Westpoint Farm Vets

10/03/2025

You would be amazed at the evidence behind NSAID use in many situations - here, we focus on the benefits of NSAID use in calf health. This type of pain relief improves welfare, reduces stress associated with illness and handling, helps to improve growth rates and reduces the use of antibiotics.

For more information on how NSAID use can slot into your husbandry routines and healthcare protocols, please ask your vet.

07/03/2025

Our tech team can't stop learning, as they now tackle cattle AI to help you maximise genetic improvement and breeding efficiency on your farms. For information on AI services (or DIY AI courses), please get in touch!

06/03/2025

Throughout March, we are offering significant discounts on NSAID medications, which can vastly improve animal welfare and reduce the need for prolonged antibiotic courses - or even antibiotics at all!

To take advantage of this offer through vet cars or the practice, please ask any of our team who would be happy to talk you through why NSAID therapy is a vital component of treatment in many cases.

05/03/2025

Many of you may be well away with lambing, and we hope it's going well. If you're due to start soon - may the weather, sheep and caffeine gods be smiling upon you.

We are here to help with any and all queries to do with lambing, and of course, emergency care. Don't forget to log as much data as you can so that we can identify points where efficiencies can be improved for next year.

03/03/2025

We will never stop going on about colostrum management, mainly because it's the cornerstone of disease management on farm! Start your lambs off right and they have the best foundations for building a competent immune system.

28/02/2025

Check out our tech team in action, scanning sheep for pregnancy. Our South East team Abbie and Liv work together to cover smallholder scanning needs - helping you to optimise ewe care in the run up to lambing!

26/02/2025

You can't park there, mate.

25/02/2025

24/02/2025

Ewe health is essential for smooth lamb rearing - take care of her, and she'll take care of the rest. Fluid therapy and pain relief are the mainstays of ewe recovery post partum, even if she isn't looking under the weather just yet.

21/02/2025

An unusual case - poor, lovely Gilbert (who is incidentally the most well behaved goose we have ever met) had a long standing eye problem that was causing him much discumfort. Alongside his dedicated owners, we decided ultimately that he would be out of pain with the eye removed, so Ami removed it at the Coalyard Clinic. We wish Gilbert a smooth recovery.

19/02/2025

Let's focus on having the best start to all new lives on the farm this lambing season - have you got adequate colostrum stocks?

Make sure that if you are using a replacer, that it meets the needs of a newborn lamb. You can also harvest and freeze colostrum off high producing ewes where you have measured the quality of their colostrum.

17/02/2025

If you're due to start lambing soon, the last thing you want to discover is that you haven't got your protocols in place and adequate medicine stocks.

To make sure you aren't caught short, book yourself a pre-lambing visit to discuss your needs over the lambing period - use the opportunity to go over data from last year and see where any areas of management can be tightened up for a successful 2025 season!

17/02/2025

Our excellent team Westpoint Farm Vets are FINALISTS in The Northern Farmer awards for Excellence in Agricultural Services.

The winners will be announced at a sparkling awards ceremony at Pavilions of Harrogate, the Great Yorkshire Showground, on Thursday, February 20th.

https://www.northernfarmer.co.uk/news/24927095.northern-farmer-awards-excellence-agricultural-services/

Congratulations to the brilliant team of administrators, vets and techs at York - we wish you the very best of luck!

16/02/2025

Contact your branch to discuss your BTV risk profile, and access vaccines before spring.

13/02/2025

In response to the significant increase in findings of avian influenza in kept and wild birds, in addition to the national avian influenza prevention zone (AIPZ), mandatory housing measures to protect poultry & captive birds will also apply in:

Cheshire – added
City of Kingston Upon Hull
Herefordshire – added
The East Riding of Yorkshire
Lancashire – added
Lincolnshire
Merseyside – added
Norfolk
North Yorkshire
An area in Shropshire
Suffolk
Worcestershire – added
York

These measures will come into force at 00:01 on Sunday 16 February.

All bird keepers in these areas must, from this date, house their birds in addition to following stringent biosecurity measures. If keepers fall into a Protection Zone outside of these areas, they also must house their birds. The GB wide AIPZ mandating enhanced biosecurity measures remains in place.

More information is available here: https://www.gov.uk/animal-disease-cases-england/bird-flu-regional-avian-influenza-prevention-zone-east-of-england

11/02/2025

Ami of our Chelmsford branch is the incoming President of The Society of Practicing Veterinary Surgeons. It is wonderful to see large animal vets represented here, and we wish her luck for her term!

07/02/2025

If you're planning to vaccinate for Bluetongue Virus to protect against any potential reemergence in the Spring, make sure you plan in advance to ensure onset of immunity after their primary course, which can be 1 to 2 doses depending on your vaccine.

04/02/2025

It's lovely to see a calf up and bonding with the dam immediately after a caesarean. Chelmsford's Katie did some excellent work bringing this big lad into the world.

31/01/2025

Chelmsford vet tech Abbie visited this lovely set of lambs to assist the owner with husbandry tasks - unbelievably, she left the farm without one tucked in her jacket - though it was tempting! Remember, our techs can help out with all manner of husbandry tasks to lighten the load for busy farmers and smallholders. Get in touch with us for more information.

13/12/2024

Thursday elf was on a TB test, these highlands behaved their very best,

He made up some kits at the practice with Jana, and took a call from a happy farmer

Hoorah some dexters, these were more elf’s size, “blimey they’re quick” you could hear him cry

It’s been a long week but it’s not over yet, elf really feels he’s been worked like a vet

13/12/2024

Wednesday, a day of MV testing, elf joined Sophie and Gemma with some wooly wrestling!

Helping martin check the numbers were all right, he got bored and snuck off like a thief in the night,

That naughty elf, where was he now? Of course he was hanging out with the cows!

Later that day all scrubbed up and gleaming elf attended another farmers meeting!

Crackers were pulled and pies were eaten, Sophie’s quiz was too hard and poor elf was beaten!

Fun was had with festive cheer, we’ll do it again same time next year!

13/12/2024

Can you guess who our real life elf is?

12/12/2024

Tuesday came and elf was busy, so much so it made him dizzy!

First a picture with smithy and otto, reminded our elf of home in the grotto!

The phone did ring, emergencies came, another vet went out to a sheep that’s lame!

Poo came in and results went out, our silly elf still messing about!

11/12/2024

Monday night elf was festively greeting, some of our farmers at the nutrition meeting!

Eager to learn and keep in the know, mince pies and mulled wine bought a cheerful glow!

Elf said this was fun gee wiz! Well done to Nick for winning the quiz

06/12/2024

Checking for worm eggs has elf all to do, for everywhere he looks there’s more and more poo!

Processing samples with Micron and McMaster makes the results come a little bit faster

a model employee it’s clear to see with health and safety in mind he’s rocking the PPE

but slow down little elf, act not in haste
For now you’re stuck in clinical waste!!!

06/12/2024

Christmas is coming on farms all around,
While our mischevious elves are not making a sound!

“Well that sounds good I hear you say”, but quite the opposite they are raring to play!

Out on farm and with our vets those naughty elves are hedging their bets

Who can be found in an interesting place,
Game on, let’s go, let’s get in the race!

So keep your eyes peeled and your wits about you, because you just never know what they might be up to!

07/11/2024

We have 20 doses left on our final Bluetongue vaccine drive of the year on 12th November - please contact the practice if you are interested

Available to collect from Dawes Farm or Elands

The vaccine drive will likely resume in the spring dependent on prevalence of Bluetongue virus and availability of vaccines.

04/11/2024

Last week we had it all going on between visits and call outs at our Horsham/ Sevenoaks branch, from pumpkin carving to client meetings!

Thank you to Zoetis for sponsoring our well attended meeting focusing on Startect wormer and Cidr Ovis, it’s always a pleasure to catch up off farm with our valued clients.

Keep your eyes peeled for the next meeting!!

22/10/2024

There are still spaces available for our meeting next Monday!

11/10/2024

Fun was had by all at this weeks annual BIVTA conference! A mix of practical demos held at Hartpury College, followed by a day of  interesting talks delivered by  Vets, reps, and knowledgeable people! Westpoint farm vets are proud to have three of our techs on the committee for the British and Irish veterinary technician Association, supporting drive forward in ensuring vet techs  get the recognition, they deserve as  professionals as well as pushing for a change in legislation that will allow them to perform much more within their role.

17/09/2024

Time is running out for you to secure your tickets to the annual British and Irish Vet Tech Conference, despite what the name suggests it’s not just for techs but for ATT’s, farmers, Smallholders, vets, agriculture students, in fact anyone who has an interest in livestock! There will be a vast range of experienced speakers and some practical demonstrations as well as the chance to network with likeminded people.

Last year was a sell out so grab your tickets now! 👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻

Come join us at the BIVTA Vet Tech and ATT Conference for a day of learning and networking in the world of veterinary paraprofessionals!

16/09/2024

Massive congratulations to our clients, mother and daughter team, for their impressive collection of rosettes won at the findon sheep fair on Saturday. Deborah showed her first ram for the first time and scooped a first place with Mo and Olivia seemed to clear up with the rest!! Gemma our vet tech even helped out by showing in a few classes!

🏵️🏵️🏵️🏵️🏵️🏵️🏵️

🐏1st with a zwartble shearling ram
🐏1st with zwartble ram lamb Mo
🐏homebred zwartble ram lamb got 3rd
🐑2nd place with zwartble shearling ewe
🐑4th with zwartble ewe lamb
🐑4th with the Zwartble group of three
🐏4th with the border ram
🐑2nd with the border shearling ewe
🐏4th with homebred border ram lamb
🐏3rd with the zwartble ram lamb in the WOH
🐏4th with Tornado in the WOH

06/08/2024

The Ceva swine team are pleased to be sponsoring BIVTA Vet Tech and ATT conference this year.

Follow the link below to get your tickets, see you there!

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/bivta-vet-tech-and-att-conference-tickets-946779642397?aff=ebdsshcopyurl&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=organizer-profile&utm-share-source=organizer-profile

British & Irish Veterinary Technicians Association - BIVTA