November 2023
EU Change of Legislation - selling livestock
We are sure most of you will already be aware of the new Veterinary Attestation requirement !
From 13 December 2023 UK producers sending animals to market or to slaughter must be able to demonstrate that a veterinary visit has taken place in the past 12 months.
There is the option to have this visit funded through the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway funding which has just had the application process for farmers significantly simplified.
We can also use this visit to include your prescription review which then allows us to prescribe POM-V medicines for use on your farm.
Please take a look at our website for more information.
Reducing Stress at Weaning
Weaning causes stress to calves due to the separation of the bond with the cow and loss of milk from the calf’s diet. Management factors to minimize stress should be considered to reduce impacts on growth rates and chance of disease (e.g. pneumonia). Options for two step weaning processes have been investigated:
Nose Flap Weaning: Harper Adams investigated the use of nose flap weaning, where a plastic nose flap is fitted to each calf for 4-7 days prior to separation from the dam. No significant differences were found, although the nose flap calves appeared to not experience as severe a growth check as the normally weaned calves. It appeared to work best when used outside, as a higher number of tags were accidentally removed while boused
Fence Line Weaning: Calves are separated from their dams via a fence line for 7 days to allow a continuation of the bond whilst milk is removed from the calf's diet. American studies have found reduced stress behaviours and reduced impacts on growth rates. However care must be taken to ensure a good barrier to avoid injuries.
Whichever method used for wearing, it is important to not combine it with other management changes such as sudden diet change, housing, castration/dehorning, pneumonia vaccination.
Small Animal Preventative Health Service
Don’t forget we are able to provide flea and wormer treatments for your pets. Along with vaccinations and microchipping.
Please contact us during office hours if you would like to register your cats/dogs for any of the above.
New to the team
Melany Dahn
Mel has just recently started with us to cover maternity leave, she is splitting her time between the Leominster and Ludlow practices. She will be working Mondays and Thursdays at Leominster then Tuesdays , Wednesdays and Fridays at Ludlow.
Mel studied agriculture at Home Lacey college for two years and also has a background of beef and sheep farming.
In her free time she enjoys socialising at young farmers going beating and working her dog Buster.
Harriet Beaumont
Harriet has recently joined us in the Leominster office on Wednesdays.
Having grown up on a farm when she was younger, animals have always been Harriet’s passion. She enjoyed helping out with the cattle and sheep on her family farm, especially around lambing time. In her spare time you will usually find her out competing her horse or coaching at the local Pony Club. Harriet also enjoys her time on the rugby pitch, playing for Clee Hill Ladies through the winter or working her cocker spaniels out shooting.
Webinar
Don’t forget about the webinar we’re holding on Thursday 23rd November at 7pm.
Topics that will be discussed are Body condition scoring and feeding pregnant ewes.