April/May Farmers Newsletter

Ed

Well we tried…

He said he was retiring…

We have even had a retirement meal at the Bear…

James has been itching to tidy up his desk…

But it probably won’t come as a huge surprise to you all to learn that Ed has decided to keep working on a (more!) part-time basis for the next couple of years! So after April he will be working the odd morning, so you may still find him in surgery or appearing on the occasional farm call.

Anyone got a spare walking stick???

Huskvac

We have been informed by MSD animal health the producers of Huskvac that there will be a significant delay in the supply of vaccine this year.

They are saying that supplies will resume at the beginning of April, which may of course be after turnout (assuming it stops raining…).

Even when supplies resume, it is likely there will be an overwhelming demand for the vaccine and supplies may well be very intermittent, and even if a first dose is received there is no guarantee the second dose will be supplied! It may well be therefore for this year that you have to consider treating for lungworm using a suitable preparation, rather than vaccinating.

If you would like to discuss this, please ring and speak to Peter or myself.

Lambing

Lambing time is upon us! Just a quick reminder that it is much more economical for you, if you do happen to have a difficult lambing, to bring the ewe into the surgery (for example in the back of Land Rover).

Not only will it mean that the lambing will be much cheaper, with no visit charge, but also it is also much easier on our poor old backs to lamb a ewe in a trailer or Land Rover!

Please remember to ring in to the surgery before bringing the ewe in!

DEFRA enhanced managements of persistant TB herds

DEFRA have decided to take a new approach to herds that have a persistent TB problem. The following is from their website:

Herds suffering long-term bTB breakdowns will in future be considered for a more tailored and hands-on management approach by AHVLA, in partnership with farmers’ private vets, as a standard business as usual activity in England and Wales. This follows feedback from stakeholders and recognition that a more proactive approach was necessary.

From 3 February 2014, herd breakdowns lasting more than 18 months will be subject to enhanced case management procedures aimed at helping herd owners to regain their Officially TB Free (OTF) status as quickly as possible and reducing the risk of future breakdowns. Measures may include additional investigative work to identify factors contributing to persistence of infection followed by targeted interventions to address the issues identified.

 Trained AHVLA veterinary officers will be assigned to each case and will consider the following issues and additional measures in determining an appropriate enhanced management approach:

Internal movement controls within fragmented holdings and the separation of different management groups

Test interpretation and testing patterns 

Quality of testing

Use of gamma interferon and other ancillary tests

Increased removal of Direct Contacts, partial or whole-herd slaughter.
We await with baited breath…!!

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