What to expect

[Thinkin Rut]

I'm curious everyone's thoughts on what to expect this Spring with EHD. From what I understand, it's possibly a new strain...probably a wildcard? Do we start disease free in the spring or does it overwinter in cattle? Midge population cycles? Thoughts?

 

[vrod]

I wish the Dnr would answer that question.

 

[Sligh1]

There’s 2 predominant strains that have hit us & there’s a 3rd “newer one”. There is technically 8 strains of EHD & BT now.
Here’s my thoughts.... what we saw wipe out places like warren county was the 2nd predominant strain. It’s lethal far faster than the other predominant strain. Now, places like lucas county for example (or warren) have had 3-5 hard hitting EHD/BT wipe outs (large death #’s) in the last 20 years now. Warren may have peaked this year but most other surrounding counties still had worst in 2012 of any other recorded time. SO..... BOTTOM LINE to make this short... IMO & wishful thinking..... the herds have been exposed to both predominant strains multiple times now. There almost has to be antibodies & some immunity being built. Much like down south. I’m hopeful we are on the downward side of a bell curve of death. 2012 being peak. Hopeful. A 3rd predominant strain could be the wild card. Personally, Just opinion- we will slowly see outbreaks lesson over time to severity. Instead of 50 or 75% kills - a bad outbreak might get 20% for example.

There’s non-symptomatic carriers of the virus. Cattle are great carriers of the virus waiting for the midge to bite & transmit it. Because most cattle don’t die & often don’t even look sick. Can get bit over and over and over.... I’m not sure how long the virus stays active? But- with enough new cattle being moved around - it’s like any disease- it starts with an animal carrying that virus & the midge then transmits it. Another midge bites the newly infected animal - then bites another - it’s transmitted. And so on.... “outbreak” has started to roll.
So- dunno if virus is in animals now & will hold over. I suppose it almost has to be. Think of it like the flu though. Just spread a different way. U & I don’t have flu right now but we know by season - a break out of flu virus will be here yearly. Our best hope is deer build resistance & antibodies like they have down south.

 

[EVIL X]

I spoke with a shotgun group that hunts shotgun1 around me. I dont shotgun but like hearing what the surrounding propertys harvest and see. They said they found 35 dead. Had the worst sighting/harvest in any years they can remember. I havent really heard of any in my area. Guess that was wrong! Southern marion county.

 

[MarkF]

My farm in northern Monroe county was hit extremely hard, thinking we loss 85-90 percent of the deer. Wife’s been out for 2nd gun and hasn’t seen a deer yet on food plots where we normally see 40-50 deer a night. Not even seeing any deer driving down the roads.

 

[EVIL X]

My farm in northern Monroe county was hit extremely hard, thinking we loss 85-90 percent of the deer. Wife’s been out for 2nd gun and hasn’t seen a deer yet on food plots where we normally see 40-50 deer a night. Not even seeing any deer driving down the roads.

Im very close to monroe county. How far are you from lovilla area?

 

[vrod]

Why did ehd in my area (warren) not affect the goat and sheep farmers?
Something doesn’t add up.
We easily lost 70% of our local herd.
Yet no sheep or goat deaths....

 

[nontyp]

Why did ehd in my area (warren) not affect the goat and sheep farmers?
Something doesn’t add up.
We easily lost 70% of our local herd.
Yet no sheep or goat deaths....

Hard to say, lots of factors to consider there. My best guess would be due to insect control in the sheep. I don’t have experience with sheep, but I grew up with cattle. Most producers do a long lasting pour on product plus fly tags to repel and kill insects. deer have zero protection. I would also guess that it would be hard for a midge to even bite a sheep unless they were very recently sheered.

 

[Sligh1]

Why did ehd in my area (warren) not affect the goat and sheep farmers?
Something doesn’t add up.
We easily lost 70% of our local herd.
Yet no sheep or goat deaths....

Few theories or random ideas on that....
The predominant strains that hit deer could 1) not impact sheep, etc to such an intense lethal level or 2) sheep, etc have been transported for a very long time. It’s very likely they have antibodies & some immunity to it. Just like if u brought southern Deer up here (I’m talking just resistance to ehd/BT - not the element of cold weather) - most would likely be fine. Far more antibodies & tolerance to ehd/BT.

Sheep, cows, etc have been exposed to this for years. These newer strains this far north are a shock to our whitetail. Kinda like this.... white man arrives & mixes with Indians. Indians die in horrific #’s as they have not been exposed to white man’s illness (flu types or any # of illness). That’s what Northern whitetail are encountering - new strains of disease they are not used to.... again- likely due to weather changes, cattle & livestock transportation (especially from south to north), etc etc.

The other slight possibility for sheep, etc ..... u can monitor and treat sick animals. Likely not the answer but it’s possible.

^^^above as well with insect control, etc. & good call on the thick fur!!!