The Challenge
A beef farm was struggling with high rates of cattle pneumonia, leading to poor growth, increased treatment costs, and an extended production period. The owner was concerned about the long-term impact on herd health and profitability. This farm had already looked at their housing and biosecurity as well […]
Following on from our recent Whitchurch flock club meeting I thought I’d share some updates about lameness.
Lameness remains a significant problem for the sheep industry in the UK with an estimated cost to the sector of £4.5 million per year. At farm level this is a cost of between £5 […]
Nat and I recently presented the results of our study into Udder Cleft Dermatitis (UCD) in the UK at the British Cattle Veterinary Association congress in Newport, South Wales. UCD is an infection which occurs in the skin next to the udder and is frequently seen on dairy farms. In […]
Monitoring trace element levels in sheep is critical to their health and productivity. They are essential for numerous physiological functions, including immune response, reproduction, and maintenance of body condition. However, deficiency and toxicity can pose significant health risks especially when thinking about copper supplementation.
Why Monitor Copper Levels?
Sheep are […]
With most cattle housed, now might be a good time to think about how your farm is set up for winter and what adjustments could be made to maximise growth and potential for the remainder of the winter. Here are some key pointers to think about this year.
Space to […]
The TB skin test (the single intradermal comparative cervical tuberculin test or SICCT) is officially quoted as having ‘specificity’ of 99.98%. This means that false positive results only occur once in 5000 tests. Conversely the ‘sensitivity’ of the test is much lower, in the range of 50-80% at standard interpretation, […]
Haemonchus, also known as the Barber’s Pole Worm, has become more widespread in the UK in recent years, possibly due to climate change and increased sheep movement. Once limited to the southeast, it can now be found across the UK, and evidence suggests the worm is adapting to survive in […]
Recently, having spent a few days helping out with the national disease surveillance and control efforts in East Yorkshire I gained a greater appreciation of the level of surveillance and monitoring of exotic and notifiable animal diseases that goes on behind the scenes in the UK. Whilst infectious diseases are […]
Calving is associated with profound metabolic changes which often lead to a combination of fatty liver, poor energy status, low blood calcium, reduced feed intakes and oxidative stress. These conditions adversely affect milk yield, cow health and increase the chances of premature culling.
Blood testing cows after calving for calcium […]
The results from the 2024 National BVD Survey make interesting reading (if you’re into that kind of thing…). Compiled from responses from 673 farmers, 58% of whom are in England, with 14% each from Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, here Rob discusses the key points.
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