VETERINARY ADVICE
Are you ready for marking?
With spring fast approaching, lambs and calves are on the ground and marking will be the next job. Lambs and calves should be marked between two and 12 weeks of age. Marking is an essential part of the farming process, and animal welfare is an important aspect of marking. At Crookwell Veterinary Hospital we have options available for pain relief in lambs and calves.
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These medications, with early marking, have been shown to significantly decrease pain, stress and discomfort, decrease the risk of bleeding and infection, shorten the recovery time, promote mothering and return to suckling, improve wound healing and – importantly – reduce weight loss post marking, thereby maintaining good growth. Providing pain relief may also increase selling power and reward with a premium price. Another important husbandry procedure incorporated into marking is vaccination.
At Crookwell Vet Hospital, we recommend lambs receive 6-in-1 vaccine, which protects against the five clostridial diseases (Enterotoxaemia/pulpy kidney, tetanus, Blackleg, Black disease, Malignant oedema and swelled head in rams) in addition to cheesy gland. Lambs must be given two doses of vaccine, four to six weeks apart. We also recommend male calves be vaccinated with 5-in-1 and female 7-in-1 as this added protection against Leptospirosis is important to avoid reproductive losses such as abortion and infertility.