Stoneyford Heritage Meats

Farming is full of incredible highs, but the lows can hit just as hard. Recently, we experienced one of those heartbreaking moments that come with the responsibility of caring for animals. We lost a ewe lamb and a four-year-old ewe (In different groups but feeding on the same batch of silage). Both deaths were linked to listeria, a diagnosis we confirmed through a post-mortem examination.

The post-mortem results were eye-opening in more ways than one. Alongside the listeria diagnosis, the ewe had an alarmingly high worm count of 38,900 epg (eggs per gram). For perspective, this count was staggeringly higher than anything we’ve encountered before. While I initially suspected Barber’s Pole Worm, the lab ruled it out, but it was clear we had a significant worm burden to address.

Acting Fast

On veterinary advice, we wormed the entire flock, which is currently housed in our livestock polytunnel. But rather than just treating and hoping for the best, we decided to approach this issue with data-driven precision. We conducted fecal egg counts (FECs) on sheep from different groups within the flock before worming, carefully recording which animals we tested. This step ensures we can perform a wormer reduction test in a few weeks to measure the effectiveness of the treatment we used.

The Results So Far

Here’s what the fecal egg counts revealed:

Lambs: 2760 epg

Ewes with a Body Condition Score (BCS) of 3+: 1260 epg

Ewes with a BCS of around 2: 1110 epg


Some of these ewes are also carrying twins, which makes this stage of their pregnancy even more demanding on their bodies. To help them maintain energy and weight, we’ve introduced 200g of meal per head per day as a supplement to the twin bearing ewes and any singles with a low Body Condition Score.

Monitoring and Next Steps

We’re fortunate that the other sheep showing early signs of illness have made full recoveries. However, this experience has been a stark reminder of the importance of vigilance and quick action.

The next step will be to retest the groups on January 12th to ensure the wormer has been effective. This retest will give us clarity on whether the treatment reduced the worm burden to acceptable levels and, if not, guide us in making further decisions.

Reflecting on the Journey

Losing animals is never easy, and it’s moments like these that make you take a step back and reassess everything you’re doing. While the losses hurt, they’ve also reinforced the importance of regular testing and early intervention. Worm burdens, nutrition, and disease prevention all play a role in maintaining a healthy flock, and sometimes, no matter how hard you try, nature has other plans.

Farming is a learning curve, and I hope sharing this experience sheds light on the importance of fecal testing, post-mortem examinations, and following veterinary advice. If nothing else, it reminds us to keep striving to do the best for our animals, even when the going gets tough. With it being winter we certainly had let our guard down when it came to fecal testing, which we wont let happen again!

Thank you for taking the time to read about our journey. If you’ve faced similar challenges or have any advice, I’d love to hear your thoughts. Together, we can all grow and learn.