Post by josiegirl on Apr 6, 2024 23:40:26 GMT -5
Well after getting scolded by bz for getting these sheep I immediately got a sinking feeling about the situation. I've been working six dang days a week (there also was some procrastinating dreading the results) but finally got around to calling the vet to come by last week and getting the oldest ewe who had lambed a health check and the biosecurity panel. Yesterday I got a text that she is POSITIVE for Johnes, along with a whopping $330 bill. I will call him on Monday and discuss what this means for our cows but thought I'd check in here too.
I am so frustrated. Both with myself but also that such a fortuitous situation could end up so badly. Really, I have wanted dairy sheep for years but it was never the right time. A couple from church happens to get a few but can't handle them, and here I am with Josie open and 8 months into her lactation and me really wanting to milk this summer. It seemed so meant to be!
Anyway, what does this mean for our cows, have I doomed them? Do I need to get rid of everything for a couple years?
I did ask about it in a sheep group and one person sent me some interesting info from Pat colebys book id really like some input on. She says it's cureable and not spreadable if your minerals are right. Im not sure I'll try curing the ewe but I am interested in preventing Josie and Lottie especially from getting it.
Also, my vet is usually very reasonable. But $330 is ridiculous. Part of the problem is it was $81 to overnight the sample but I didn't think blood samples needed to be overnighted so if anyone knows if that sounds right let me know. He did do a general health exam as well that was 65. And the travel fee went up from 80 to 106 bucks too it seems. Yikes.
Go ahead, just use me as a case study for a dumb newbie who didn't pay enough attention to the smart ones in the room who advised to always disease test first and not get animals who came from dairies.
I am so frustrated. Both with myself but also that such a fortuitous situation could end up so badly. Really, I have wanted dairy sheep for years but it was never the right time. A couple from church happens to get a few but can't handle them, and here I am with Josie open and 8 months into her lactation and me really wanting to milk this summer. It seemed so meant to be!
Anyway, what does this mean for our cows, have I doomed them? Do I need to get rid of everything for a couple years?
I did ask about it in a sheep group and one person sent me some interesting info from Pat colebys book id really like some input on. She says it's cureable and not spreadable if your minerals are right. Im not sure I'll try curing the ewe but I am interested in preventing Josie and Lottie especially from getting it.
Also, my vet is usually very reasonable. But $330 is ridiculous. Part of the problem is it was $81 to overnight the sample but I didn't think blood samples needed to be overnighted so if anyone knows if that sounds right let me know. He did do a general health exam as well that was 65. And the travel fee went up from 80 to 106 bucks too it seems. Yikes.
Go ahead, just use me as a case study for a dumb newbie who didn't pay enough attention to the smart ones in the room who advised to always disease test first and not get animals who came from dairies.