Free tests offered on lambs

Joint-ill or Septic Arthritis affects the joints of new born lambs and causes painful swelling. Those infected with the bacterial disease fail to thrive and, in the worst cases, up to 20% of the farm’s lamb crop can die.

Heather Stevenson, of the college’s SAC Consulting Veterinary Services said: “Following the 2016 lambing season we had anecdotal reports that there had been a greater than usual number of outbreaks with high casualty rates and a poor response to treatments so decided to collect information from across the country about which pathogens are responsible.”

As an easily recognised disease, farmers or their vets do not normally submit cases to any of the eight Veterinary Disease Surveillance Centres SAC Consulting runs on behalf of Scottish Government. However, Heather believes the offer of free tests will help the college vets gather enough evidence for a proper scientific survey and analysis during the 2017 lambing season.

She added: “Many different bacteria may be associated with septic arthritis although historically one in particular, Streptococcus dysgalactiae, has been most common. It has been normal practice to use preventative anti-biotic treatments but with increasing concerns about anti microbial resistance that approach is no longer acceptable and treatments must be more targeted. Hopefully our research will help in the development of Health Plans with new prevention and control strategies.”

The researchers want to examine lambs from between 50 to 80 flocks, with one to three lambs submitted per flock. The lambs should be less than four weeks old. The offer, on a first come first serve basis is open to flocks close enough to the Veterinary Centres in Dumfries and St Boswells.