The trade of foster ewes or pet lambs is common during lambing. Where this occurs biosecurity measures should not be overlooked.

Ideally animals should be isolated on entry to the farm and housed in a separate area, during which time quarantine health measures can be addressed.

The same applies to the purchase of in-lamb ewes with these animals kept separate from the main flock until at least after they lamb.

The risk of mixing these ewes with other ewes already on the farm is too great to overlook. Assessing the background history of the flock will allow the most appropriate quarantine programme to be put in place.

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