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XLVets
Member Practices
608 Farm and Equine Veterinary Surgeons
Allen and Partners
Alnorthumbria Veterinary Group
Ardene House Veterinary Practice
Armour Veterinary Centre
Belmont Veterinary Centre
Bishopton Veterinary Group
Cain Veterinary Centre
Calweton Veterinary Group
Capontree Veterinary Centre
Castle Veterinary Surgeons
Chapelfield Veterinary Partnership
Cliffe Veterinary Group
Clyde Veterinary Group
Drove Veterinary Hospital
Endell Veterinary Group
Farm First Veterinary Services
Fenwold Veterinary Centre
Friars Moor Veterinary Clinic
Glenthorne Veterinary Group
Hook Norton Veterinary Group
Kingsway Veterinary Group
Lambert, Leonard & May
Larkmead Veterinary Group
Macpherson O’Sullivan Ltd
Millcroft Veterinary Group
Minster Veterinary Practice
Northvet Veterinary Group
Paragon Veterinary Group
Parklands Veterinary Group
PAWS Veterinary Health Centre
Penbode Veterinary Group
Rosevean Veterinary Practice
Rutland Veterinary Centre
Scarsdale Veterinary Group
Scott Mitchell Associates
Shepton Veterinary Group
St Boniface Veterinary Clinic
Synergy Farm Health
Thrums Veterinary Group
Tyndale Vets Ltd
Wensum Valley Veterinary Surgeons
Westmorland Veterinary Group
Willows Veterinary Group
Wright & Morten
XLVets
is a novel and exciting initiative
conceived from within the veterinary profession.
We are all independently owned, progressive
veterinary practices located throughout the
United Kingdom committed to working together
for the benefit of our clients.
SPRING EDITION
C O N T E N T S
Livestock Matters
is published by:
XLVet UK Ltd, Carlisle House
Townhead Road, Dalston
Carlisle CA5 7JF
Tel: (01228) 711788
*This publication is supplied free of charge to
farm clients of XLVets member practices.
© XLVet UK Ltd
No part of this publication may be reproduced
without prior permission of the publisher.
Disclaimer:
XLVets does not necessarily share the views of
contributors. No responsibility can be accepted
for opinions expressed by contributors, or claims
made by advertisers within this publication.
ANIMAL HEALTH
04
BVD Control:
The importance of knowing the disease
status of your herd can prove essential in
the disease being successfully controlled.
We look at the results of a recent study
into BVD and go back to basics looking
at how the disease is transmitted.
07
The assessment and treatment of
downer cows:
Jonathan Stockton, Kingsway Veterinary
Group discusses the reasons why a
downer cow may occur and gives
advice on what to do and how to
care for the downer cow.
REPORTS
11
Wisconsin Study Tour:
Phil Alcock, Bishopton Veterinary Group
reports from a recent visit to Wisconsin,
USA, touring nine farms to see what
common factors lay behind sustainable
growth of these farms and learning
about their successes and failures.
13
Healthy Feet - tackling lameness at
its heart:
Kate Cross, DairyCo Product Manager
provides an insight into the success of
the new Healthy Feet Programme in
tackling lameness.
THE ED I TOR
Welcome to the
‘Spring’
issue of Livestock Matters...
As spring is almost upon us we focus
on lambing and maximising the
growth of young lambs; with practical
advice for those who are lambing in
the FarmSkills pull-out guide and an
article from Claire Riddell from XLVets
practice Alnorthumbria Vet Group
which takes us through some of the
common problems and diseases
associated with growing lambs.
As BVD eradication plans in Scotland get
underway and the disease is back in the
spotlight, we go back to basics with a feature
that explains how the disease is transmitted
within a herd and between farms and we
discuss the extent of the problem in the UK.
We also have a report from a recent study
tour to Wisconsin, where a group of farm
clients from Bishopton Veterinary Group had
the opportunity to see first-hand several dairy
herd expansion programmes on farms in the
area and hear about their experiences in
trying to achieve sustainable growth for
the future.
We hope you enjoy this issue of
‘Livestock Matters’.
Joanne Dodgson
XLVets
TRAINING
15
FarmSkills:
We report on the success of this season’s
lambing workshops.
Pull-Out Guide:
Preparing for lambing
INDUSTRY FEATURES
17
Time to protect valuable stock from
lungworm:
We discuss why lungworm still remains a
constant threat and how early planning is
the key to prevention.
19
Student Diaries:
Our exciting new feature... Following
veterinary students Eva Kenny and Mark
Challoner through a year of their studies.
SPRING FEATURE
Claire Riddell, Alnorthumbria Veterinary Group
explains how disease encountered early on
in the life of the lamb can have ramifications for
future development.
09
Factors limiting lamb growth and production