Livestock Matters - Autumn 2017

XLVets member practices 608 Farm and Equine Veterinary Surgeons Allen and Partners 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 Farm Vets 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 Kernow Veterinary Group Kingsway Veterinary Group Lambert, Leonard & May Larkmead Veterinary Group Midshire Veterinary Group Millcroft Veterinary Group Mount Vets Ltd 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 Shepton Veterinary Group Shropshire Farm Vets St Boniface Veterinary Clinic Synergy Farm Health Torch Farm Vets Thrums Veterinary Group Tyndale Vets 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. AUTUMN 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 05 The feed barrier Jennie Lomas, Wright & Morten & Carolyn Baguley, Scarsdale Veterinary Group, highlight some of the common faults with feed barriers and suggest some areas for further improvement. 07 Antibiotics: a round-up of factors for treatment success Jim Willshire of Endell Veterinary Group explains why using the right antibiotic product, via the right route and course of treatment are key factors for antibiotic treatment success. 11 A traffic-light quarantine system for sheep lameness Dorset farmers, George and Sally Lunn explain how, with the help of Emily Gascoigne, Synergy Farm Health, they have got lameness under control using a traffic-light based quarantine system. 13 Protecting cow fertility and calf health by mineral supplementation Steve Glanvill of Hook Norton Veterinary Group believes that for some farms, mineral supplementation can be the difference between being in profit or unprofitable. CONTENTS CASE STUDY 15 Using genomics to make more reliable decisions Owen Tunney of Willows Veterinary Group explains how he works with farmers, Kevin and Ann Jones of Bryn Mawr to formulate breeding objectives to improve efficiencies. 17 Calf growth rates improve thanks to measuring and monitoring Allen and Partners vet, Sian Robinson and vet tech Katy Farmer have seen improvements in calf performance thanks to measurement and monitoring of five Key Performance Indicators. FARMSKILLS 19 Safe administration of medicines on farm Whether giving treatment to a sick cow, or vaccinating animals on a herd level, the medicines we use can only work as well as the manner in which they are handled and administered. GRADUATE DIARY 21 Starting out in veterinary practice Find out what our new graduate writers have been up to in their roles in XLVets practices since completing the XLVets farm graduate programme. Welcome to the ‘Autumn’ issue of Livestock Matters In this issue we take a look at cattle feed barriers highlighting some of the common faults and suggesting some areas for further improvement. Vets Jennie Lomas and Carolyn Baguley explain that a well-designed and well-maintained feed barrier can make a big difference to intakes, efficiency and stock health. We also continue with part two, of a four part series, on antibiotic use on farm, looking at some of the key factors affecting the success or failure of antibiotic treatments by reviewing product choice, route of administration and course of treatment. We also find out how one practice has reduced its use of critically important antimicrobials significantly. Finally, if sheep lameness is bothering you, don't miss the article by Emily Gascoigne, Synergy Farm Health. Find out how farmers George and Sally Lunn have dramatically reduced the incidence of lameness on their farm from 10% - 2% in six months! We hope you enjoy this issue of Livestock Matters. Gemma Ayre Editor