Livestock Matters - Summer 2018

XLVets member practices 608 Farm and Equine Veterinary Surgeons Allen and Partners Armour Veterinary Group Belmont Farm and Equine Vets Bishopton Veterinary Group Black Sheep Farm Health Cain Farm Vets Calweton Veterinary Group Capontree Veterinary Centre Cliffe Veterinary Group Clyde Vets Donald S McGregor & Partners Drove Farm Vets Dunmuir Veterinary Group Endell Veterinary Group Farm First Veterinary Services Farm Vet Solutions Fenton Vets 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 Scarsdale Veterinary Group Scott Mitchell Associates Shepton Veterinary Group Shropshire Farm Vets St Boniface Veterinary Clinic Synergy Farm Health Thrums Veterinary Group Torch Farms Vets Tyndale Vets Westmorland 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. SUMMER 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 Taking a team approach and GROWing the dairy business Tony Kemmish, St Boniface Veterinary Clinic outlines his GROW philosophy whilst working with dairy client Richard Daw, and explains how this has underpinned the continuous improvement in his herd’s health, performance and profitability. 07 Focus on efficiency includes attention to breeds, grazing, and worm control Vet John Hemingway of Shropshire Farm Vets, explains how he works with farmer Andrew Crow to adopt grazing and worming strategies to minimise costs and maximise production. 09 A different perspective on dairy unit health and management Vet Hannah Griffiths of Mount Vets believes dairy farmers will get a useful perspective on herd health and performance by looking not just at other dairy units but also at poultry units. 11 A flock club is keeping farmers informed on management and health Millcroft Veterinary Group in Cumbria started up a flock club two years ago. Vet Laura Sloan explains how it runs and outlines some of the topics that have been covered. CONTENTS FARMSKILLS 13 Managing calvings: when to intervene, what to do, and when to call the vet Synergy Farm Health vet Peter Siviter gives advice on when to intervene, and how best to ensure a successful result: a live cow and a live calf. FEATURE 15 Failure to dispose of PI animals hinders path to BVD eradication Three XLVet members provide an update on BVD eradication in their area. They explain that although more farmers are testing and/or vaccinating their herds for BVD, where active infection is present then culprit animals need to be identified and culled immediately. GRADUATE DIARY 18 Life as an island vet 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 ‘Summer’ issue of Livestock Matters In this issue we learn how Dairy Vet of the Year – Tony Kemmish works with his farm clients to improve herd health, performance and profitability. Tony explains his GROW framework and how this translates to a better understanding of a farm’s goals and priorities which leads to a better farmer/vet partnership. We explore how one farming team has changed enterprises to ensure profit and efficiency by carefully selecting sheep and cattle breeds to suit the end market, and find out how they have worked with their vet to adopt grazing and worming strategies to minimise costs and maximise production. We also hear from vet Hannah Griffiths, Mount Vets who feels that dairy farmers could gain a useful perspective on herd health and performance by looking outside of the dairy sector. There is a lot to be gained by standing back from a business and looking at another that is similar, but different - laying hen flocks. We hope you enjoy this issue of Livestock Matters. Gemma Ayre Editor