Farm News & Advice
Read on for a host of news and advice on farm animal health conditions, preventative care, updated government legislation, and more.
In the stories below you’ll also find seasonal tips & information on how to keep your animals healthy. If you’d like us to email you whenever we update the news then simply…
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Don’t forget that if you have a specific query you can always contact our farm team.
Sheep Fertility Summary
Thank you to everyone who joined us on 10th June for our sheep fertility meeting, where we discussed ram preparation, teasers and ewe synchronisation with the team from Zoetis. Advance planning for tupping is key – purchasing new rams early to allow them to settle in prior to breeding; performing the 5 T’s ram MOT […]
Disposal of Sharps
We are pleased to finally be able to offer disposal of sharps and medicine bins! Bins for both can be purchased from us in a range of sizes and the sale price will include the cost of disposal. Sharps bins are available in sizes from 1L. The vets carry 5L or 7L bins so please […]
New SFI Animal Health and Welfare Pathway Opportunities
Over the past 18 months, many farmers have been benefiting from the Animal Health and Welfare Review. Further support is now available to help reduce the levels of endemic disease in livestock. The initial review involves a vet visiting your farm to put together a health plan with a focus on improving health and welfare, […]
The Crias are coming!
Cria season is fast approaching and while we hope everyone’s births are plain sailing, here are a few top tips to ensure your new arrivals remain happy and healthy. Crias should be up within 60 mins and feeding within 2-4 hours. Crias are born without any antibodies to protect them from infection and the only […]
Haemonchus Contortus: the Barber’s Pole Worm
Over the Summer and Autumn of 2023, we saw lots of cases of Haemonchus Contortus in sheep, goats, and alpacas. Haemonchus, also known as the Barber’s pole worm, lives in the abomasum of small ruminants, feeding on blood. Each worm can ingest up to 0.05ml/day, so a sheep with 5000 worms may lose 250ml of […]
Post movement reminder!
We are still hearing that farmers are unaware of the post movement testing required for cattle moving from higher incidence areas of England and Wales into the annual surveillance areas of the Edge Area. Cattle require testing 60-120 days after their arrival. This affects farms in Northamptonshire and Buckinghamshire but not Oxfordshire, Warwickshire, or Bedfordshire. […]
Post Movement TB testing
We are now undertaking regular post movement testing for clients after the new rules came in in August 2023. All animals moving from higher incidence areas of England and from Wales into the annual surveillance areas of the Edge Area require post movement TB testing 60-120 days after their arrival. This affects farms in Northamptonshire […]
Fly Control Products
Following our successful talk in November on alternative fly control, we are pleased to announce we are now able to sell fly buckets and bait traps from Bestico. Fly traps are an alternative to using pour on or spot on products which can have a negative effect on the beneficial insect populations during the summer. […]
Mastitis sampling project
APHA is undertaking a ewe mastitis bacteriology project during the 2023/2024 lambing season. The aim of the project is to improve surveillance of the different bacteria causing mastitis in ewes and to provide antimicrobial resistance data. In addition, samples will also be used to provide surveillance for other organisms that may play a role in […]
Nematodirus battus, keep an eye on the forecast this spring…
Nematodirus is a worm that can cause sudden death and significant growth reductions in lambs. It is different to other worms because the larvae survive within the egg on the pasture, allowing infection to pass from one lamb crop to the next year’s lamb crop. This means pasture that had ewes and lambs on in […]
