Pregnant ewe diagnostic service launched

Intervet has launched a new diagnostic service designed to help vets and farmers improve the management of pregnant ewes and reduce unwanted losses.  Barren Ewe Check offers vets the opportunity to provide their farming clients with free serology for toxoplasmosis during mid-pregnancy, typically at ultrasound scanning time, to help determine the possible cause, or causes, of any losses.

The results from Intervet’s existing FlockCheck service have, over the past five years, shown toxoplasmosis to be present in a large proportion of flocks across the whole of the UK.   In 2006 alone, 64% of the 282 flocks tested were positive for toxoplasmosis.  

FlockCheck examines the causes of barrenness or abortions after the lambing period.   Barren Ewe Check is an additional management tool that will show the presence or absence of toxoplasmosis at a much earlier stage.   This allows future control strategies to be put in place, or for further investigations to take place to determine the cause of barrenness should the test show ewes are free from toxoplasmosis.

Toxoplasmosis is just one of many conditions that can affect the number of viable lambs born to a ewe.   If the infection is picked up in the early stage of pregnancy it typically results in reabsorption of the developing foetus or foetuses.   A mid-term scan is likely to show the ewe is barren, although there may be signs of poorly developing lambs that will either abort or produce weak lambs that die soon after birth.   Toxoplasmosis infections picked up later in a pregnancy will usually result in aborted lambs.

Barren Ewe Check and FlockCheck will be available to veterinary practices in 2007.   Barren Ewe Check will run from January to April, and FlockCheck from March to the end of July.   Further information is available from Intervet on 01908 685685.

Article first published 29/11/06