Lice treatment options for ewes with and without lambs
For product selection options to treat sheep lice refer to the short and long wool Lice Chemical Tables (refer right).
If a long wool treatment is used then eradication is unlikely and ewes and lambs will need to be treated after shearing.
Ewes should not be treated within six weeks prior to lambing.
Lice treatment options for the different possible combinations of ewe and lambs flocks are outlined in the tables below.
The information below should be used to further clarify your chemical choice and application method.
| Ewe and/or lamb status | Ewe treatment | Lamb treatment |
|---|---|---|
| Ewes treated more than six weeks before lambing | Any registered treatment | (no lambs present) |
| Ewes treated less than six weeks before lambing but too close to lambing to dip ewes (Not a safe eradication option) | All backline treatments will require six weeks to elapse between treatment application and lambing for eradication to be achieved | (no lambs present) |
| Ewes shorn and lambs unshorn and up to three months old | Off shears short wool dip* or Avenge or Extinosad PO backline treatment | Registered backline treatment for use on unshorn lambs. Avenge ® (lambs to eight weeks), Extinosad PO ® (suckling lambs) |
| Ewes shorn and lambs unshorn and three to six months old (No registered treatment options for eradication in this scenario) | Off-shears short wool dip* or backline treatment (Not an eradication treatment unless both ewe and lamb are treated) | Need consistent product application in the ewe-lamb unit. (Not an eradication treatment unless both ewe and lamb are treated) |
| Ewes and lambs shorn | Off-shears short wool dip* or backline treatment | Off-shears short wool dip* or backline treatment |
| 6 weeks to 6 months wool | Extinosad PO or Handjet with ivermectin or spinosyn |
|---|---|
| 6 - 10.5 months wool | Extinosad PO or Handjet with ivermectin or spinosyn |
| 10.5 - 12 months wool | Extinosad PO or Handjet with spinosyn or premature shear and treat |