FURTHER to the letter from Emily Gascoigne and Michael Millar relating to role of multidrug resistance in lambs ( VR , July 11, 2015, vol 177, p 521), I would like to share some experiences involving three lowland flocks which, earlier this year, experienced acute scour in 24-hour-old lambs with high levels of morbidity and significant mortality. Flock A, with 700 crossbred mules, experienced a severe scour problem in neonatal lambs early in the lambing period (lambs from the 20th ewe to lamb were affected, lambing indoors in a clean pen). The majority of lambs born during the lambing period suffered from scour with occasional signs of Escherichia coli septicaemia (‘rattle belly’, ‘watery mouth’). Initial faeces sample results revealed a multiple resistant E coli and a clinical presentation consistent with colibacillosis. Therapy or attempted metaphylaxis with antibiotics was partially successful. Enhanced disinfection …