Stop Lame Lambs through prevention of Erysipelas Arthritis

Back to Sheep home page

Erysipelas rhusiopathiae

• Erysipelas spp. soil borne bacteria enters via the umbilical cord or wounds then localises in leg joints causing inflammation and lameness 

• Results in death of young lambs through ill thrift and lame lambs 

• Increased tail in the flock, unsalable or untransportable animals and general animal welfare concerns 

• Causes carcass trimming and full condemnations at the abattoir

• Economic impact of lower lamb numbers, chronic arthritis in ewes/rams, and lost meat yield

Erysipelas arthritis is the inflammation of one or more joints which causes lameness and visible swelling of joints in the legs through the infection of the bacteria Erysipelas spp.

Lambs will most likely become infected at mulesing when the lamb’s mother licks the wounds, at shearing via cuts, soon after birth or at marking.

As an animal welfare consideration, animals that remain chronically lame should be humanely destroyed.

The condition can be prevented by vaccinating ewes before lambing with ERYVAC and avoiding shearing or mulesing lambs in wet and muddy conditions. 

PREVENTION WITH ERYVAC VACCINE

Since newborn lambs are at significant risk of Erysipelas arthritis, an effective vaccination program starts with the pregnant ewe. Ewes vaccinated with Eryvac will transfer passive immunity to their lambs through the colostrum or ‘first milk’, providing protection to the lamb for the first weeks of life.

Understanding the Principles of Vaccination | Pre-Lambing

The lambs themselves should then be vaccinated to prolong their protection, starting at 4-6 weeks of age (e.g. at marking) and followed by a booster dose approximately 4 weeks later. The second (booster) dose is essential to generate a stronger, long lasting immune response.

Understanding the Principles of Vaccination | Lambs

Key features of Eryvac

• Eryvac is the tried and trusted brand for the control of Erysipelas arthritis in lambs. Its reputation has grown through clinical studies and in-field use in Australia over many years.
• No other vaccine contains the same highly effective strain of (inactivated) bacteria.
• Eryvac can be used for up to 30 days after first opening, minimising wastage.
• ONLY Eryvac and Glanvac can be used with the new Glanvac-Eryvac Dual Vaccinator, saving you time.

APPLICATION

Glanvac-Eryvac Dual Vaccinator

ONLY Eryvac and Glanvac can be used with the new Glanvac-Eryvac Dual Vaccinator, saving you time and labour.

The Glanvac Eryvac Dual Vaccinator is a revolutionary new design that allows simultaneous administration of the Glanvac range of vaccines with Eryvac through best practice technology in an easy to use ergonomic device.

The applicator has a shrouded needle to tent the skin upon application to optimise vaccine placement and efficacy.

You should use the short needle possible, Zoetis recommends a quarter inch or 6mm needle at 45^O to the skin.

 
Click below to watch the Glanvac+Eryvac Instructional Video

For further information on Best Practice Vaccination click here and visit livestock solutions on the Zoetis website

GLANVAC

The Glanvac range protects your flocks’ productivity and wool clip against Cheesy Gland (CLA) and Clostridial diseases.

There is a range of Glanvac products to meet your needs as an Australian sheep producer. All of these products protect against Cheesy Gland. Cheesy Gland is one of the most common and costly bacterial diseases seen on sheep farms in Australia.

Cheesy Gland impacts:

• Wool production
• Ram fertility
• Carcass quality through contamination
• Increased carcass trimming
• Farm productivity

Controlling Cheesy Gland is difficult, as it is largely a hidden disease with few clinical signs, but the initial infection may cause fever and loss of appetite. Internal organ abscesses can result in ill-thrift and the incidence of Cheesy Gland increases as the sheep become older. the impact of this disease on their flock can be minimised.

Cheesy Gland is seen as abscesses under the skin of infected sheep (in the lymph nodes), but these abscesses can also appear in the lungs and other internal organs. The abscesses initially contain soft, pasty pus which hardens over time to form a firm, dry substance.

The main source of infection are those animals with lung abscesses that ‘cough’ infective material onto other animals when in close contact, e.g. yarding post-shearing, feedlots or sheep camps. Sheep with lung abscesses can cough up the bacteria, exposing other animals to the bacteria as it enters through their skin. Aerosol transmission is more likely to occur when sheep are yarded together.

Another potential source of infection is material from ruptured superficial abscesses that contaminate pastures, handling equipment, shearing equipment and dipping fluid. Ruptured abscesses contain large numbers of infective bacteria, which can survive for months in the environment. The bacteria are highly contagious. The bacteria can survive in the environment for a long period of time – up to 8 months in soil, 4 months in shearing sheds and 24 hours in sheep dips.

The Glanvac range prevents CLA through a complete vaccination program of 2 doses in unvaccinated sheep and lambs with an annual booster dose within 4-12 weeks of shearing, generally at pre-lambing for ewes.

The Glanvac 3 range also protect against the clostridial disease of Tetanus and Pulpy Kidney, with the Glanvac 6 adding protection against Blackleg, Black disease and Malignant Oedema. With both the Glanvac 3 and Glanvac 6 vaccine range, Selenium and or Vitamin B12 can be included to the single dose. Selenium deficiency causes while white muscle disease killing lambs and subclinical low fertility in ewes and rams. Vitamin B12 is vital for energy production which is vital for body and wool growth. Deficiencies in Vitamin B12 causes loss of appetite, decreased growth rates, reduction in wool quality and quantity

The Glanvac range is registered for use in the Glanvac+Eryvac Dual Vaccinator with Eryvac to protect your flock from these disease with Selenium and Vitamin B12 supplementation in a single dose.

For further information please click here and visit Livestock Solutions on the Zoetis website.

  References