This disease can be a most troublesome disease of sheep and particularly goats. It is generally a disease of young animals. In the ideal world, an animal is minimally exposed and develops immunity without clinical symptoms. In the real world, the animal often develops clinical symptoms and depending on severity may require treatment. It is a self-limiting disease so degree of exposure is important.
Dark scours in lambs at two to six weeks of age while still on the ewe is generally coccidia and diffi cult to treat and control. It is a disease that shows its ugly head under good and bad sanitary conditions and every where between. So what do we do? There are several options which in itself is confusing. For prevention, we have these options. We can feed Rumensin and Deccox prior to lambing or kidding. This will clean up the ewes so there is less exposure and at the same time reduce the exposure to toxoplasmosis abortion, coccidia of cats. Adding 2# of 6% Deccox to 50# of salt fed free choice. Rumensin can be fed at the level of 15mg to 30mg per head per day.
In creep feed, we suggest feeding 2# of 6% Deccox per ton of creep. If labeled as a supplement (which creep feed is) this level meets regulations. Lower levels are required in grower and finisher rations. Deccox and Rumensin work early in the cycle and must be fed continuously to be effective.The sulfas are used for clinical treatment, primarily sulfamethazine and sulfadimethoxine. Sulfas are used orally as individual treatment or in drinking water. I don’t use Corid, it is another treatment that is effective in the middle of the cycle, but I can’t figure out when that is. AS 700 used in abortion outbreaks will reduce exposure to lambs and kids as well.
Coccidia Treatment
Dosage for a 50# Lamb:
12.5% Sulfadimethoxine,oral drench 10cc first day, 5cc day 2 & 3.
Flock Treatment: 1 pt to 20 gals. of drinking water. 3 to 5 days.
12.5% Sulfamethazine (Sulmet), oral drench 1 1/2 oz first day, 3/4 oz. days 2 & 3.
Flock Treatment: 1 pt. to 25 gals. of drinking water. 3 to 5 days.
Coccidiostats for prevention:
Rumensin-all feeds-15 gram/ton.
Deccox 6% 2 1/2# /ton creep, 2#/ton of grower, 1 1/2#/ton finisher.
Deccox 6% 2# per 50# of salt.
***Check with your veterinarian due to extra label use and slaughter withdrawal requirements.
