Advice issued in response to withdrawal of Spectam from the market

25^th January 2022

It has been confirmed that Spectam Scour Halt from Ceva Animal Health, the only authorised oral antibiotic product for the control of watery mouth, has been discontinued.

Although the use of oral antibiotics in the sheep sector reduced by 48% between 2016 and 2021, there were still 5.8 million doses of oral antibiotics used in 2021 – and the Sheep Veterinary Society (SVS) and Sheep Antibiotic Guardian Group (SAGG) believe these were predominantly prescribed for the treatment and control of watery mouth in neonatal lambs. Therefore, the discontinuation of this product will be of concern to many producers.

For those members yet to start lambing, NSA strongly recommends engaging with your vet and/or adviser to work together on good ewe nutrition and colostrum management. And to have a plan in place, focussing on provision of colostrum and good hygiene at lambing, to manage the risk of neonatal infections and improve lamb survival.

Both SVS and SAGG are also once again urging vets and farmers to engage as soon as possible to devise a plan to manage and combat the condition.

SVS has produced a guidance document on potential alternatives, while highlighting that in many flocks antibiotics are no longer used as the first line of defence for watery mouth.

And you can find useful #ColostrumIsGold resources here.

Rebecca Mearns, SVS President, says: "As lambing season gets underway it’s right to remind those working in the sector that the SVS guidance  is there to support vets with prescribing decisions for watery mouth. It is important that farmers work closely with their vets to review ewe nutrition ahead of lambing and have in place a plan, focusing on provision of colostrum and good hygiene at lambing, to manage the risk of neonatal infections and improve lamb survival.

“It is anticipated that antibiotics will only be used in a targeted approach, once disease has been confirmed, and only for high risk lambs. This may include low birthweight lambs, triplets and use in the latter part of the lambing period if necessary. Vets will have to use the cascade principle when prescribing alternatives, guided by what antibiotic is likely to be effective and results of in vitro sensitivity testing where possible, as well as the formulation and route of administration, to make decisions.”