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
Dunmuir Veterinary Group
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
Severn Edge Veterinary Group
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.
THE ED I TOR
Welcome to the
‘Winter’
issue of Livestock Matters
ANIMAL HEALTH
07
A small price to pay for good health,
fertility and herd performance:
Mike Thorne, Farm Veterinary Solutions,
explains how a Leicestershire farmer has
maintained good health, fertility and
productivity of his herd.
09
Bovine Tuberculosis (bTB):
We report on some of the key messages
delivered from recent training events for
farmers in the bovine Tuberculosis (bTB)
edge area.
12
XLVets international farm meeting -
Dairy calf and heifer losses:
Dr John Mee, Moorepark Dairy Research
Centre in Ireland, presents a selection of
recent research findings on the rearing of
dairy calves and heifers, which includes
comments from XLVets’ Richard Matthews,
Castle Veterinary Surgeons.
INDUSTRY FEATURES
15
BVD case study - Watergate farm:
We investigate how a farm near
Harrogate is working to eradicate
BVD.
17
Student Diaries:
We have the final reports from our
veterinary students Emily Collier and
Sam Bowker.
WINTER FEATURE
Matthew Pugh, Belmont Veterinary Centre,
provides advice for sheep and goat farmers
of the factors which affect the numbers of lambs
(and kids) born, and successfully reared on farms.
04
Preparation and ongoing risk management
are needed to maximise the numbers of
lambs (and kids) reared:
In this edition we have the first of a
series of articles from the first XLVets
international farm meeting which took
place in Cork, Ireland in October.
The event was attended by over 100 farm
vets from XLVets practices in both the UK
and Ireland. It was the first time all the vets
had come together and provided a great
opportunity for people to meet, share
ideas, hear about the latest dairy research
findings and learn more about the future of
dairy farming in Ireland - where milk quotas
are coming to an end.
As lambing time approaches, Matt Pugh
from XLVets Belmont Veterinary Group
provides readers with some advice for
managing pregnant ewes and preparing
for lambing time; and we see how the
same principles and advice can be applied
to a dairy goat farm.
Finally we have our last update from our
two students in the popular Student Diaries
column; it's been great following Sam and
Emily through a year of their studies and I
am sure you will join me in thanking them
for giving us all an insight into life as a vet
student and wishing them every success
with their veterinary careers.
Wishing you all a
Happy New Year.
Joanne Sharpe
XLVets