How the mobile clinic works
The Small Farms Network Capital Region has arranged for Veterinarians Peter and Penny Dagg to run a mobile clinic to vaccinate small flocks of sheep and quiet goats with Gudair in the Yass-Bungendore-Gunning-Collector-Braidwood-Murrumbateman areas (and the places in between). Other locations can be considered based on demand.
During the mobile clinic, Peter and Penny will visit farms to give the sheep/goats the Gudair vaccine. The animals to be vaccinated must be ready in yards or a pen when the vets arrive. They will give you an approximate appointment time and then ring ahead on the day so that you have advance notice to have the animals ready.
While they are there, Peter and Penny can give you feedback on the condition of your breeding flock and your worm management program if you wish. There will not be time for examination of sick animals.
Farmers can administer the vaccine themselves but a 100ml vaccine pack (smallest size) is expensive. This is a way of sharing the cost between small farmers. The vaccine does not last long once opened and accidental self-injection with the Gudair vaccine can cause a severe and persistent reaction in people. Sheep and goats may get an injection site reaction (lump) with Gudair and it is important to administer the dose using the correct technique and at the right location.
Why vaccinate?
Johne’s Disease (JD) is a bacterial disease of sheep and goats that is spread through manure. It is prevalent in the Capital Region. In infected animals the intestinal wall slowly thickens, causing reduced absorption of nutrients from the intestine. The infected animals continue to eat and drink normally while losing weight until they are too weak to graze and eventually die. There is no known cure for infected sheep and goats.
Vaccinating lambs and kids with Gudair is a key tool in the fight to control the spread of JD in sheep and goat flocks in Australia. For more information about JD and the Gudair vaccine, see www.ojd.com.au.
Which sheep and goats can be vaccinated?
Lambs/kids can be vaccinated with the Gudair vaccine from four weeks of age and preferably before 16 weeks of age. Older animals can also be vaccinated with Gudair. The vaccination is only needed once in the animal’s life. Generally it is not worth vaccinating animals that will be slaughtered before they are two years old.
The Gudair vaccination is in addition to the 5in1 or 6in1 vaccination and booster typically given to lambs or kids, and then each year to older animals.
Gudair vaccinated sheep are identified with an NLIS sheep ear tag that contains the property identification code (PIC) and the letter ‘V’.
Cost
The cost for the clinic to come to your farm is a fixed fee of $88.00 per farm plus $5.50 for each sheep/goat vaccinated. Payment by cash or cheque on the day to the vets.
Register your interest
If you are interested in participating in the clinic, please register so we can contact you closer to the time to make more definite arrangements. We know that lambing and kidding can be unpredictable but your estimate of numbers to be vaccinated is helpful for planning. There is no obligation to participate after registering.
Please contact us if you have any questions.
