Calling all ultrasound scanners

Intervet is looking to recruit sheep ultrasound scanners to participate in a nationwide survey on one of the major causes of barrenness and abortion in ewes – toxoplasmosis. The results that are generated will be used to help reduce the incidence of this preventable, yet costly disease.

The first indication that toxoplasmosis might be a problem is normally at scanning time, when a higher than expected number of barren ewes or singles is picked up. While it is often too late to prevent losses at this stage, if the problem is identified, steps can be put into place to prevent losses in subsequent years.

Intervet currently runs two schemes aimed at helping vets and farmers identify toxoplasmosis and enzootic abortion (EAE). Barren EweCheck tests to see if toxoplasmosis is the cause of barrenness from blood samples taken from "suspect" animals around scanning time. FlockCheck aims to identify the causes of abortion by analysing blood samples from ewes that have either aborted in late pregnancy, or that have produced weak and sickly lambs that die soon after birth.

Over the past eight years, FlockCheck and Barren EweCheck have shown that both diseases are causing unnecessary losses in flocks across England, Scotland and Wales. The average number of flocks that have been exposed to toxoplasmosis over this period is 71%, with 2007 showing the highest number of exposed flocks since the survey began. Detected levels of EAE in 2007 were 49%, marginally below the average of 54%.

Sheep scanners who participate will simply be asked to return data on the number of barren ewes and ewes carrying singles. As an incentive to participate, each scanner operator will receive a £10 M&S voucher for every 25 farm reports returned.

Owners of flocks where barrenness and/or number of singles are higher than expected will be given the opportunity to contact their vet to request the Barren EweCheck service to determine the cause or causes.