Subsidised abortion screening scheme reopens

A subsidised abortion diagnosis service designed to help farmers diagnose causes of early lamb loss has reopened for the 2025 lambing season.

Sheep farmers can take advantage of the MSD FlockCheck diagnostic scheme through their vets to assess toxoplasmosis and enzootic abortion (EAE) in their flock.

These are the two most common diagnoses of sheep abortion in the UK, according to the Animal and Plant Health Agency data.

See also: Enzootic abortion survey reveals gaps in ewe disease control

Last year’s testing found toxoplasmosis in 80% of 382 flocks, and EAE in 26%, with almost 20% of flocks exposed to both pathogens.

Furthermore, an MSD survey of 966 flocks found more than 30% of the businesses did not know their barren rate or reported a figure greater than 5% after lambing.

At risk

Both toxoplasmosis and EAE can be responsible for reducing the number of lambs per ewes mated.

This can increase workload and stress during lambing, says MSD veterinary health adviser Kat Baxter-Smith,

“Toxoplasmosis, caused by infection with the Toxoplasma gondii parasite, does not just cause abortion.

“It is also the main infectious cause of early embryo loss in sheep and a very common cause of barren ewes or weak, sickly live lambs.

“It is likely that almost all flocks in Great Britain have been in contact with this endemic parasite, which means all breeding sheep should be considered at risk,” she adds.

Getting involved

Testing for toxoplasmosis exposure opened on 1 February. Testing for EAE will start on 1 April. Both offers close at the end of June.

Farmers wanting to take part should ask their vet to take blood samples from six to eight aborted, unvaccinated ewes, barren ewes or ewes that have produced weak lambs.

MSD Animal Health covers the cost of the basic diagnostic scheme nationally, but additional resources, such as vet time and diagnostics, will vary.