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XLVets
member practices
608 Farm and Equine Veterinary Surgeons
Allen and Partners
Ardene House Vet Practice
Armour Veterinary Group
Belmont Farm and Equine Vets
Bishopton Veterinary Group
Cain Veterinary Centre
Calweton Veterinary Group
Capontree Veterinary Centre
Chapelfield Veterinary Partnership
Cliffe Veterinary Group
Clyde Vets
Donald S McGregor & Partners
Drove Veterinary Hospital
Dunmuir Veterinary Group
Endell Veterinary Group
Farm First Veterinary Services
Fenton Vets
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
Millcroft Veterinary Group
Northvet Veterinary Group
Paragon Veterinary Group
Parklands Veterinary Group
Penbode Veterinary Group
ProStock Vets
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
Torch Farm and Equine
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
ANIMAL HEALTH
07
Stillbirths and early calf losses are
prevented by simple change of diet
Lee-Anne Oliver from Scott Mitchell
investigated a case of high numbers of
stillbirths and poor calves. Following a
lengthy investigation we find out how
the problem was tracked down to a
bacterium in the silage.
09
Selective dry cow therapy: Why and
how
?
The days of blanket treatment at drying-
off are numbered. Here Julian Allen and
Helen Rogers from Friars Moor explain
why selective treatments are now best
practice and provide some practical
tips for readers.
11
New strategies to reduce lameness in
the flock
Adelle Isaacs, Larkmead Veterinary
Group talks us through how a flock
health plan has helped introduce some
radical changes to combat sheep
lameness on one client’s farm.
CONTENTS
FARMSKILLS
13
Stand up to sheep lameness
Leanne Ford, Bishopton Veterinary Group
talks us through training for, planning
and running a FarmSkills sheep lameness
workshop.
FEATURE
15
Calf health
As part of the XLVets calf tracker initiative,
we take a look at how Parklands
Veterinary Group and its farmers have
achieved some excellent improvements in
calf performance – through the ‘4x4 club’.
GRADUATE DIARIES
17
Over and out
Katherine Lumb and Matthew Hylands
provide their final round-up of recent
activity from a year of following them
in Livestock Matters
Welcome to the
‘Winter’
issue of Livestock Matters
In this issue we have an unusual case from
the beef herd, where a change in ration led
to breaking a disease cycle that was causing
stillbirths and poor calf performance. Lee-Anne
Oliver from Scott Mitchell talks us through
the investigation they undertook – that
eventually revealed the root cause to be from
a bacterium in silage.
With European Antibiotic Awareness Day
taking place annually on 18th November, our
second article on the subject of selective dry
cow therapy (SDCT) reinforces the role both
vets and farmers have in preserving antibiotics
for future generations. Friars Moor take us
through the why and how of selective dry cow
therapy and provide some practical tips for
readers. If you want to find out more about
any aspect of SDCT then please do speak to
your XLVets practice.
As the XLVets ‘Stand up to Sheep Lameness’
initiative gains momentum, we learn how one
farm tackled sheep lameness with the help of
their vet Adelle Isaacs from Larkmead
Veterinary Group. We also find out how
Leanne Ford from Bishopton got on with their
FarmSkills sheep lameness workshop that ran
recently.
We hope you enjoy the Winter issue of
Livestock Matters. We would also like to take
this opportunity to thank all our contributors –
both vets and farm clients of XLVets practices –
for helping ensure we've covered interesting
and informative articles for readers during
2015 and, from all at XLVets, best wishes for
a prosperous New Year to all our readers.
We hope you enjoy this issue of
Livestock Matters.
Joanne Sharpe
XLVets