St David's Game Bird Services

03/08/2024

𝗚𝘂𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵

Maintaining and promoting good gut health is important to help birds combat parasitic and bacterial challenges.

Using buffered organic acids such as Ultimate Acid or ABC pH for the first 3 – 4 weeks after release can help promote good gut health. This product works by helping to stabilise the gut and reduce the risk of protozoa, such as Hexamita, from developing.

Get in touch with our team if you'd like any more information.

27/07/2024

𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠

Currently, and particularly after heavy rain, rearing fields and release pens are susceptible to heavy parasitic worm burdens. Whilst signs of gape worms are fairly easy to spot, clinical signs of gut worms are not always clear and both pheasants and partridge can harbour significant worm burdens. Proactive worming treatment is critical to maintain bird health through to release.

Pheasants usually require worming within a couple of weeks in the release pen and then usually around every 3 weeks. This can be carried out in the water or feed.

02/07/2024

If you’re visiting the Scottish Game Fair, do come and see us! You’ll find us on Gamekeeper Row, stand GK11. Vets Matt Balfour, Emily Munro and Charlotte Cole, Field Services Technician May Millar and Practice Administrator Rachael Holloway will be there over the three days.

We look forward to seeing you there!

27/06/2024

High temperatures can cause an increased risk of heat stress in your birds, which can lead to a decreased regulation of their immune system and an increased susceptibility to disease.

If you’ve been concerned by the higher temperatures we have experienced, read about ways you can support your birds before, during and after, periods of hot weather, here: https://stdavids-gamebirds.co.uk/news/heat-stress-in-game-birds/

24/06/2024

We have seen more Coccidiosis so far this year, which could be put down to the warm and wet conditions. As a result, we continue to encourage game farmers. keepers and shoots to maintain vigilance, specifically when it comes to water quality and gut health. If the birds can develop a healthy microbiome, they will build resistance to such diseases.

Staying on top of routine microscopy checks can help identify diseases like Coccidiosis early, which means we can reduce use of medication and antibiotics, only using them when it’s necessary. Call our head office on 01392 872932 to book a visit.

18/06/2024

It was a pleasure to join and support the ‘Walk and Talk’ evening at Fonthill Estate.

Hosted by Fonthill Estate Gamekeepers, the Farm Management Team and Land Agents, it was an excellent opportunity for attendees to learn more about its farmland and its bird conservation work – both the story so far and what is next.

13/06/2024

St David’s Game Bird Services’ Veterinary Surgeon, Dr Nathan Hiom is featured in the latest edition of Sporting Gun, offering readers a glimpse into the efforts of vets and gamekeepers to ensure the health and welfare of gamebirds in a challenging spring, weather-wise.

Read the full article here: https://sporting-gun.com/shop/product/sps-july-2024

30/05/2024

Maintaining good biosecurity into the rearing fields and sheds is critical to a successful rear. This includes:

•Foot dips: Using effective and approved products, at the right concentration and replenishing as instructed. There are very few products that will stay effective for 7 days
•Water hygiene: At this stage the birds aren’t drinking huge amounts, therefore what they do drink needs to be clean. Flush lines regularly and use a water cleaner and disinfectant such as Aqua-clean – a stabilised hydrogen peroxide-based product - to achieve this.

Find out more about our range at or speak to you vet or visit: https://poultrypharm.co.uk/

23/05/2024

As birds grow, pecking behaviour becomes more common as they investigate their surroundings.

Controlling the amount of light into the shed – without compromising ventilation and airflow – can help with aggressive behaviour, at this stage. For example, creating dappled light into the shed using external angled baffles on the window and door vents stops penetrating light, without compromising ventilation and airflow.

Creating red light with coloured plastic or light bulbs can also have a calming effect. Increasing enrichment can also help – talk to your St David's vet about the options.

08/03/2024

In the latest Shooting Times & Country Magazine Gamebird Guidance column, St David's Game Bird Services Director Dr Kenny Stokes-Nutting discusses bird losses on smaller shoots and how our team is helping to mitigate these losses.

The latest issue of Shooting Times is out now!

This week, Simon Garnham tells us serious crop damage means pigeon numbers must be thinned, and catching them as they come to roost makes for an exciting challenge. You don’t need top-end kit to land monster bream in the delta, as Miles Malone discovers. And we all know about the three-legged stool of conservation, but its flip side for the game rearing industry has serious repercussions say Felix Petit.

Subscribe today and never miss an issue. To shop, visit: bit.ly/3YDMEMK.

30/01/2024

We are thrilled to present an article featured in the latest edition of Gun Trade News. This piece covers subjects such as the AI vaccine, updates on diseases, and insights into shooting trends, as seen through the perspective of St David's Game Bird Director, Kenny.

Check out page 22 >>

Read Gun Trade News GTN 98 February by The Game Fair Ltd on Issuu and browse thousands of other publications on our platform. Start here!

29/01/2024

𝐆𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠

Getting off to a good start with properly cleaned and disinfected rearing equipment should be at the top of the agenda. Often equipment including rearing sheds and runs would have been left outside all winter and are due a good clean before using again. Wild animals are likely to have utilised the shelter over the cold months and so now we must ensure any biosecurity hazards such as virus or cocci challenges are targeted and reduced.

06/01/2024

𝐁𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐓𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠

Although we have the potential to search for many diseases, we focus on the following three infectious pathogens that we know cause an issue during lay and with chick health...

05/01/2024

𝐁𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐓𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠

Blood is taken from a proportion of the caught-up birds (~60 birds) and sent to an external laboratory for ELISA analysis. The test evaluates the level of antibodies present in the blood to specific infectious diseases. Our vets can then interpret these results and antibody levels to provide a likelihood as to which diseases the birds may be harbouring.

Discuss our blood testing service with your vet or call our head office on 01392 872932 to book a visit.

03/01/2024

𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐒𝐓 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭, 𝐰𝐞’𝐝 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐰𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐚 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐭 𝐃𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐝’𝐬 𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐁𝐢𝐫𝐝 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐦.

As the new year begins, it's important to reflect on the significance of blood testing in laying flocks. More and more estates and breeding farms are utilising taking bloods in January from adult birds as they are being caught up for breeding stock. The results will establish an understanding as to the possible infectious diseases that birds may have been exposed to through the winter period and the risk they may bring to our bio-secure rearing sites. This is beneficial as we try to reduce spread of disease such as Mycoplasma Gallisepticum that can be transmitted vertically through the laying hen to the chick.

Blood testing can be arranged through the practice. We can help advise a specific plan for your laying site for disease prevention.

24/12/2023

The St David’s Game Bird Services team wishes you all 𝐚 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐚𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐧𝐣𝐨𝐲𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐝. We look forward to seeing many of you in 2024, whether that be out in the field, on site around the UK or at seminars and events.

22/11/2023

If you're in need of veterinary services, regardless of the scale of your operation or your location, we are happy to have a chat with you to understand your requirements. Feel free to send us a message or call us on 01392 872932.

02/11/2023

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐛𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐥𝐞𝐝𝐠𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐨𝐟 𝐠𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐝 𝐯𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐝𝐨𝐦 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐢𝐧 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐚𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲.

We aim to be proactive rather than reactive, focusing on preventative measures and health planning starting with laying bird management and egg production throughout rear and onto release. We provide innovative, practical and hands-on advice to help achieve the best quality of birds for flying.

27/10/2023

This month’s Countrymans Weekly Vet’s Diary features a ‘nationwide lens’ on the season so far, with comments from St David's vet's Kenny, Helen, and Sean.

Get your copy here -

Ladies show off shooting skills in extreme temperatures By Nigel Housden. I ALWAYS like the unexpected, unplanned and unforeseen, and that is exactly what unfolded when I attended a Ladies Day simulated shoot. Unexpected because, as it turned out, during a very warm September this was to be the day

23/10/2023

Our team have been busy visiting shoots, going out on site and seeing the birds. By actively being on the ground in this way, we can see the birds in their environment, work out any problems and make changes. If, for example, we can see that the birds are lacking energy, we might alter their feed rations, or move them away from spin feeding to hopper feedings. There are a number of management actions that we can take now, which will help both in the short term and the long term when looking ahead to next year.

17/10/2023

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐞 𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐭 𝐛𝐲 𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 (𝐁𝐆𝐀) 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐀𝐢𝐦 𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧, 𝐢𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐲𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐝𝐚𝐲 (𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝟏𝟔 𝐎𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫).

We are delighted to hear this exciting news and to have all the shooting organisations backing third-party independent assurance. We fully support any efforts to enhance the standards of our sector and, that reflect the high welfare levels we, as vets see on the ground.

https://aimtosustain.org.uk/management-of-game-assurance-scheme-transferring-from-bga-to-aim-to-sustain/?fbclid=IwAR2T6nkbiSlCycjfp5CwViIL_XaJi9k9dT0rZGstdmDSTUVw6JlvRWXdqCY_aem_AdmUvwQ4bsI65KIBNCZt2EMeb_4nZN4INKtLtNQpxxpL7-9Ygf3gWgAVtUeN9qbp9Eg

The infrastructure of the assurance scheme built by British Game Assurance (BGA) will be transferred to Aim to Sustain, it was announced today (Monday 16 October).

12/10/2023

“𝐀 𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐤 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐚 𝐒𝐜𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐯𝐞𝐭.”

In this Scottish Field piece, St David's Game Bird vet, Matt shares his work in a typical week, as well as more general updates on the season so far in Scotland >>

A week in the life: a Scottish country vet - Scottish Field - Scotland's Quality Lifestyle Magazine

24/08/2023

We're seeing increasing numbers of worms in Partridge in rearing fields due to their unexpected extended stays. It's important to act quickly on this to avoid secondary Hexamita issues.

For more info on worming prevention pre-release or on Hexamita, please contact your local vet.

21/08/2023

St David's Game Bird Director, Dr Kenny Stokes-Nutting, gives The Ladies Working Dog Group some expert veterinary advice, debunking some of the most common myths and misconceptions we often hear within the shooting community > https://ladiesworkingdoggroup.com/navigating-gamebird-health-debunking-common-myths-and-misconceptions/

16/08/2023

𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐚𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐔.𝐊. 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝

We work with farms and shoots of all sizes across the country and our team are on hand to help if needed. If you have any concerns about your birds and would like speak to our team, give us a call on 01392 872932 or call your nearest branch > https://stdavids-gamebirds.co.uk/contact-us/

14/08/2023

𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐠𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐝𝐬

At this time of year, after such heavy rain, rearing fields and release pens are highly susceptible to hold heavy parasitic worm burdens. Clinical signs are not always clear and both pheasants and partridge can harbour significant parasite burdens. Strategic worming treatment is critical to maintain bird health through to release.

For more information on best therapeutic options visit our website >> https://shorturl.at/gLRZ3

12/08/2023

Wishing everyone a great season ahead as we mark the 𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗧𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗳𝘁𝗵.

St David’s Game Bird Services offer a comprehensive grouse services including, but not limited to; site visits, post mortems, total worm counts, worm egg and cocci counts, bulgy eye and louping ill screening and prescriptions. Please speak to your vet if you have any requests or wish to discuss anything site specific

09/08/2023

With the continued wet weather there is an obvious delay in the departure of birds. This can lead to less than perfect feathering. To maximise new feather growth upon release we have had great successes with Amino Plus, which helps provide the building blocks of protein and thus building blocks for muscles and feathers. We have seen some great new feather growth in birds that have been delayed from rearing fields. Ask your local St David's vet for more information.

https://poultrypharm.co.uk/product/amino-plus/

28/07/2023

Check out our latest article with Wales Farmer, which outlines ‘A Week in the life of a Welsh country gamebird vet’, namely, Sam! Here, Sam highlights the work that goes on behind the scenes with specific reference to Wales including; site visits, pen scoring, and much more to ensure good gamebird health and welfare.

Read here >>

St David’s Gamebird Services work nationwide to ensure good health and welfare of gamebirds on shoots of all sizes. Here Dr Sam Morgan shares some…

21/07/2023

Managing pheasant release in unpredictable weather conditions, especially during heavy downpours, can be quite challenging. If you are experiencing mortality among the pheasants, we recommend an arranged visit from your vet as, during heavy rain, mortality rates can escalate rapidly.

With the early good weather in rear, it has been a more difficult to harden off the poults as the weather they are experiencing in release is unlike what they encountered during their rearing period, this will potentially make it harder compared to previous years.