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Weekly Blog

Sucklers and Sheep in the Lake District

March 18, 2020
Sucklers and Sheep in the Lake District

Ian 'Seth' Armstrong keeps sucklers and sheep in Lorton, Cumbria.

The farm is located against the stunning backdrop of the Lake District.

An ex-professional rugby player, Ian came to the area with his family 43 years ago.

"We keep 100 suckler cows, 70 are purebred Limousins. Then there're 650 ewes - 300 Swaledale, 100 Mules, some Texels and Leicesters."

Health

Ian has had coccidiosis in both the lambs and calves in the past and reminisces about the hardship and strain on labour that he endured.

"We've had coccidiosis in the past in the calves before and it ruins them. It's hard work..."

"When they're showing signs it's too late. The damage has been done in the animal's intestine and will affect thrive in later life. Also only 1 in 25 infected animals will show scour but they'll all be carrying it and weight gain will reduce in all the other lambs."

"We're all trying to rush lambs away in the summer before the price drops. With coccidiosis we reduce our chances of doing this," Ian added.

Ian uses Dycoxan in lambs at five weeks and and in calves between one and two months of age when first signs are encountered.

"We do this to prevent symptoms from occuring in the first place and maximise thrive."

Keep learning

More on Dycoxan

Learn about coccidiosis.

Use medicines responsibly

Ian 'Seth' Armstrong keeps sucklers and sheep in Lorton, Cumbria.

The farm is located against the stunning backdrop of the Lake District.

An ex-professional rugby player, Ian came to the area with his family 43 years ago.

"We keep 100 suckler cows, 70 are purebred Limousins. Then there're 650 ewes - 300 Swaledale, 100 Mules, some Texels and Leicesters."

Health

Ian has had coccidiosis in both the lambs and calves in the past and reminisces about the hardship and strain on labour that he endured.

"We've had coccidiosis in the past in the calves before and it ruins them. It's hard work..."

"When they're showing signs it's too late. The damage has been done in the animal's intestine and will affect thrive in later life. Also only 1 in 25 infected animals will show scour but they'll all be carrying it and weight gain will reduce in all the other lambs."

"We're all trying to rush lambs away in the summer before the price drops. With coccidiosis we reduce our chances of doing this," Ian added.

Ian uses Dycoxan in lambs at five weeks and and in calves between one and two months of age when first signs are encountered.

"We do this to prevent symptoms from occuring in the first place and maximise thrive."

Keep learning

More on Dycoxan

Learn about coccidiosis.

Use medicines responsibly