Achieving Excellence in Health and Productivity
PARAGON VETERINARY GROUP
ISSUE 32
Livestock NEWS
DECEMBER 2012
Contact us:
New... Practice Computer System In February we will be changing our Practice Management Software program to what we trust is a more modern, flexible and user friendly Windows system. We are working hard now, setting it up for a smooth change over and we hope you will notice little change, other than hopefully more logical and simple invoices! That said, this will be a huge undertaking for the practice and staff and we ask you will bear and work with us when we 'go live'. We will keep you updated closer to the time.
SAVING COSTS Did you know Paragon could collect your monthly farm account by Direct Debit and you would receive 5% discount on your drugs for prompt payment. Please contact us if you wish to sign up.
Merry Christmas On behalf of all the staff at Paragon and particularly the Farm Team, we wish you and your families a Merry Christmas. Thank you for your custom and support this year and we hope you will be able to join us for a craic, drink and light bite at one of the following pubs. Thursday 13th December 2012 at The Queens Head, Tirril, Penrith OR Thursday 20th December 2012 at The Crown, Broadfield, Southwaite, Carlisle
If you could let us have numbers for catering that would be helpful. Best Wishes
Schmallenberg Virus This new disease has reached Cumbria... We recently took bulk milk samples from a random selection of 11 dairy farms, to find out whether the virus is present in this area. Six of those samples were positive, two were inconclusive, and three negative. The likelihood is that the virus reached Cumbria in September or October - just in time for tupping. Schmallenberg infection in cattle can cause milk drop and diarrhoea with a high temperature. In sheep the initial infection often goes un-noticed, but if pregnant cattle or sheep are infected during the first 3 months of pregnancy, they may produce deformed offspring (usually at full term).
PARAGON VETERINARY GROUP
visit us at: www.paragonvet.com
Unfortunately there is little that can be done at this stage. Transmission of the disease via midges will have slowed down now that the weather is colder, but some animals will have been infected this autumn while in early pregnancy. Unfortunately it will just be a case of waiting to see if this results in deformed lambs or calves next spring. It may be useful to find out whether the virus is present on your farm. For dairy herds, a bulk milk test is the easiest way to find out. Sheep and beef cattle would need 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 about any cows with unexplained high temperatures, or any calves or lambs born with deformities.
PARAGON VETERINARY GROUP CALDEW VETERINARY HOSPITAL Carlisle House, Townhead Road, Dalston, Carlisle
Tel: (01228) 710208 vets@paragonvet.com TOWNHEAD VETERINARY CENTRE Townhead Veterinary Centre, Newbiggin, Stainton, Penrith, Cumbria CA11 0HT
Tel: (01768) 483789 townhead@paragonvet.com PARAGON ET The Mart, Tyne Green, Hexham, Northumberland NE46 3SG
Tel: (01434) 600566 et@paragonvet.com
24HR EMERGENCY SERVICE
LIVESTOCK NEWS
DECEMBER 2012
Cattle Practical Techniques for young farmers Practical one day course
Thurs 3rd January 2013 10am - 3pm
TB Changes As many of you may have noticed, the way TB areas and boundaries are calculated is being changed from January. This will bring us more in line with the EU TB requirements that stipulate that TB risk should be assessed on a regional basis - their intention being 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. The indications on the DEFRA website are that Cumbria will be a 48 month region but other counties e.g. Cheshire will find that the whole county will now fall into an annual frequency. If a breakdown occurs in a 48 month region, the herd will be put onto restrictions and the herds 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 different parish 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 county frequency but obviously DEFRA may alter this depending on the severity of the breakdown. Until the herd drops to the county frequency, pre-movement testing of stock will be required before 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 large proportion of cattle are purchased from at risk areas. There are some anomalies in the current regime, which may mean some premises may have to have a whole herd test (all stock) rather than a routine test (breeding stock) before qualifying for 48 month testing interval. Everyone should receive a letter from DEFRA before January advising them of their new testing intervals, hopefully this will be good news for some!!
More information is available on the DEFRA website.
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Learn new skills, improve existing skills Stomach tubing cows and calves Injections - including IV Drying off techniques CMT testing and milk sampling Body Condition scoring Using a ketone meter Testing colostrum Calving techniques
And more… course tailored to suit demand For people aged 16yrs and over. Cost £45 At Paragon Vet Group, Dalston, and a local farm. Lunch provided.
To book phone Paragon Vet Group 01228 710208
RDPE NW LIVESTOCK PROGRAMME MEETING OF THE WIGTON DAIRY GROUP on the topic of
DRY COW MANAGEMENT Thursday 13th December 2012 10.30am - 2pm at The Greenhill Hotel, Wigton Speakers: ● ●
Daniel Gammon MA Vet MB MRCVS from Evidence Based Veterinary Consultancy Ltd. Kath Aplin BVSc CertCHP MRCVS from Paragon Vets
Dan Gammon will cover dry cow nutrition and Kath Aplin will cover the health aspects 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: bookings@thefarmernetwork.co.uk.