Newsletters
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October 2023: Dynamic Milk Machine Testing, Vaccines, Disease Forecast & Upcoming Events
Introducing VaDia – Dynamic Milk Machine Testing, Calf Pneumonia and Tupping Ewes’ Vaccines, Disease Forecast: Grass Staggers and Acorn Toxicity & Dates for your Calendar
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September 2023: Mobility and Body Condition Scoring, More on Mastitis, Disease of the Month: Worms & more
Mobility and Body Condition Scoring, Grant for Calf Housing, More on Mastitis, New Vets Welcome and Disease of the Month: Worms. Also find out about upcoming events.
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August 2023: Mastitis, Redwater, local shows and a new baby girl
More knowledge on Mastitis and new testing at North Park Vets, information about Redwater disease, details of July’s Johnes meeting, a new baby girl is born and don’t forget the Okehampton and Holsworthy Shows this month.
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June 2023: Potential drug shortage, Red Tractor requirement meeting & more
Warning for sheep farmers about potential drug shortages, Medicine meeting – a Red Tractor requirement and please consider taking a CODD survey for 4th year veterinary student.
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May 2023: Nematodirus Forecast, Fly Control & more
Nematodirus outbreaks predicted, Avian Flu restrictions lifted, however basic biosecurity measures still advised, fly control advice and news of an unusual lamb!
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April 2023: GRAZING OF DARTMOOR & NATURAL ENGLAND
The future of grazing livestock on Dartmoor, unusual issues out on the road, cobalt/vitamin B12 deficiency in lambs, advice for blowfly strike and nuisance flies and red tractor health and performance review reminders.
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February 2023: DEFRAs Animal Health and Welfare Review
January has been very busy and it is only going to go one way from now on! I wanted to update everyone however on the progress of DEFRAs Animal Health and Welfare Review.
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January 2023: LAUNCH OF “PATHWAY” grants, LAMBING COURSE & More
Farmer meetings – Launch of “Pathway” (new grants), Lambing Course January 2023, Selekt Pump Servicing
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December 2022: CALF SCOUR VACCINE, MEDICINE HUB, Q-FEVER & More
News of a new vaccine for the prevention of calf scour, and introduction to the medicine hub, information about Q-Fever, a reminder about FECs and important information for all dairy producers.
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October 2022: ANTIBIOTIC SELECTION, CALF PNEUMONIA, LIVER FLUKE
An antibiotic selection update, a reminder about Calf Pneumonia and some detailed advice on Liver Fluke – when to treat.
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September 2022: FOOTBATHING SHEEP, AVIAN INFLUENZA & SMALL HOLDERS CLUB
Some new evidence suggesting caution in the use of footbaths for sheep. Details about the Avian Flu prevention zoning of Devon, Cornwall and West Somerset from August 31st. As well as news on the Small Holders Club first meeting and new staff training success.
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August 2022: ADAPTING TO EXCEPTIONALLY HOT WEATHER
During the recent hottest spell on record, we saw the following conditions associated with this weather: Heat Stress and Water intoxication/Salt poisoning. When we eventually have some rain, look out for: Parasitic gastroenteritis (PGE) and Nitrate toxicity. Other events that we may see in the future, that are associated with hot and dry weather spells, include: Bluegreen algae blooms and Ryagrass staggers.
More on all of the above in the newseltter…
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July 2022: MEDICINE TRAINING MEETING
We are running another medicine training day on Wednesday 20th July at North Tawton Rugby Club. The course will run from 10:30am to 3pm, pasty lunch and other refreshments provided throughout the day.
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June 2022: TICK CONTROL RESEARCH PROJECT
Tick Bourne diseases are increasing throughout the practice in both cattle and sheep and are no longer restricted to the ‘usual’ moorland areas. We are not alone, with similar increases being seen across the UK.
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May 2022: FAECAL WORM EGG COUNTS
As the weather continues to warm up and we then have some damp weather on top, we will quite rapidly see rising worm burdens on the pasture, and therefore an increase in the worm burdens within susceptible stock (predominantly lambs, goats of all ages, first grazing season cattle, and to a lesser degree second grazing season cattle).
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April 2022: NEMATODIRUS WARNING FOR LAMBS
SCOPS (the sustainable control of parasites in sheep) and APHA Starcross have recently issued a Nematodirus warning based on post-mortem findings and the recent and current weather forecasts. We have also started seeing Nematodirus eggs in our own in-house worm egg counts.
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March 2022: WORMERS, FLUKICIDES AND ECTOPARASITICIDES
We have taken the decision to start selling wormers, flukicides and ectoparasiticides for cattle,
sheep, pigs and goats (off-licence). -
February 2022: MEDICINE TRAINING MEETING (RED TRACTOR REQUIREMENT)
We are running another medicine training day on Friday 18th February at North Tawton Rugby Club.
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January 2022: CALF SCOUR VACCINATION
Spring calving herds should start thinking about vaccinating their cows to prevent
scour outbreaks in the calves -
December 2021: SALMONELLA OUTBREAKS & ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE
Why all the fuss about antibiotic resistance and the responsible use of antibiotics?
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November 2021: CATTLE LUNGWORM ALERT FROM APHA
The APHA Cattle Expert Group has just announced that they have seen several severe cases of lungworm
infection or ‘husk’ -
October 2021: UPDATES FROM THE SHEEP SOCIETY
Jonathan recently attended the Autumn Sheep Veterinary Society Autumn Conference
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September 2021: WINTER HOUSING: CALF & YOUNGSTOCK PNEUMONIA
Time stops for no one.
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August 2021: RED TRACTOR – CHANGE TO STANDARDS
Deciphering drugs meeting 29th September
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July 2021: SHEEP EVENT – “PUTTING EWE FIRST”
On farm learning day….
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June 2021: IMPORTANT CHANGES TO TB TESTING INTERVALS
From 1st July 2021 Devon will require 6 month TB testing intervals.
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May 2021: SEVERE SUMMER SCOUR SYNDROME &
Idiopathic Necrotising Enteritis are two diseases APHA are wanting to investigate, free of charge testing available at Starcross.
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April 2021: COCCIDIOSIS – LAMBS & CALVES:
Coccidiosis is a highly infectious protozoan parasitic infection of the intestinal lining in cattle and sheep which can destroy large amounts of the lining.
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March 2021: LEPTOSPIROSIS – THE WHAT, WHY & HOW TO CONTROL
Leptospirosis causes many different clinical signs, which all have significant health, welfare and economic implications.
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February 2021: RED TRACTOR 2021 STANDARDS REVIEW – CONSULTATION
Red Tractor are in the process of reviewing their standards which will come into effect from November 2021.
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January 2021: COPPER IN DAIRY COWS
Ruminants are notoriously poor at absorbing copper across the rumen…
