Sheep Special Open Meet at the Banff & Buchan Monitor Farm

You're invited to the Banff & Buchan Monitor Farm, Sheep Special Open meeting, from 1.45pm on Tuesday 30th September at Bruce Irvine’s Sauchentree Farm, New Aberdour. We'll discuss preparation for autumn prime lamb sales and the importance of tup and ewe health as the North-East heads towards major lamb sales and tupping time.

MONITOR FARM SCOTLAND ARE PROVIDING A FREE WORM EGG COUNT AND WORMER RESISTANCE TEST FOR ATTENDEES - SEE THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE FOR DETAILS.

Bruce will share performance data from his 400 ewes, achieving an impressive 168% lambs to weaning from scanning figures of 175% and average daily live weight gains from weaning of 290g/day. Bruce will encourage discussion around lamb growth rates and sale readiness and outline his tupping preparations, offering a practical look at how he’s setting up for the breeding season ahead.

Drawing on his own shepherding experience at Ranna Farm, Tarland, Ross Williams, Norvite Commercial Director, will emphasise the importance of targeted nutrition to support sale weights and maximise fertility at tupping time.

Parasite control takes centre stage in the health discussions. Ewan Jamieson Vet Director at Meadows Vets will present findings from Bruce’s summer worming strategy and share concerning data he’s collected from local farms—one wormer showing just 12% efficacy.

Dr Eilidh Gospel, Registered Animal Medicine advisor and specialist in worm egg counts will lead a hands-on discussion on worms, sheep performance and ongoing control. Eilidh will provide a free worm egg count service for the first 35 attendees bringing samples.

Lamb's on the menu from Ian J McIntosh Butchers

Sampling Instructions for Worm Egg Count & Efficacy Testing with Eilidh Gospel, Worm Egg Count Scotland.

A free test for attendees at the Monitor Farm Scotland ‘Sheep Special’.

Sampling

• You need to collect ten individual fresh lamb dung samples.

• Your lambs should be healthy and on grass or getting good feed.

• Hold your group of at least 10 lambs in a field corner for a few minutes, until they start to poo.

• Collect 10 individual fresh dung samples from the group and wear gloves!

• The dung should be fresh, soft and not dry.

• Put the 10 dung samples in a single air-tight bag (e.g. freezer bags/gripseal bags/dog poo bag) or in a clean, pot with a lid.

• Write, stick or staple your name, address and the name of the lamb group or the field on the bag.

• Keep the sample in a fridge or collect on the day
• Keep out of direct sunlight.

• Bring it along to Eilidh Gospel at the Sheep Special Monitor Farm Meeting at Sauchentree on the 30th September.

• Fill in a submission (drop-off) form so Eilidh can contact you with results.

The results

• Eilidh will test your sample to give you a worm egg count.

• You’ll get your results back within a week.

• If samples report a high egg count, Eilidh will advise you on a treatment.
• Monitor Farm Scotland cannot fund the treatment that's been advised.

Treatment and resistance

• You can then request a further egg count to test the impact of your chosen wormer.

• Collect poo samples 7–14 days after treatment. Eilidh will advise you.

• An egg count count 90% lower in the second sample shows your wormer’s worked and got rid of most of the gut worms.

• If the reduction is less than 90% then the wormer’s not been not been fully effective. Eilidh, your vet or supplier can advise you of the next steps.

Cost

• There is no cost for the testing. . (Monitor Farm Scotland can’t fund any treatment).

• Monitor Farm Scotland (MFS) may summarise the results in press articles.

• Eilidh will send MFS anonymised results – you, your flock or farm will not be mentioned.