dec 12 farm newsletter
DESCRIPTION
Client newsletterTRANSCRIPT
Thursday 13th December 2012 atThe Queens Head, Tirril, PenrithORThursday 20th December 2012 at The Crown, Broadfield,Southwaite, Carlisle
If you could let us have numbers for catering that would be helpful.
Best Wishes
Contact us:
PARAGON VETERINARY GROUP
CALDEW VETERINARY HOSPITALCarlisle House, TownheadRoad, Dalston, Carlisle
Tel: (01228) 710208
TOWNHEAD VETERINARY CENTRETownhead VeterinaryCentre, Newbiggin,Stainton, Penrith,Cumbria CA11 0HT
Tel: (01768) 483789
PARAGON ETThe Mart, Tyne Green,Hexham, NorthumberlandNE46 3SG
Tel: (01434) 600566
LivestockNEWS
Achieving Excellence inHealth and Productivity
PARAGON VETERINARY GROUP ISSUE 32
DECEMBER 2012
24HR EMERGENCY SERVICE
PARAGON VETERINARY GROUPvisit us at: www.paragonvet.com
Merry Christmas
Schmallenberg VirusThis new disease has reachedCumbria...We recently took bulk milk samples froma random selection of 11 dairy farms, tofind out whether the virus is present inthis area. Six of those samples werepositive, two were inconclusive, andthree negative.
The likelihood is that the virus reachedCumbria in September or October - justin time for tupping.
Schmallenberg infection in cattle cancause milk drop and diarrhoea with ahigh temperature. In sheep the initialinfection often goes un-noticed, but ifpregnant cattle or sheep are infectedduring the first 3 months of pregnancy,they may produce deformed offspring(usually at full term).
Unfortunately there is little that can bedone at this stage. Transmission of thedisease via midges will have sloweddown now that the weather is colder, butsome animals will have been infectedthis autumn while in early pregnancy.Unfortunately it will just be a case ofwaiting to see if this results in deformedlambs or calves next spring.
It may be useful to find out whether thevirus is present on your farm. For dairyherds, a bulk milk test is the easiest wayto find out. Sheep and beef cattle wouldneed to be blood tested. If you would like to test to see if the virus is present on your farm, please contact one of the vets. Please also let us know aboutany cows with unexplained high temperatures, or any calves or lambsborn with deformities.
On behalf of all the staff at Paragon and particularly the Farm Team, we wish you and your families a MerryChristmas. Thank you for your custom and support thisyear and we hope you will be able to join us for a craic,drink and light bite at one of the following pubs.
New... Practice Computer System
In February we will be changingour Practice Management Softwareprogram to what we trust is a moremodern, flexible and user friendlyWindows system. We are workinghard now, setting it up for a smoothchange over and we hope you willnotice little change, other than hopefully more logical and simpleinvoices! That said, this will be ahuge undertaking for the practiceand staff and we ask you will bearand work with us when we 'go live'.We will keep you updated closer to the time.
SAVING COSTSDid you know Paragoncould collect your monthly farm account by Direct Debit and you would receive 5% discount on your drugsfor prompt payment.Please contact us if you wish to sign up.
As many of you may have noticed, the way TB areas andboundaries are calculated is being changed from January.
TB Changes
This will bring us more in line with the EU TBrequirements that stipulate that TB risk should be assessed on a regional basis - their intentionbeing that a region is a larger area than a Parish!
There will only be 2 testing frequencies, annual or four yearly (48 months) and counties will be allocated one of these frequencies. Theindications on the DEFRA website are that
Cumbria will be a 48 month region but othercounties e.g. Cheshire will find that the wholecounty will now fall into an annual frequency.
If a breakdown occurs in a 48 month region, the herd will be put onto restrictions and theherds in a 3 km radius will also be restricted. Most people feel this is much fairer than the current Parish based situation where a herd adjacent to a breakdown herd but in a differentparish has no change to the TB status, but another farm 3 miles distant and with no contact goes onto an annual testing regime.
Herds going into a restricted area will require a minimum of 3 tests (immediately, 6 months and 12 months) before they revert to the countyfrequency but obviously DEFRA may alter thisdepending on the severity of the breakdown.Until the herd drops to the county frequency,pre-movement testing of stock will be requiredbefore movement.
Some herds within the 48 month testing region may have a higher frequency as they are considered to be high risk e.g. where a largeproportion of cattle are purchased from at riskareas. There are some anomalies in the currentregime, which may mean some premises mayhave to have a whole herd test (all stock) ratherthan a routine test (breeding stock) before qualifying for 48 month testing interval.
Everyone should receive a letter from DEFRAbefore January advising them of their new testing intervals, hopefully this will be good newsfor some!!
More information is available on the DEFRA website.
Practical one day courseThurs 3rd January 2013 10am - 3pm
Learn new skills, improve existing skills
For people aged 16yrs and over. Cost £45 At Paragon VetGroup, Dalston, and a local farm. Lunch provided.
To book phone Paragon Vet Group 01228 710208
LIVESTOCK NEWS DECEMBER 2012
Cattle Practical Techniques for young farmers
DRY COW MANAGEMENT
l Stomach tubing cows and calves
l Injections - including IV
l Drying off techniques
l CMT testing and milk sampling
l Body Condition scoring
l Using a ketone meter
l Testing colostrum
l Calving techniques
And more… course tailored to suit demand
RDPE NW LIVESTOCK PROGRAMME MEETING OF THE WIGTON DAIRY GROUP on the topic of
Thursday 13th December 2012 10.30am - 2pmat The Greenhill Hotel, Wigton
Speakers: l Daniel Gammon MA Vet MB MRCVS from Evidence Based Veterinary
Consultancy Ltd. l Kath Aplin BVSc CertCHP MRCVS from Paragon Vets
Dan Gammon will cover dry cow nutrition and Kath Aplin will cover the healthaspects of dry cow management including the experience of a case study farm.
LUNCH PROVIDED
For more information or to book a place, please contact Jill Farries Tel: 016973 51809 or Mobile 07917 225304 or e mail: [email protected].