Alnorthumbria Farm Vets

26/08/2024

Daisy is on call for Glendale Show today- say hello if you see her! Wishing you all an enjoyable day 🐄 🐑 ☀️

25/08/2024

With autumn calving beginning, on call is getting a little busier again but today’s callout was a bit different!
Daisy and Claire attended an incident involving a cow stuck in a river. With help from her owners and the emergency services the cow was successfully removed from the river and fortunately hasn’t sustained any serious injuries 🚒🐮

24/08/2024

20/08/2024

Did you know the England Scheme closed down on 31st July 2024?

You can read more about it, and get BVD advice at the AHDB page: https://ahdb.org.uk/bvd

If you were using the scheme to prove your herd's BVD negative status, you may consider joining another accreditation scheme like the Premium Cattle Health Scheme (PCHS) (https://www.sruc.ac.uk/business-services/veterinary-laboratory-services/cattle-health-schemes/premium-cattle-health-scheme/).

Please speak to one of our vets to discuss your herd's situation.

BVDFree is the national, voluntary, industry-led scheme, working to eliminate BVD from all cattle in England by 2022.

19/08/2024

If you own or work in a beef suckler herd, could you help this research project by completing this 5min survey?
https://app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk/s/sruc/body-condition-scoring-uptake-survey

The project is looking into the effects of beef suckler cow Body Condition Scoring (BCS) on cow hunger, calving ease and calf vigour.

Do you own or work with a beef suckler herd? Please take 5 minutes to complete our survey on body condition scoring

Survey: https://app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk/s/sruc/body-condition-scoring-uptake-survey

16/08/2024

Becca expertly demonstrating cattle blood sampling at the SQP and Vet Tech Jamboree. Not sure about that cow though 🐮😜

16/08/2024

This week Becca and Kath traveled to Harper Adams university (all the way to the hot & sweaty south 🥵) to take part in the Vet Tech and SQP Jamboree. They had a great time learning new practical skills from correctly collecting sheep dung samples and processing them in the lab to blood sampling cattle and sheep and vaccination. 💉 They also had lectures about biosecurity and the animal health and welfare pathway and enjoyed being able to meet other SQPs and Vet Techs to exchange ideas and knowledge. 🐑 🐄

For more information about the services our Vet Tech and SQP can offer please speak to your local branch 😊

06/08/2024

𝗔𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘆-𝘄𝗶𝗱𝗲, 𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗹𝗮𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗨𝗞 𝗳𝗮𝗿𝗺 𝗮𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗺𝗲𝘀. The aim is to re-purpose UK farm assurance for a post-Brexit world.

You can help the review process by sharing your views on assurance schemes by answering this short survey: https://ow.ly/mCih50SQ42o

All farmers and growers can take part (whether your farm business is part of an assurance scheme or not), and it only takes 10-15 minutes to complete.

The industry-wide Farm Assurance Review is now open! 📋

Focused on repurposing assurance in a post-Brexit world, the review will examine:

◼️How farm assurance can deliver value back to scheme members
◼️How standards are developed to meet the evolving needs
◼️How members are engaged with (including the development of standards), inspected and how technology is used
◼️How assurance schemes can and should fit with regulation and government schemes to best serve members

To have your say, complete the survey now: https://ow.ly/mCih50SQ42o

03/08/2024

Whilst Katherine’s being packing all her things to travel to New Zealand she has also spent the week helping Serena the Alpaca to unpack!!

Unpacking is the name of the process when Alpacas give birth. Dystocia is quite uncommon for Alpacas with only about 2-5% requiring assistance. The most common reason for Alpacas requiring help is malpresentation and this was the case with Serena’s first Cria as it was breach, therefore, Henri and Richard carried out a C-section.

This time round the Cria was presented correctly but Serena wasn’t in the mood to push! After some gentle manipulation from Katherine, Serena gave birth to a healthy little (but long) boy. He is now up and about and has been introduced to the rest of the herd!! 🦙🤍🦙

30/07/2024

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗹𝗮𝗺𝗯𝘀 𝘀𝗼𝗼𝗻? 𝗛𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗻𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗹 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗳𝗮𝗿𝗲 & 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 (𝗔𝗛𝗪𝗥) 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴? 🐑

For sheep, the AHWR covers the cost of a vet visit and doing a wormer resistance check with two faecal egg counts (FEC). You can read more about it on the SCOPS website, where you'll also find information on how to take FEC samples: https://www.scops.org.uk/internal-parasites/worms/worming-treatment-check/

You can only claim one AHWR grant per year and for one species only (cattle, sheep or pigs), so you can't use the sheep funding if you have already claimed a cattle visit.

Applying for the grant only takes a few seconds and there is follow-up funding available once you have completed the Review. For more information please speak to one of our vets.

As part of Defra's new Animal Health & Welfare Pathway in England, SCOPS is supporting the option for sheep farmers to carry out a worming treatment check for their flock.

29/07/2024

It’s Katherine’s last week with the farm team at Alnorthumbria before her big move to New Zealand.

Make sure you say good bye if you see her (and Alan) out and about on farm!!

28/07/2024

Quality Improvement is so important to make sure we are providing our clients and their livestock with the highest quality clinical standards, we are very lucky to be able to share knowledge with our other CVS colleagues ✅

Earlier this week we took part in Quality Improvement days, whilst many of our clients were away at the Royal Welsh.
Being part of a larger group is great for sharing progressive ideas and experiences across the different CVS practices.
Every meeting we discuss what is important to our practices from: new technology, to how to use clinical research funding best across the practices, to creating standard operating procedures.
This week was hosted in South Wales at Dyfed Farm Vets
Thank you to the hosts Sara and Harriet and everyone who attended for such an enjoyable couple of days!

Coast2Coast Farm Vets Severn Edge Farm Vets Castle Farm Vets Malton Cheshire Farm Vets Alnorthumbria Farm Vets

24/07/2024

Here we have content cows back to grass after their second AI service with Angus semen in a herd that is using artifical insemination to avoid having to keep a second bull for the heifers.

We couldn't help ourselves from checking out the calves born this spring to artifical insemination and I'm sure you will agree this fella looks very handsome in the sunshine ☀

23/07/2024

Have you heard about the Farm for the Future initiative?

Northumberland National Park are working with The Royal Countryside Fund to offer free advice to help you understand and navigate the policy changes that affect your farm business, and join SFI schemes.

If you are interested please email [email protected] or scan the QR code below.

At Northumberland National Park, we can help you access environmental schemes! Family farmers in England, this is your last chance to join . Sign up by 30th September for FREE support accessing schemes like the Sustainable Farming Incentive and make the most of these post-BPS opportunities. Contact us today at [email protected] or visit The Royal Countryside Fund

19/07/2024

This week Henri and Becca have been out with the semen tank to artificially inseminate a batch of heifers and cows with Beef Shorthorn semen to introduce this new breed into the herd and trial it in their farming system.

We are excited to see what the results will be in 6 weeks time when we scan them to check for pregnancies. We usually expect to see upwards of 50% of the cows in calf after artificial insemination.

17/07/2024

Our wonderful vet Katherine is leaving us soon to going travelling in New Zealand so we are searching for our next New Graduate Farm Vet. Please share with anyone who may be interested.
🐮🐑🐷🐓

CVS Group Careers, Jobs, Search and Apply

17/07/2024

Today Daisy and Pam attended a day of pig related CPD in Barnard Castle. In the morning they refreshed their knowledge on vaccinations, worming, farrowing, artificial insemination and common pig diseases with some interesting lectures. In the afternoon they took part in a practical session focusing on post mortems, euthanasia, blood sampling and catheter placement. Thank you to for organising a very informative day 🐷 🐽 🐖

15/07/2024

Last Friday evening the farm department arranged a ‘Sports day’ event at Alnwick Rugby Club in aid of the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Association (RABI).

This consisted of teams competing against each other over five races- the ‘egg and spoon’, a three-legged race, a wheelbarrow race, a sack race (in farm feed bags!) and a final relay race. For the final leg of the relay, the last ‘athlete’ had to dress in full veterinary PPE including arm length gloves, and sprint for the finish line. 🧤
Our branch administrator, Ruth, came armed with a whistle to keep the races running smoothly.

Teams from the practice competed alongside teams made of our clients. Points were awarded for each race and the team with the most points were crowned the winner. 🏆
In a hotly contested competition, the ‘Blooming bulls’ were awarded Gold,🥇with Northumberland Estates taking Silver, 🥈 and Alnorthumbria Small Animal team coming in Bronze position. 🥉

Spectators and participants were able to make the most of the dry weather (at least for a few hours!) and enjoy a BBQ, while the Rugby club bar was open to provide drinks. ☀️
The raffle was a great success, with prizes supplied by some of our staff, farmers, and medicine suppliers.
In addition, local farmer, John Young Logi Firewalking, brought his axe-throwing business along, and provided tuition to those brave enough to give it a try, in exchange for a donation to RABI. 🪓

We all thoroughly enjoyed the evening. Unfortunately some farmers were unable to make the night, due to taking the opportunity in the break in rain to make silage but kindly dropped in donations to their local branches. There was a great amount of support for the event, for which we were incredibly grateful.

While there are too many people to thank for their help special mentions should be made to Alnwick RFC for providing the venue, and to Michelle and Becky behind the bar who were so helpful on the night, 🍻 Turnbull's Northumbrian Food for providing the bbq food, 🥩 Jess Shell for her delicious salads, 🥗 the Reid and Armstrong families for their help on the bbq Julie Reid Sarah Armstrong,👩🏼‍🍳 Kim Fairbairn, Katie and Lucy for their help with the raffle, 🎟️ and everyone who donated equipment, prizes and showed their support on the night. Our farm team are extremely grateful for your help ❤️

We are proud to have been able to donate £1,100 to RABI; a charity providing help and support to the farming community nationwide, whether that is guidance, practical care or financial support. Their vision is that no member of the farming community should have to face adversity alone. Help is available 24hours a day on 0800 188 4444. RABI

11/07/2024

📣 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗕𝗮𝗿𝗯𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗼𝘄!

Join us for an evening of fun in support of RABI

There will be a BBQ, a Sports Day competition, a raffle with fantastic prizes and fun for all ages!

📍 Location: Alnwick Rugby Club, Alnwick, NE66 1BE

🕧 Doors open at 6pm on Friday 12th July 2024.

🍻 The Alnwick Rugby Club bar will be open throughout the event.

🎟️ Tickets available at all our farm branches, or purchase at the gate.

See you tomorrow!

10/07/2024

☀️July Newsletter ☀️

04/07/2024

📣 𝗢𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝟭 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗼! 📣

Join us next Friday 12th July from 6pm for our Charity Barbecue and Sports Day event at Alnwick Rugby Club!

🎉 What to Expect: there will be a delicious BBQ, exciting sports activities, a raffle with fantastic prizes and fun for all ages!

🍻 The Alnwick Rugby Club bar will be open throughout the event.

🎟️ Tickets available at all our farm branches, or purchase at the gate.

⚽️ If you'd like to enter a team for the Sports Day competition (think egg-and-spoon race, tug of war, etc.), please get in touch at one of our branches.

Come for an evening of fun and socialising in support of RABI Don't miss out!

03/07/2024

Did you know? The Animal Health and Welfare Review (AHWR) funding has been updated to include further support to carry out follow-up testing.

The AHWR covers the cost of a veterinary visit and a BVD test for dairy and beef cattle, or testing for wormer resistance in sheep. After you have completed the initial review, you can now claim additional funding if your herd tested positive for BVD, or to investigate other conditions in sheep flocks (e.g. Johne's disease, Maedi Visna, sheep scab, etc.). You can also use the funding if you were already testing for these conditions (but the funding cannot be backdated).

To read more about the scheme and how to apply, visit this link:

Cattle, pig and sheep farmers can get funding for vet services. This includes disease testing and advice to improve welfare and productivity.

02/07/2024

Some of our branches are closing today between the hours of 1.30pm and 4.30pm (Tuesday 2nd July) for a clinical meeting.

In cases of emergency, please contact your usual branch to be redirected to the emergency line.

The farm reception at Alnwick will remain open as normal.

Sorry for any inconvenience.

01/07/2024

Are you a 4th or 5th year vet student keen to pursue a career in farm animal practice? An exciting opportunity has come up to do an EMS externship at our practice in March 2025.

For more information, please check the poster below. To apply, scan the QR code or visit this link: https://forms.gle/fq9nfrPU28LG5rhg6

Please share this post with anyone who may be interested! 🙂

29/06/2024

Some of you may already be aware that, between September and May each year, we are joined by final year Surrey Vet School students who come to do their final year farm rotation with us. This week Daisy and Anna have been to Guildford for the Vet School’s annual Partner Conference, an event to catch up with vet school teachers and fellow partner practices.

Apart from the usual vet school updates, our vets attended a variety of CPD lectures, gave feedback on some of the clinical skills teaching materials, and learnt valuable teaching techniques for when the students return in September.

As in previous years, it was a great experience. Thank you to the Surrey University School of Veterinary Medicine’s staff for organising and inviting us to take part in the event.

We also wanted to take this opportunity to thank all of our clients who have been brilliant in sharing their knowledge and providing a supportive environment for us to teach the next generation of vets.

There will be plenty of students around over the summer from other vet schools so we are looking forward to them joining us too.

26/06/2024

🪰 𝗙𝗟𝗬 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗧𝗥𝗢𝗟 𝗔𝗗𝗩𝗜𝗖𝗘 🪰

Flies aren’t just an annoyance to livestock, they spread serious diseases like infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis (IBK, pink eye or New Forest eye) and cause fly strike.

The secret to effective fly control? Start early! Even if you aren’t seeing many flies yet, using prevention products early in the season will break the fly life cycle and reduce their numbers later in summer.

Don’t wait for fly populations to explode. You can use insecticide-impregnated ear tags, pour-on or spot-on products to keep flies at bay. If you would like to discuss which product would be best to use, please speak to one of our vets.

22/06/2024

It’s always good to see our Spring patients that needed some extra help coming into the world are out and thriving!!

I wonder why this particular calf had to come out the side door…🤔

21/06/2024

As soon as spring is over, the days get “warmer” and most cattle and sheep are outside grazing, things get quieter for most farm practices and vets will use their time to catch-up on Continuous Professional Development (CPD). This week Claire, Henrietta, and Anna travelled to Coventry for the CVS Farm Vet Day, an event where vets from all CVS practices across the country gathered to discuss and learn about ways to advance our general farm practice skills, including talks on maximising the benefits of data recording, advanced dairy diagnostics, liver fluke testing and improving our communication skills.

Anna delivered a talk about The 90+ Club, how it started and how it’s going, which generated a lot of interest and questions from all the vets in the room.

We're excited to bring these new insights and skills back to our practice, and we look forward to seeing the benefits of the growing bond and collaboration between practices.

20/06/2024

Last week The 90+ Club gathered again to review the 2024 calving results and enjoy some social time with beers and a barbecue. We had grand plans for a sunny outdoor meeting, but the British summer had other ideas. A huge shoutout to Alnwick RFC for saving the day and letting us use their facilities on such short notice.

Alongside our usual group performance review and discussion, Steve Carragher presented a summary of the calf failure of passive transfer (colostrum absorption) testing we've been conducting this spring.

If you're keen on joining our suckler benchmarking and discussion group, drop Anna a message at [email protected]
We’re always happy to welcome new members! The group’s next meeting will be around September-October.