Downer cows are a common challenge on dairy farms. Caring for them can take up a significant amount of time and how we go about it will have a big impact on the chance of recovery.
In addition, these animals have the potential to become a welfare issue and there […]
Earlier this year I had a call from a client after 6 of their 150 cows had aborted over the previous ten days, all in mid to late pregnancy. After various samples were taken including sending 3 foetuses to the AHVLA we ruled out Salmonella, Campylobacter and fungal causes and […]
The term “Iceberg disease” is used to describe a disease where only a small proportion of the infected population are noticed, ie the tip of the iceberg. The remaining infected population are the iceberg that is hidden underwater. The small proportion of the population that reach the tip of the […]
Pneumonia or Bovine Respiratory Disease is a common, multi-factorial disease affecting growth and performance in calves and beef cattle. A case of pneumonia can impact an animal for life reducing growth rates and increasing finishing times ultimately impacting on profitability.
Identifying cases early is key to treatment success, however the […]
As we are coming into autumn and slowly approaching the winter months the parasites to look out for are gut worm and lung worm.
Lung Worm
Lung worm is a parasitic infestation caused by the worm Dictyocaulus viviparous that targets the respiratory system, and with heavy infestations can be fatal. […]
Last spring, I found time during the busy lambing and calving periods to take part in an ‘expert panel’ as DEFRA began planning their cattle housing grants. While I was comfortably the least qualified member, being part of the panel gave a useful insight into the thought process behind these […]
As you will know, the health and well-being of calves are paramount to the success of a dairy and beef operation. While factors such as nutrition and housing play crucial roles, one often underestimated aspect that significantly impacts calf health is proper ventilation.
Optimal Air Quality:
Adequate ventilation is essential […]
I recently attended the National Youngstock Conference at Harper Adams (lovely to see some of you there). On the day, there were some conflicting views presented on the best way to feed calves – a higher milk diet with a gradual increase onto concentrate or a higher concentrate and forage […]
With the madness of Spring calvings and lambings well and truly over and Summer marching on past the longest day, we are back at that time of year to reflect on the previous breeding season and start looking ahead to the next one.
At the time of writing, Southern Europe […]
In England, DEFRA have launched the Annual Health and Welfare Review as part of the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI). This funding is paid directly to the farmer on the presentation of a report by the vet and testing results. You can apply online via the government website (link below!)
Although […]
