Bishopton Farm Team

24/04/2024

It's Great British Beef Week! 🥩🐂

Established 14 years ago by the fantastic Ladies In Beef to unite all sectors of the beef industry, this year we are being asked to 'Re-imagine British Beef'.

So head to your local butcher (or supermarket - just make sure to Buy British!) and try out some of the recipes we're sharing this week in honour of this fabulous, very British meat.

Beef Olives

Ingredients

4 thin steaks, (helps is you whack them with a rolling pin) seasoned and dusted with flour
300ml beef stock
300ml of red wine
For the stuffing

150g smoked bacon, finely diced
150g minced pork
1 small onion, peeled and finely diced
1 garlic clove, peeled and crushed
50g fresh breadcrumbs
2 tbsp finely chopped sage
A good pinch of freshly grated nutmeg
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

For cooking the beef olives

1 tbsp beef dripping (or olive oil)
2 shallotts/onions, peeled and sliced
4–5 carrots
Mix all the stuffing ingredients in a bowl until well combined. Shape into ‘sausages’ and place onto each steak. Roll up to make large hearty parcels and secure with wooden skewers or string to hold the stuffing in.

To cook, heat the dripping or oil in a pot and brown off the beef olives. Once done, fry the onions, whole carrots until well coloured, then add the beef stock and wine. Cook gently, either on the hob or in the oven (preheated to 170°C/Gas mark 3), for 2½–3 hours until tender. Serve hot, with creamy mash or polenta.

(Recipe by Steve Lamb, courtesy of the Jamie Oliver website.) Visit www.jamieoliver.com for more great beef recipes.

23/04/2024

Happy St George's Day!🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

Coinciding with St George's Day, it's also the beginning of Great British Beef Week. To celebrate We're tucking into roast beef canapes in the office... for elevenses!

We'll be showcasing some beef recipes through the week, in the meantime it really goes without saying... buy British and support British farmers. 🇬🇧

19/04/2024

🐕Here we are again - Friday, and once again we have a canine member of the Farm Team to introduce!

This is Nelly (pictured here as a puppy). Nelly is another member of the Farm Dog Team that was supposed to be a Ratter, but decided rats really weren't for her, thanks very much. 🙄

She’s a wire-haired dachshund (teckel) and will be 3 in June. Her favourite food is cheese and she loathes rain. She's quite intrigued by pigs, which is lucky as mum Erin is a Pig Vet Tech.

She enjoys long walks on the beach or in the Lakes, regularly clocking up 15k despite having 3 inch long legs.

Whilst we don't have any cheese, we do have a treats jar... Nelly please head straight over! 🐾

In the meantime - does anyone have a Ratting dog that actually, er... rats? 🤷‍♂️🐀😆

18/04/2024

Our own Neil Eastham discusses genomics in dairy farm breeding. 🐄

18/04/2024

🐑This sizeable pair were delivered by Laura at the practice. Just a bit too big for mum to manage herself... but a happy outcome for all! 🙂

17/04/2024

🐑It's been a tough lambing season for many in the country - Schmallenberg (SBV), Bluetongue, wet, mud, wind - there's been plenty of challenges!

☕We know you're busy but if you have a second with a cup of tea, please do take a moment to log your flock experiences so that as a community, we can better understand and ward against some of the challenges sheep farmers experience.

📌Take part here! https://bit.ly/LambingSurvey

16/04/2024

Excellent advice from the Small Animals team on what to do in case of an adder bite! 🐍

It feels too cold today to be considering adders, but as we move into Spring and they slither out of hibernation and begin to mate, it's worth remembering the Yorkshire Dales and the North York Moors have been experiencing more and more adder sightings during warmer months.

Oh for warmer months! 🙏🌞

⚠️ Adder Bites ⚠️

Adders are the only venomous snakes in the UK. Adders live in sand dunes, hillsides, moors, and woodlands and are most likely to bite dogs between April and July.

They can be identified by their zig zag pattern and distinctive 'V' on the back of their head.

Adders are normally very shy and will only attack if 'surprised' or disturbed by a sniffing/running dog.

Bites are normally identified by 2 puncture wounds and are often on a dogs face, lower legs or tummy.

Other clinical signs (often occur within 2 hours of a bite) include:
🐍 Severe swelling around the site of the wound
🐍 Visible pain, such as limping or holding up a leg
🐍 Bleeding or bruising
🐍 Inflammation from the spread of venom
🐍 Increased heart rate or quickened breathing
🐍 Drooling
🐍Vomiting
🐍 Lethargy or general weakness

What to do if your dog has been bitten by an Adder...
🐾 Do not panic.
🐾 Carry your dog if possible to a car and transport them to our local practice. This prevents the venom being transported around the body
🐾 Do not squeeze the bite
🐾 Anti histamines can be used to reduce the severity of clinical signs - please speak to us if you walk in an Adder dense area.

Most dogs recover well from Adder bites but success is maximised by the speed in which supportive care is administered. Please remember we are open 24/7 and always here to help and provide advice in person and on the phones ☎️.

14/04/2024

🥳A very happy 40th birthday to Farm Vet & Partner, Neil, who celebrates the big Four Oh, today. Have a fabulous day, from all your colleagues at Bishopton. 🍻🎉

12/04/2024

Friday, woo hoo!

🐕Once again we say hello to one of the many four-legged members of the Bishopton Farm Team. Pippa, you're up!

Pippa is a member of the Vet Tech team and loves her life on the road with mum Helen, visiting different farms. Farms are a sniffing-paradise and Pippa is nose straight to ground the second the car has stopped.

Like all Labradors, Pippa is primarily motivated by food. With that in mind lovely Pippa, please head to the treats jar 🐾 THAT'S ONE TREAT, PIPPA, YES REALLY.

Have a fabulous weekend everyone ☺️

10/04/2024

We always love an update from our farm clients...

These lambs needed a helping hand to arrive into the world, but with Vet Laura's help all is well and we are delighted to see mum and twins thriving.

If you have good news stories you'd like to share - we'd love to see pics!

09/04/2024

🐐🎓💉Here's Student Martha carrying out annual CAE blood sampling and vaccination for this goat herd - two really important considerations for goat keepers ensuring a healthy herd.

CAE (Caprine Arthritis Encephalitis) is a viral disease of goats that can be detected by blood test. The eventual clinical effects are devastating on both animal welfare and economic grounds. It's essential to keep your goats clear of the virus.

To have your goats tested, make an appointment with your vet to take blood samples for CAE. For your records, for showing and to join the British Goat Society Monitored Herd, you must use the BGS Blood submission forms. These can be downloaded beforehand so that you can complete your sections before your vet's visit, saving you and your vet time - and your money!

Ideally you should test your herd yearly, however a risk assessment of possible exposure and transmission of the disease should be considered. Even when risks are minimised, alternative years should be the maximum interval.

Have you spotted Martha's interested little lamb helper, behind her? 😄🐐🐑

05/04/2024

Friday!! And that means...

Say hello to Neville. Neville is a Patterdale Terrier and a new addition to the farm dog team. Safe to say his behaviour falls well short of the other dog members, earning him his fully deserved nickname "Neville the Devil".

Despite being bought as a farm ratting dog, Neville has decided he can't be bothered with rats and prefers being a passenger princess with the occasional trip to the McDonald's Drive-thru for his own box of six chicken nuggets.

Likes: Cups of unattended tea, digger driving and goat herding.
Dislikes: Rain, ratting and doing as he's told.

Despite all this, Neville... please proceed straight to the treats tub. 🐾

(No Patterdale Terrier feelings were hurt in the making of this post - he simply does not care.)

03/04/2024

Shout out to final-year student Hannah for some seriously neat stitching here! Good work, Hannah! 👏🎓

03/04/2024

We thoroughly enjoyed meeting Masham Young Farmers' Club at their recent visit to RAFT Solutions Ltd. An informative and fun evening was had by all. Thank you to everyone involved.

Last Thursday evening, along with Bishopton Farm Team, we hosted Masham Young Farmers' Club at our Sunley Raynes site, who learnt all about Advanced Breeding and the role of science in livestock farming.

Neil covered a 'vet on the road' and went through what farm vets keep in their car along with what they might encounter when on call, and Jonathan gave the group a tour of our purpose built breeding facilities we have on-site.

Our Advanced Breeding Technician Katie then showed everyone around our SemenRate lab and explained about semen and embryo storage here at RAFT Solutions Ltd.

We even had our calving simulator along with a scanner and screen so the young farmers could see what a vet sees when they go on farm to PD! A great evening had by all, rounded of with a 'name that object' quiz!

A big thanks to everyone who came along, and both teams for supporting!

🤩🐄🔬

02/04/2024

This time last week we had an office lunch to celebrate Farm Team Coordinator Adele's 60th birthday. 🥳

Many of you will have spoken to the incredibly efficient and knowledgeable Adele as she mans our Farm Desk. Originally from Skipton, Adele farmed in Scotland for 18 years and is a farmer through and through. Happy birthday, Adele!!

(Sadly, the fizz was non-alcoholic) 🙂🍾

01/04/2024

⭐️Are you a future farm vet star?! ⭐️

Applications for our Spring EMS Programme 2025 are NOW OPEN.

We are a thriving independent veterinary practice based in Ripon, North Yorkshire. We provide exceptional quality, structured farm animal EMS for students who are considering a career in farm animal practice.

🎓Third, fourth or final year students are invited to apply.
🐑Two-week placements available between 24th March - 18th April 2025. (1 week may be considered)
🐄Varied dairy, beef and sheep caseload with a mix of routine and emergency work
🏠Accommodation is available

To download an application form, visit https://bit.ly/3v7sWij

31/03/2024

Happy Easter from everyone at Bishopton Vets Farm Team. Have a great day. 🐣🐰

29/03/2024

It's Good Friday!🐣🐰

We hope you have a great Easter Weekend. Don't forget to Bite into British and support your local farmers when cooking your Easter Day lunch. Have a great weekend everyone.

28/03/2024

Our Ripon Farm Dispensary will be open on both Good Friday and Easter Saturday in the morning. Please see below for other practice opening hours. Unless stated, we will operate normal Out of Hours services through the bank holiday.

☎️We are ALWAYS available in an emergency - please call 01765 602936 if you require urgent assistance.

Happy Easter! 🐣🐰

27/03/2024

‼ Further to our post earlier in the week, warning that the local nematodirus forecast was high, it is NOW VERY HIGH RISK ‼

Nematodirosis is a particularly nasty disease in lambs, causing a high number of mortalities and stunting the growth of many others. It is caused by the Nematodirus battus worm, which has a different lifecycle to other sheep worms. Under certain climatic conditions it can strike very quickly, with little or no warning. This means sheep farmers have to be on their guard.

You should ACT NOW TO PREVENT LOSSES.

MAIN RISK FACTORS
If your lambs are grazing pasture that carried lambs last spring and you answer yes to one or more of these questions, your lambs are at risk.

- Are they old enough to be eating significant amounts of grass? (generally 6-12 weeks of age but may be younger if ewes are not milking well)
- Do you have groups where there is also likely to be a challenge from coccidiosis? For example, mixed aged lambs are a higher risk
- Has there been a sudden, cold snap recently followed by a period of warm weather?
- Have you got lambs that are under other stresses e.g. triplets, fostered, on young or older ewes.

RECOMMENDED ACTIONS

If possible, avoid infection. Move at-risk lambs (as determined by the risk assessment) to low risk pastures (i.e. pasture that was not grazed by lambs the previous spring). See SCOPS Technical Manual. Chapter 2.4.1 and Chapter 2.4.2.
If you cannot avoid high risk pasture grazed by lambs the previous spring and decide you need to treat for nematodirus, SCOPS advises farmers to use a white (1-BZ) drench. Use the SCOPS ‘Know Your Anthelmintics’ Guide to select a product. These are still highly effective against this parasite on most farms and suitable for young lambs. Check that treatment is effective by taking a FEC seven to 10 days after treatment.

Remember, it may be necessary to treat lambs more than once depending on the spread of ages in a group and subsequent weather conditions.

See SCOPS website for further information. If you are concerned. please do speak to your vet.

26/03/2024

🤓🍺 On Thursday evening we held a charity quiz night to raise funds for Saint Michael's Hospice - a cause close to many of our hearts here at Bishopton. As expected, it was a fiercely competitive evening, involving a number of challenges as well as questions and culminated in a paper airplane throwing competition!

Congratulations to team 'Golden Oldies' (though nobody looked a day over 40) who just managed to pip team 'The Winners (TBC)' to victory. 🏆

Enormous thanks to So bar and eats ripon for providing our fantastic supper at cost allowing us to raise more money for Saint Michael's Hospice. We loved the room and the quesadillas!

Thank you also to Rudding Park Spa for generously donating a voucher for Afternoon Tea for Two at their fabulous hotel, which we raffled. Congratulations to Rachel Field who won this!

Thank you also to The Partners, who generously covered our supper and welcome drink - allowing us to give all ticket sales to Saint Michael's Hospice.

Thanks to everyone who came along and helped make a great night - and gave so generously. Delighted to announce we raised £600 for such an amazing cause. 👏🙌🙌

26/03/2024

It's the NSA Sheep Worrying by Dogs Awareness Week.

Are you concerned about sheep-worrying? Did you know if you are a National Sheep Association member you can request free signs to put up on your gates and fence posts. The red one pictured here is also available to download for everyone. For more free signage options, visit their website.

25/03/2024

‼️ NEMATODIRUS FORECAST IS AT HIGH RISK ‼️

Hatching is predicted to have started at weather stations Leeming, Topcliffe and Dishforth. Risk will peak within 7 days at these locations but MAY PEAK SOONER ON SOME NEARBY HOLDINGS such as those at lower altitudes and with south facing slopes.

🐑Lambs grazing contaminated pastures (i.e grazed by young lambs last year) will be exposed to a significant challenge.

Carry out a risk assessment for your farm and TAKE ACTION. Please refer to SCOPS guidance on strategies to avoid and treat infection at www.scops.org.uk

Important: There will be variation from farm to farm and even field to field. Sheep farmers are urged to assess their risk based on the history of the field (lambs last year a high risk for example). South facing fields will tend to hatch earlier. Altitude is also important - as a guide, every 100m increase in altitude will delay hatching by about 7 days.

If you are concerned, please speak to your vet.

25/03/2024

Our next DIY AI training course commences on Wednesday 10th April 2024 at Sunley Raynes Farm, Ripon. This 3-day practical course will allow you to safely inseminate your herd to DEFRA approved standards.

Learning outcomes:

Understand the legislation and the license rules and regulations.
Identify the key parts of the reproductive anatomy of the cow.
Understand the oestrous cycle and heat detection.
Understand the principles of good flask and straw storage and management.
Explain how to cleanly and safely carry out AI.
Show how to thaw and handle semen correctly.
Carry out the practical task of insemination.

Places are £550 + VAT To book email [email protected] or call our Farm Desk on 01756 602396.

22/03/2024

It's Friday... and that means more introductions to the Farm Team!

Shetland Sheepdog Luna works at Bishopton part-time as farm vet Ben's assistant - and also part time as a ranger in the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

Despite her breed, Luna isn't particularly interested in sheep... though she does enjoy a spot of goose herding. 🪿

Thank you for all your hard work, Luna. As ever, the treat jar awaits. 🐾

Have a fabulous weekend everyone.

20/03/2024

This ewe had 'ringwomb' - her cervix hadn't fully dilated during lambing. A c-section by vet Ben at the practice ensured we could deliver two healthy lambs.

19/03/2024

💉💊Our very popular 'Mastering Medicines' online course returns on Wednesday 27th March 2024. From the comfort of your own home, learn how:

Understand the following classes of medicine what they do and when to use them.
Vaccine
Antibiotic
Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs
Anthelmintic

- Understand how an active health plan ensures effective product use
- Safe and effective administration of medicines
- Understand how an active health plan ensures effective product use
- Safe and effective administration of medicines
- Understand AMR and OneHealth
- Comply with medicines legislation and farm assurance requirements

We have further dates available on 24th April, 22nd May, 19th June and 24th July. This course is online and costs £50

To book or for further details, email [email protected] or call our Farm Desk on☎ 01765 602936

18/03/2024

Vet Laura carried out a caesar 3 weeks ago... here's mum and lambs all doing brilliantly. 🐑😊

On the subject of lambing - we have another opportunity to join us on our Practical Lambing Course. This is being held on Thursday 21st March at Sunley Raynes Farm, Ripon and costs £150 + VAT. This is a really useful course, so if you want to come along, do book as soon as possible. Remember, this course is open to young people as well, so any budding farmers in your family are welcome.

To book, email [email protected] or call our Farm Desk on ☎️01765 602396.

15/03/2024

The Farm Team's most senior Good Boy, when Gelert is not accompanying mum, Fitz on farm, he keeps a tolerant eye on the spaniel members of the Farm Team, and supports them in their efforts to Get Treats As Often As Possible.

Gelert particularly enjoys our stand at Wensleydale Show, where there is a BBQ. By expertly placing himself beneath it, he can assure plenty of 'accidental'-burger-droppage.

He is named after the tragic welsh legend of Gelert the Irish Wolfhound, a brave dog who killed a wolf to protect a baby, only to be slain himself in error when his master wrongly thought that he had murdered the baby. In line with this, Gelert has perfected an air of regal martyrdom.

Thank you Gelert, for all your hard work. Someone will open the treats shortly! 🐾

14/03/2024

Colostrum... Liquid Gold! 💛🐑

Colostrum is a vitally important part of ensuring the best health of young and growing lambs. It is full of protective antibodies from the mother which will help protect lambs against an array of pathogens, including bacteria such as E.Coli - watery mouth, and help them grow into strong profitable stock. The key is to get it right from the start.

To read more about colostrum management and giving lambs and ewes the best nutrition, see our Spring Newsletter Lambing Special, here: https://bit.ly/3IK7XFz
or speak to your vet for advice.