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TURNOUT: A KEY STEP IN THE COW’S LIFE
Spring is approaching and after a soggy end to 2019 lets hope for a favourable spring.
Preparations for cattle turnout will soon be underway and Torch vet Sophia, offers some expert advice in Farmers Weekly later on in February.
Parasites: contemplate which parasites may have overwintered inside your animals.
Liver fluke risk may remain and options will depend on how long your cattle wintered outside.
Gut worms may require attention – if first season grazers were not treated after housing with a product to eliminate hibernating larvae, they will require treatment. Also review your 2020 wormers – the aim is to allow some exposure so animals acquire their own immunity.
risk, consider vaccination. Best to speak provide a readily available source.
favourable spring.
Preparations for cattle turnout will soon be underway and Torch vet Sophia, offers some expert advice in Farmers Weekly later on in February.
Parasites: contemplate which parasites may have overwintered inside your animals.
Liver fluke risk may remain and options will depend on how long your cattle wintered outside.
Gut worms may require attention – if first season grazers were not treated after housing with a product to eliminate hibernating larvae, they will require treatment. Also review your 2020 wormers – the aim is to allow some exposure so animals acquire their own immunity.
Lungworm control : if you are at a higher risk, consider vaccination. Best to speak to us if you have not vaccinated before.
Minerals supplementation will be specific to your farm. It is important to know where your herd levels lie. There are many trace element bolus preparations available. Avoid over supplementation with copper especially if you are supplementing concentrates to young stock through the grazing period.
Magnesium is a critical element which will have fatal and sudden effects if deficient. You need to ensure you provide a readily available source.
Clostridial disease (eg Black Leg) requires preparation for pre turnout. Vaccination is inexpensive.
Vaccinations: Leptospirosis being an important pre turnout consideration. BVD and IBR are also important.
After all your considerations and preparations for turnout, take time to reflect on your year before enjoying the longer warmer evenings with a suitable beverage!
NEWS FROM THE WEST OF OUR PRACTICE
We look forward to working more extensively throughout the Bradworthy, Bude and Holsworthy areas and meeting as many new clients as possible in the coming weeks.
In addition to our kiosk at Holsworthy market, we now have a base at Tamar Vets in Bradworthy, Bude and Holsworthy where existing and new clients can pick up medicine orders.
For clients in these areas, our additional telephone numbers are listed below.
As with all of our numbers, please be assured they are staffed 24 hours a day by members of our team, who will be on hand to help you whatever time of day or night.
For further information please don’t hesitate to give us a call, or pop in for a chat at our Holsworthy market kiosk; we are there between 10am – 12pm on Wednesdays.
BVD STAMP IT OUT – COMPLETION MEETINGS AND FUNDING FOR MORE FARMS
If you took part throughout 2019 you will shortly receive an invite to one of our upcoming meetings. Alternatively, please contact your local surgery to indicate which meeting you can attend. It is a requirement of the BVD Stamp It Out project, that farmers who have received the benefit of the funding, attend a meeting.
When: Tuesday, 4 February, 12:30. Where: The Thatched Inn, Abbotsham EX39 5BA
When: Monday, 10 February, 12:30. Where: The Old Station House Inn, Blackmoor Gate EX31 4NW
When: Thursday, 27 February, 12.30 Where: The Coaching Inn, Queen Street, South Molton EX36 3BJ.
In addition to a hot lunch, meetings will offer an update on the BVD eradication plan. This includes results so far of the Stamp It Out project, case studies and the next steps to take. We will also be giving an overview of the current bTB situation and the role of the TB Farm Advisory Service.
If you are yet to participate:
We have secured additional funding to add a significant number of farms to the BVD Stamp It Out project this year. All cattle farmers (dairy and beef, breeders and rearers) can access substantial funding to start or take their herd’s BVD control to the next level.
Remember, Red Tractor guidelines released in Oct 2019 state that a BVD eradication plan must be in place at the time of inspection.
Funding includes meetings, individual farm visits and initial check testing with the potential for further funding towards
eliminating persistently infected cattle (PI’s) from confirmed ‘infected’ herds. Accessing the funding starts with attending a BVD Stamp It Out meeting in your area. The first date available is:
When: Tuesday 11 February, 12:30 Where: The Thatched Inn, Abbotsham EX39 5BA
Watch this space for more dates soon. Please call 01237 870456 or e: jenburnett@torchvets.com to register to attend.
PRACTICAL LAMBING SKILLS WORKSHOP
What better way to celebrate St. Valentine’s Day than by taking part in our lambing skills workshop?
On Friday 14th February Vets Jenny and Guto return to deliver another workshop. This year we have extended the course to allow more practical and discussion time.
Suitable for anyone involved with a lambing flock, whatever the size, our vets will demonstrate how to recognise
Taught using lambing simulators, you will learn:
• How to untangle lambs
• How to treat hypothermia
• How to correctly use leg ropes and head snares
• How to stomach tube a lamb to ensure adequate colostrum intake
• Tail docking and castration techniques
• Care of the ewe before and after lambing
• Correct injection techniques
• Care of the newborn lamb
WORKSHOP
hat better way to celebrate St. a normal lambing and understand when When: Friday, 14 February, 10am-3pm.
Valentine’s Day than by taking to intervene for a successful outcome.
Where: Torch Farm Vets, Horsepond Meadow South Molton EX36 4AF.
Cost: £60+ vat per person, including lunch.
Places are limited to 12 and are available on a first come, first served basis although if there is the demand we will add an additional date.
**Please be sure to bring a set of waterproof clothing to this workshop**
• Care of the newborn lamb
Please call 01769 610000 to book your space
PREPARING YOUR HEIFERS AND CHOOSING A BULL
Gain more confidence in the heifers within your suckler herd!
Join us on the 5th March, this meeting sponsored by Zoetis will include:
• Using pelvimitry to assess heifers
• How to reduce the number of difficult calvings
• Heifer nutrition
• Heifer synchronisation programmes.
• Get your head around bull EBVs,
• The importance of getting your bull fertility tested.
When: Thursday, 5 March
Where: Fernham Farm, Brayford by kind permission of Brandon Richardson
Wishing all of our clients a happy and healthy New Year!
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