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AUTUMN 2016 ISSUE
LIVESTOCK MATTERS
1 8
Time flies.....
It’s great to get out and meet new clients,
discussing what they do, and most importantly
what we can offer. As part of XLVets we have
access to a huge range of resources, be it
individual vets’ knowledge or equipment for
running our own FarmSkills courses. This means
we can offer the best service, and build some
great working relationships with our clients.
As part of this service we frequently hold talks
and courses for the farm clients, and have a
number in the pipeline at the moment. I’m
particularly looking forward to getting some of
our sheep farmers involved in the discussion
groups which we are currently planning within
the practice. We plan to collect and discuss
production data from participating farms, and
compare how the small differences in farm
systems can be reflected in the data. I’m sure
there will also be a competitive aspect, which I
hope will encourage farmers to be as efficient
and productive as possible.
It’s hard to believe it’s been over a year since
I started working in practice, with vet school
being a distant memory. We are lucky that our
practice proves popular with students, meaning
we usually have two around at any one time. I
really enjoy taking students out with me,
particularly those who are really farm-keen.
Not only can the extra pair of hands be useful,
it’s a chance to chat through what’s changed
in the year since I left.
We also get a number of work experience
students visiting us through the year who are
looking at getting into the veterinary course. It’s
always nice to be able to show them a little
snapshot of what we do. We try to get students
out on the more exciting jobs whilst with us,
as we have all taken on the role of doing
paperwork at a TB test, and know how boring
it can be. Surgery tends to be a particular
favourite of students, regardless of their stage
in the course, as it was for me. Over the last
few months I’ve had a number of surgical
cases, from standard twisted stomachs and
caesareans to the more interesting such as
creating rumen fistulas – something I had not
come across until doing it, so it proved to be a
new learning experience for all!
With the so-called ‘summer’ drawing to a close, the workload
is increasing and the autumn calving block is starting to get
into swing. Along with the seasonal increase, we’re also
seeing a number of new clients joining the practice after
opening our new farm branch in July.
GRADUATE DIARY
Matt Raine
, BVMedSci BVM BVS MRCVS
Wright & Morten
About me
I graduated from Nottingham in July 2015,
and started work here in Cheshire just a
week later. Having grown up in a sheep
and beef farming family in the North
Pennines, I was always farm-focused
through my time at university. I was lucky
enough to get the job with Wright and
Morten, working in solely farm practice.
Our day-to-day work is largely dairy based,
however there is a good balance of sheep
and beef work mixed in, which I find
particularly interesting.
In September 2015 I started the XLVets Farm
Graduate Scheme which involved an
eight-day crash course for all aspects farm
vetting. This really spurred my interest in
how we can offer more to our beef and
sheep clients, as with the unpredictability of
the livestock industry there is increased need
for efficiency.
Outside of work I enjoy shooting, getting
back up to the family farm and working
my unruly cocker spaniel.