Basic HTML Version
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
Midshire Veterinary Group
Milfeddygon ProStock Vets
Millcroft Veterinary Group
Minster Veterinary Practice
Northvet Veterinary Group
Paragon Veterinary Group
Parklands Veterinary Group
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.
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
05
Grassroots Herd Check:
An overview of the Grassroots
Herd Check service provided by XLVets
which efficiently converts millking data
into a farm report that enables the vet
to determine activity on farm.
11
Assess nutritional status and body
condition of in-lamb ewes to maximise
lamb output (and sometimes savemoney):
Vets Russell Fuller of Tyndale Vet
Practice in Gloucestershire and Joe
Henry of Alnorthumbria Vet Group
in Northumberland give their
recommendations on determining the
right level of feeding for ewes to help
maximise the number of lambs reared.
13
Buying in cattle. The importance
of biosecurity:
Bruce Richards, Paragon Veterinary
Group advises on the importance of
knowing the health status of your herd
and the herd you’re buying from before
bringing any new cattle on to your farm.
THE ED I TOR
Welcome to the
‘Spring’
issue of Livestock Matters
In this issue we report on the work of
the XLVets group in providing a national
picture of the extent of Schmallenberg
virus spread across the UK. XLVets
members Charlie Lambert and Iain
Richards talk us through the results of
the study and what has been found
nationally and regionally. As there is
still no vaccination available, we also
have some useful advice for farmers.
Although for many the lambing season is
now underway, in this issue we take a look
at nutrition of the breeding ewe, which as
we see, should be considered year-round,
not just on the approach to lambing.
We also have a feature on biosecurity
considerations when buying in stock;
which highlights that it's not only important
knowing the health status of the stock
arriving, and of the farm where it is coming
from, but also the importance of knowing
your own herd's status and implementing
a suitable disease management and
vaccination programme.
Finally we welcome our two new 'Student
Diaries' columnists; Emily, who is in her
third year at Bristol University and Sam,
a farmer's son, who is now in his fourth
year at Cambridge. Over the coming
issues Emily and Sam are going to take
us through a year of their studies and give
us an insight into life as a vet student at
their respective universities.
We hope you enjoy this issue.
Joanne Sharpe
XLVets
FARMSKILLS TRAINING
15
FarmSkills:
The Safe and Responsible Use of Veterinary
Medicines FarmSkills course.
INDUSTRY FEATURES
17
Student Diaries:
We welcome our new veterinary students
Emily Collier and Sam Bowker as we follow
them over the next year of their studies.
SPRING FEATURE
A report that details the causes and problems
associated with the spread of the Schmallenberg
virus. We also review the national survey carried
out by XLVets into the prevalance of this virus.
08
Schmallenberg virus: