its own specific way it bothers our hoofed-friends, thankfully each way is treatable through agiciulture medicine.

How to Tell if Your Sheep Have Worms?

Great question! There’s only one sure-fire-way to tell; find yourself a faecal egg count test kit which helps detect roundworm eggs growing within their delicious poo receptacles!

Once this has been squished vigorously between two optic slides (or something fancy like that) figure out what “runny” point your slide sticks at ranking them as lower risk (150 eggs per gram) AND higher risk (500 eggs per gram). The results will inform the farmkeeper on when to deworm and treat their woolly wonders.

Not Home with a Testing Kit?

Check Them Out:

• Pale gums?
• Weakness?
• Snacking WAY less than normal?

Well then, you wormed yourself into quite the situation haven’t you? And so have your sheep. Call up that vet – ASAP!

Timing is Key

Deworming should be done regularly, it won’t serve any purpose if there are already signs of infestation – prevention is better than cure after all!

There’s no sure fire guidance but typical farms in mild climates would deworm three times a year:
Pre-lambing
Summer time
Autumn prior to bringing indoor.
It’s important to make note of this due to egg laying patterns for different worms – dun dun duuunnnn.

Maaagic Trick Alert:

Every worm found seen can lay around two thousand unwanted “children” offspring every day! Hear ye hear ye: get clued up on what type of worm is ruining your farming life so we know which magic spell to use next…

Dewormer products

Magic potions are just words without wand-y action…So let’s go over some helpful anti-witch…oops I mean “worm” products available for purchase online or from local animal specialist shops:

1. Bimectin Sheep Drench Solution – a brand name worth investigating as once applied oral solution containing Ivermectin all these sheep threats shall see such happy ever afters!
2. Flukiver Spot-On Solution also works as an antihelmintic warranting satisfied customers prancing through fields like rainbows.
3. Net-Tex Total Footcare Cattle/Dosing Gun Set may not sound exactly magical BUT injects avrious dosages accurately every time so the correct amount of medicine is supplied every time.

Don’t underestimate doses, overdose can cause sheep to collapse from heart failures. Death by worm really is pushing it right?

Deworming Techniques

We know you’re a pro already but let’s recap some techniques shall we?
How do we get this purple liquid in our sheep friends’ somewhat unconvincing mouths and not on ourselves – It’s magic! We mean technique:

1. Injection
2. Oral Drench
3. Topical / Spot-On Treatments

1. Injection

Injection requires experience as well as steady hand.. reliable aim.. courage….superhero capes…etc.
Pick an accurate needle size based on weight as incorrect needle size could be harmful even fatal for your rather lovely livestock!

If “self-made potions” are preferred (just go with us here) and injection seems daunting try Long Acting Categories like Eprinex or other such pour & pray medicines.

NOTE: Green gooey spots found don’t mean aliens have invaded – only means vaccine leaking out of punctures supplies will eventually disappear within weeks, like British summertime seasons :).

2.Oral Drench

Oral drench comes in simple-to-use-magically-tasty syrups!
For individual treatment use an automatic doser gun simply measure the required dosage (see types mentioned before), insert into their mouth between lips to teeth gap & shoot straight down that throat!

Got several woolly babies lined up waiting patiently (bah dum tss)?
Put all medicine solution into bigger bottle then rubber tubing behind backmolars downwards carefully at constant pressure allowing each second or third “baaaaa” ewe child swallow-ing space!

3.Topical/Spot- On Treatment

Choose this type when sheepish creatures keep trying trick onto loading ramps or running away constantly…can anyone else hear Benny Hill music right now? Yes, I thought so.

Application is simple to perform by placing dose onto the back of neck or between shoulder blades.
Done! All we need now is start featuring in sheep-specific Stephen King books!

Help your flock stay healthy

So what have we learnt today? We’ve learned that regular deworming is important in ensuring our woolly wonders thrive healthily; what worms can do harm to these precious creatures and causing pain and suffering while depriving others from making well deserved profits.

It’s up there alongside other beast agri-practices such as annual vaccinations for all necessary ailments… so don’t forget! Just like how early bird catches worm, make sure they get it (metaphorically)

Have no fear farmer buddy, your magic wand – sorry we mean knowledge – on understanding how to deworm sheep will ensure a happy-woolly-life full of colour and happiness.

Good Luck & Happy De-worming!