Rob Hall gives an update on two important diseases, both of which are spread by biting midges and are currently causing issues in the UK.
Bluetongue Virus
Bluetongue is an infectious viral disease, which was first detected in the 1700s. It is widely found in many parts of North Africa […]
It seems a very long time since the idea of a calving season in New Zealand was a small idea in my mind, and I can’t believe my time there is now complete and I have settled back into UK life.
I’m not sure that I was fully prepared for […]
Firstly, a massive thank you to the 28 farms (picked at random) who assisted us with our Udder Cleft Dermatitis trial earlier this year. Also, to our two harper vet students Veronica and Henry for their hard work collecting and collating all the data.
The project was funded by a […]
When speaking to farmers during new client or ‘Vet Declaration’ visits, one of the questions I always ask is; ‘where do your replacements come from?’
The answer to this question varies. Some people are breeding their own, others buy in (from one source or multiple), some won’t breed at all […]
This year’s TB conference was held on 29th November 2023 in Worcester, hosted by The TB Advisory Service (TBAS). It was an opportunity to bring together all those involved in TB control and it was great to see so many people attend: veterinary practices, farmers and policy makers, all contributing […]
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. […]
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