Livestock Matters Summer 2019

Livestock Matters Summer 2019 Welcome to the Summer issue of Livestock Matters 02 the editor Rachel Queenborough XLVets Member Practices Livestock Matters is published by: XLVet UK Ltd 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. 1 Northvet Veterinary Group 2 Donald S McGregor and Partners 3 Thrums Veterinary Group 4 Daleside Veterinary Group 5 Armour Veterinary Group 6 Dunmuir Veterinary Group 7 Scott Mitchell Associates 8 Capontree Veterinary Centre 9 Paragon Veterinary Group 10 Millcroft Veterinary Group 11 Craven Farm Vets 12 Bishopton Veterinary Group 13 Wright & Morten 14 Scarsdale Veterinary Group 15 Farm Vet Solutions 16 Cain Veterinary Centre 17 Midshire Veterinary Group 18 Shropshire Farm Vets 19 608 Farm & Equine 20 Belmont Farm & Equine 21 Tyndale Vets 22 ProStock Vets 23 Allen and Partners 24 Fenton Vets 25 Farm First Veterinary Services 26 Hook Norton Veterinary Group 27 Larkmead Veterinary Group 28 Drove Vets 29 Cliffe Veterinary Group 30 Shepton Veterinary Group 31 Friars Moor Veterinary Clinic 32 Synergy Farm Health 33 St Boniface Veterinary Clinic 34 Torch Farm & Equine 35 Calweton Veterinary Group 36 Mount Vets 37 Black Sheep Farm Health 38 Stanley House Vets This summer may turn out to be just as wet as the spring, but at least it should be warmer! But warm weather, and especially warm wet weather, is great for parasites. The protozoan parasite coccidia thrives in warm weather and cases of coccidiosis in dairy calves tend to rise in the summer. Mud snails also come out of hibernation, enabling liver fluke to complete their lifecycle and infect sheep and cattle. In this issue we focus on the control strategies needed to protect livestock health and performance, as well as farm incomes. Liver fluke is not the only parasite risk to carcase quality: Jules Rottenbury and Mike Glover of Torch Farm & Equine Vets explain how failing to treat dogs for tapeworm can also negatively impact on carcase sales. Regardless of season or weather, beef and dairy farmers need to stay vigilant on keeping BVD out of their herds. Active surveillance averted a BVD disaster for one dairy farming client of Paragon Veterinary Group. Vigilance is also important when it comes to antibiotic treatments. Shepton Vets is one of several XLVets practices that have been providing training to dairy farmers and their staff on medicines usage and mastitis control. Andy Tyrer reports on how a better understanding has led to a drop in bulk tank failures, and outlines the issues around off-label product use. We hope you enjoy this issue of Livestock Matters.