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X LVETS NEWS
SPRING 2016 ISSUE
LIVESTOCK MATTERS
4
Study of cattle caesareans
will show how to improve
post-surgery success
The second stage of the XLVets nationwide audit on cattle
Caesarean procedures has come to a close with over
4,500 case studies submitted from 49 XLVets practices
across the UK. It’s anticipated that the final results will
help guide farmers and vets in maximising a cow’s return
to full health after surgery.
Sotirios Karvountzis of
Shepton Veterinary Group
The audit has been devised and organised by
vet Sotirios Karvountzis of Shepton Veterinary
Group. Of the 4,500 case studies, around
3,000 stem from suckler herds, and the
remainder are from dairy herds.
In the first stage of the audit, data was
collected on aspects such as the reason for
the Caesareans e.g. deformed calves, twins,
calving difficulty, the cleanliness of the cow,
and the operating technique. The second
phase involved monitoring the post-operative
care and the animal’s recovery over the
following two weeks. Further information was
gathered on, for example, the speed of
healing of the wound, and weight gain of
the calf.
The final phase of the study is continuing,
and involves monitoring the health and
performance of the cows and heifers over
the 18 months post-surgery. It will include
information on subsequent performance and
fertility, and will enable the factors affecting
the success of operations to be evaluated.
Sotirios explains: ‘We’d run a pilot scheme
here at the Shepton practice, but a larger
dataset was needed in order to draw some
meaningful conclusions. So this is the first study
of this scale to have been carried out, and it
would not have been possible without the
collaborative spirit of XLVets practices, and the
co-operation of all our farm clients.’
‘It’s too early to report on preliminary findings
lest these bias the next phase of data
collection. However, we expect the final
results to be of benefit to both farmers and
vets as they will identify the factors affecting
surgery success, and the actions required to
maximise the future health and performance
of cows and heifers.‘
Look out for updates on the project in
future issues of Livestock Matters.
Farmers Weekly Farm
Adviser of the Year
Congratulations to Alistair Hayton of
Synergy Farm Health on winning Farm
Adviser of the Year at the Farmers
Weekly Awards. Alistair was nominated
by the public alongside two other finalists
for the award.
Richard Sunderland, managing director
of Bunn Fertiliser commented on Alistair’s
achievement: ‘We were really impressed
with the knowledge and practical
implementation of technology to create
value for clients shown by Alastair and
we are delighted he has been awarded
Farm Adviser of the Year.’
XLVets Skillnet, an initiative from members of
the XLVets group in Ireland, has won the top
award for Best Learning & Development
Organisation – Networks & Groups at the
IITD (Irish Institute of Training & Development)
National Training Awards 2016.
Commenting after the ceremony, John Berkery,
Chairman of XLVets Ireland and XLVets Skillnet
observed: ’this award demonstrates the
ability of veterinary practitioners to create
additional value for the farming community
through using training, development and
coaching services as routes for delivering
preventative healthcare to livestock herds‘.
Now in its eighteenth year, the IITD National
Training Awards is recognised as the premier
Learning & Development event for industry in
Ireland. The purpose of the IITD National
Training Awards is to promote excellence,
best practice and innovation in training,
learning and development and to highlight
the importance of this area in today's
business climate.
Sinéad Heneghan, CEO of the IITD noted
the judges made the award to XLVets in
recognition of ‘a highly effective initiative
that has achieved engagement from the
target community as well as corporate and
academic support. This group took a
proactive approach to resolving problems
through education and delivery of relevant
and practical training.‘
Donal Lynch, veterinary surgeon from
Tullamore who represented XLVets Skillnet
at the event commented; ’farmers operate
in an increasingly complex and challenging
environment. Simply throwing more
information at them is not helpful. As vets
we need to get key messages across in a
way that can make a difference on the farm.
Training ourselves to be trainers is a key part
of that.‘
The training initiative was undertaken by
XLVets members in Ireland; they are a
network of 24 veterinary practices, that work
alongside the XLVets practices in the UK.
Since inception, XLVets have had great
engagement from the farming community,
the veterinary supply chain and academia.
XLVets saw the problems faced by farmers
and devised a strategy for addressing them
through the delivery of relevant and practical
training programmes in both Ireland (XLVets
Skillnet) and the UK (FarmSkills) that link back
to an overall objective of improving health
in livestock.
’Training and development is recognised as
a critical success factor for future growth and
competitiveness in many sectors. Farming is
no different! Therefore the role of those
responsible for the delivery and management
of training is of vital importance.‘ adds John.
Alistair Hayton receiving his award for Farmers
Weekly’s ‘Farm Adviser of the Year’.
XLVets Ireland
practices scoop
top award
Pictured from left to right: The XLVets Skillnet
Team Patrick Clerkin, Conor Geraghty, Geoff
Dooley, Denise Duggan, Donal Lynch, Nick
Garvey and Ger Cusack