North-Tom Warboys
APHA recently made an announcement about tick activity. Ticks have been found on animals throughout the winter months, and recent warmer weather means they will be active earlier than expected. Tick-borne fever and Red Water are two diseases to watch out for as we start to turn out livestock. Symptoms for Tick-borne fever include dullness, loss of appetite and, as you would expect, a high temperature. Red water symptoms include a high temperature, diarrhoea then constipation and characteristic dark red urine.
If you know your farm sees these or other tick-borne diseases, it may be worth ensuring you have the medicines needed to treat a case. Also, consider using a topical external parasite treatment earlier than usual. Remember, though, that responsible medicines use is key and that avoiding tick areas on farm and vaccination is preferable to needing treatments – this will also avoid the production losses associated with sickness. Here’s hoping the ground dries out soon and turnout can go ahead…
East-Claire Rudd
We have had a few clients enquire about compulsory post-movement TB testing recently. Cattle moving from higher incidence and 6 monthly testing 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 is the case even if the animal originates from a herd on annual testing and in addition to the usual pre-movement test. Our east area extends into Hampshire, part of which lies within this annual testing Edge area. The easiest way to ascertain whether post-movement testing is required for your holding is to use the online search tool http://apha.defra.gov.uk/tb-test/index.asp and input the first 2 parts of your holding number.
As I write this, calving and lambing season is upon us. With all calvings / lambings, if intervention is required, the quicker that decision is made the far better the prognosis for both dam and offspring – if there is any question over whether the calf / lamb can be born naturally, then please call asap. Unfortunately we have seen a number of cases of deformed foetuses due to Schmallenberg infection. These often require delivery by caesarean section; the sooner the op is started (and the fewer people who have had their hand in prior to beginning!), the greater the chance of survival for the dam.
West-Nicky Ogden
It’s good to be back at work (for a rest..?!) after maternity leave, and I have been enjoying driving round the local countryside and catching up with farmers that I’ve not seen for a while. Glimpses of spring are starting to appear, but you may have to look beyond the puddles to see them. Hot topics on sheepy farm rounds appear to be scanning figures, ewe ration and faecal egg counting in the run up to lambing. For those with disappointing scanning results or ewes which failed to lamb, there are tests (and funding) available to see if we can establish a cause, so please do get in touch. Be sure to know what the worms are doing inside your ewes by faecal egg counting 2-3 weeks pre-lambing. Worming decisions made now can really set the stage ready for the rest of the season. Checking which wormers are effective in your flock is a conversation that I’m having a lot and is a fantastic positive step to ensuring the future of your sheep business. Why not use the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway funding to test a few and see what’s working for your flock?
Central-Emily Gasgoigne
Record lamb prices as I write this, certainly bring a cheer amongst the wet days. It’s been a busy few weeks on my travels with a focus on preparing diets, performance reviews and training courses. Some of the diets were really tricky with hay or low quality haylage being used – food for thought for the upcoming mowing season, how can we maximise energy and protein of our forage and minimise concentrates? “Pathway” Visits (AHWP) have proved really useful and have been used for all sorts – health planning, feeding plans, parasite management plans. Some of you may be eligible to re-apply if 10 months has passed. As many of you are stuck into the throws of lambing – the autumn lambers are gearing up for tupping – the cycle doesn’t stop – teamsheep are here to help!
Lympstone-Raechel Parker
I’ve had a brilliant 9 months (albeit very wet!) returning to my Devonian roots. It’s been so great to catch up with you all again, meet lots of new faces and be part of the very exciting transition to Synergy!
Thank you all for putting up with my new kiwi habits, including the alarming scanning wand! Sadly it’s not entirely magic and we have encountered a range of scanning results, prompting a number of bull fertility tests, with sadly some bulls exiting the farm. I would encourage everyone to consider fertility testing bulls ahead of the game to prevent these losses in reproductive performance, especially when single sire mating.
Now onto the next adventure: Europe by dirt bike! I wish everyone a productive season ahead and no doubt I’ll bump into many of you when I’m next back in the shire. All the best!
