We
firmly believe that as seedstock producers, it is our
obligation to our customers to provide sheep whose
health is beyond question � no unpleasant surprises!
Our philosophy as direct sellers of retail cuts to the
public is the same � we sell the kind of meat we want
for our own family. To this end, we have the following
programs in place:
Biosecurity and Isolation
Our farm and pastures are �closed� to outside contact
except under tight controls. Outside vehicles are not
allowed to drive on pastures, and visitors are required
to wear protective foot covers.
Our stock is not allowed to
commingle with other livestock, ovine or otherwise. We do not lease rams.
All purchased rams must have at least one “R” at Codon 171 and
clear our rigorous health testing program. Our ewe flock is closed.
Purchased breeding stock are washed with antifungal soap, hooves treated in
a foot bath, vaccinated, wormed, and then isolated and observed for one
month, during which serum tests for OPP, caseous lymphadenitus ('boils' or
CL), and Johnes are completed.
In compliance with our SFCP
status (see section following), at shows our pens are sanitized with Virkon
and fitted with solid divider panels prior to bringing our animals in (to
avoid nose-to-nose contact). Animals returning from shows are washed with
antifungal soap, hooves treated in a foot bath, and isolated for a minimum
of 14 days to minimize any risks of transmitted infection.
We are OPP-negative, free of
caseous lymphadenitus, footrot, and club lamb fungus, and intend to remain
so.
Ongoing Monitoring
Our flock is enrolled in the USDA Scrapie Flock Certification Program (SFCP)
and is in compliance with all terms of this program with a status date of
September 2017.
Our flock is OPP-negative, in
accordance with the standards of the OPP Concerned Sheep Breeders
Association. In 2013, we were the first flock in the United States to screen
for OPP using the highly-sensitive Elitest ELISA, which confirmed our
OPP-negative status. For more information on Ovine Progressive Pneumonia
(known outside the USA as maedi visna), please refer to the OPPCSBA site, www.oppsociety.org.
We
spot check for ovine Johnes disease, and have no
test-positive animals in the flock.
Vaccinations
All lambs are vaccinated for Clostridium perfringens
types C&D, tetanus, and caseous lymphadenitus. Retained and
purchased
breeding stock are further vaccinated with Covexin-8 to
cover a broader range of pathogens, and given an annual
booster dose.
All
lambs are vaccinated for soremouth, both Texas and
Colorado strains. Breeding stock are re-vaccinated
every three years.
Helminthics
Ewes are wormed post-partum and turned out on drylot
prior to going to pasture. Lambs are wormed at 50
pounds.
Excluding the foregoing, we do not worm on a fixed
schedule. Rather, worming is performed when FAMACHA
results, general observations, and fecal floats indicate
the need for worming, and then only on an
animal-by-animal basis. Worm resistance is a heritable
trait, and we track the frequency of worming in our ewe
flock as a selection tool in our breeding program.
We
make use of natural dietary anti-helminthics (pumpkins,
garlic, etc.) whenever possible, and exclusively for
locker lambs as they are prepared for market.
Antibiotics
We treat sheep with antibiotics when medically
necessary, and strictly observe required withdrawal
times. We don�t believe in feeding antibiotics to food
animals as aids to growth.
General Health
As part of our participation in the USDA Scrapie Flock Certification Program
(SFCP), our flock is inspected annually and our records audited by a USDA
Veterinarian. Our most recent USDA inspection was March 27, 2018.
Oregon is a selenium-deficient
region, and so all animals are fed a good sheep mineral mix ad
libitum containing 90 ppm of selenium. All lambs receive two doses
of supplemental selenium during their first seven weeks of life. Breeding
stock receive an annual selenium booster.
Breeding stock receive an annual vitamin booster.
Breeding ewes receive vitamin boosters pre- and
post-partum.
