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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
Donald S McGregor & Partners
Drove Veterinary Hospital
Endell Veterinary Group
Farm First Veterinary Services
Fenton Veterinary Practice
Fenwold Veterinary Practice
Friars Moor Veterinary Clinic
Glenthorne Veterinary Group
Hook Norton Veterinary Group
Kingsway Veterinary Group
Lambert, Leonard & May
Larkmead Veterinary Group
Milfeddygon ProStock Vets
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
Shropshire Farm Vets
St Boniface Veterinary Clinic
Synergy Farm Health
Thrums Veterinary Group
Tyndale Vets
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.
WINTER 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
05
A good system for sheep - EID and flock
health planning:
Andrew Sawyer, Alnorthumbria
Veterinary Group reviews how sheep
farmer Duncan Nelless has implemented
a successful sheep system and beneficial
flock health plan.
07
Use of milk progesterone testing to
improve herd fertility
Dan King and Jonathan Statham,
Bishopton Veterinary Group investigate
the importance of milk progesterone
tests to improve herd fertility, saving
time and costs.
09
Attention to housing and health
ensures beef unit efficiency on farm:
Adelle Isaacs, Larkmead Veterinary
Group reports on how beef farmer
Neil Rowe has achieved an established
and successful beef herd unit through
proactive health planning and by the
care and attention taken to the design
of cattle sheds and handling facilities.
THE ED I TOR
Welcome to the
‘Winter’
issue of Livestock Matters
Welcome to the winter issue of
Livestock Matters. As the magazine
goes to press the first snow has fallen
and the first call has just come into the
office from one member practice busy
preparing for the lambing season.
In this issue we spend time with two finalists
from the 2012 Farmers Weekly Awards,
looking at how small changes to their
farming systems have reaped many benefits
and have led to them being in the final
for the awards.
We also have the last two student diary
columns from Eva and Mark. I’m sure you
will all agree it’s been fascinating following
a year in their lives and we wish them both
every success for the future and hopefully
we might catch up with them at some point
in the future.
We would like to take this
opportunity to wish all our
readers a very Merry Christmas
and a prosperous New Year.
We hope you enjoy this issue.
Joanne Sharpe
XLVets
REPORTS
11
Prize-winning herd of British Blondes en
route to accredited health status:
Hollie Dale, Wright & Morten reports on
how Cheshire beef farmers Chris and Mark
Shenton are setting out how to demonstate
the good health of their prize-winning herd
of British Blondes.
FARMSKILLS TRAINING
15
FarmSkills on tour:
Environmental Mastitis workshops hit the road.
INDUSTRY FEATURES
17
Student Diaries:
We conclude reports from our veterinary
students Eva Kenny and Mark Challoner
at the end of a year of their studies.
WINTER FEATURE
A special feature by Katie Brian, EBLEX Project
Manager. She looks at how improving animal
performance and reducing physical losses is key
to ensuring the success of sheep farming.
13
Reducing lamb losses: