NORTH – JAMES AITKEN
It’s now been a year since Orchard clients in the Glastonbury area transferred to Synergy, and the experience appears to have been overwhelmingly positive for everyone. Even though I’m a “part-timer” on the farm-vetting front, I’ve had some fabulous catch-ups with a few of my old regulars from the Orchard days, but have also really enjoyed meeting some new clients who have all been very welcoming. I still find individual cow medicine immensely rewarding. The atrocious July weather and localised flooding hasn’t yet put too much of a dampener on grazing and forage production on the Somerset levels, but a few farmers are beginning to plan for an increased chance of fluke – at least I feel justified keeping the old Discovery on the road!
WEST – ED POWELL-JACKSON
August brings show season and a very busy time for the practice! As a company we take great pride in supporting our local shows, where many of our clients have been involved in an organisational or showing capacity for several generations. At some of these Synergy are also honorary vets for the livestock – at Honiton, Melplash and Dorset County for example. This necessitates an early arrival at the showground to check livestock as it arrives, sorting out biosecurity and disinfection measures, as well as being “duty vet” for any unforeseen accidents or illnesses that may occur. A case of milk fever in a Dairy Shorthorn cow is my most dramatic so far! In addition to a radio, badge and dedicated parking spot, we may get lunch in the members tent if we are lucky! A day spent on our stand can be very tiring, but it is a great opportunity to catch up with a lot of clients and their families, some of whom we haven’t seen for a while. I hope to see many
of you over the coming month – make sure you call by for some refreshments!
EAST – OLIVER WHITE
As I sit writing this, I am watching the first of my own autumn block dairy cows give birth – although thankfully being an early block this does not mean the end of summer. This summer so far has seen wildly fluctuating weather, frequently changing between torrential rain and hot humid days. Cattle have been shown to be more susceptible to heat stress when it comes in short waves with little time to adapt. Heat stress will reduce feed intakes, lower milk yields, and reduce fertility (even causing embryonic death and reduce egg quality). Heat stress and subsequent negative effects on production are generally seen at 25°C but can be seen at lower temperatures if the humidity is high. To reduce the impact, we should ensure cattle have access to shade and do not have to walk far to access water. If animals are receiving supplementary feeding, this should be provided during the cooler hours of the day to increase intakes and limit excessive activity during the hottest hours. If housed, then fans are a fantastic provision!
CENTRAL – TOM CLARKE
It has been a busy spring with calvings and a spread of Schmallemberg related abortions and malformations likely picked up from autumn exposure to midges. We continue to analyse the left displaced abomasum (LDA) surgical operations that we perform over the whole practice. There is a significant trend downwards in overall number of LDAs (374 in 2020 vs 187 in 2023) over the last four years. This is set against rising overall cow numbers in the practice. This data suggests a great improvement in transition management, combined with improved care of the freshly calved cow, by our dairy clients. No mean feat, well done! The overall success rate of LDA operations, defined as survival in the herd 30 days after surgery, remains very static at around 87%.
LYMPSTONE – JOHANNA MARSDEN
We said goodbye to Alice at the end of July as she sets off to start planning her worldwide adventure. We will all miss her, but hope she has the most incredible time! It feels like Spring was only yesterday, but August brings the start of Autumn calving. As ever preparation is key, but in the throws of a busy calving period it is even more important to stay on top of hygiene (from the calving yard, to equipment, to the calf pen) to reduce the pressure of disease. The Lympstone team were at the Totnes, Honiton and Okehampton Shows and we enjoyed seeing so many of you. It is always a pleasure to catch up off farm!
