Avondale Vet Group-Farm Department

05/06/2024

Jenna was through at National Sheep Association ScotSheep today to promote Moredun’s OPA scanning project which the practice are involved with 🐏

The link below explains the aims of the project in more detail:
https://moredun.org.uk/news/foundation/new-pilot-project-to-control-opa-in-sheep

Don’t forget that you can be paid £250 by the Scottish government for having your sheep scanned as part of their Animal Health and Welfare Interventions grant.

For our flock club members - scanning may also be a good use of your free hour of vet time!

Please get in touch with Jenna or Catriona if you have any questions about OPA (aka Jaagsiekte) or would like to know more about what scanning can offer your flock.

01/06/2024

Thanks to those who attended our dairy mastitis meeting this week, and to Zoetis for sponsoring. We hope you found it useful!

Below is link on on using the AHDB mastitis tool. Get in touch to get us involved, or if you have any questions about Mastigram!

Funding your future Sector plans Marketing Markets and prices Knowledge library Search our website enhanced by Google. Funding your future Sector plans Marketing Markets and prices Knowledge library Events News About AHDB Contact us Funding your future Funding your future home Beef and lamb Pork Dai...

31/05/2024

Saturday 1st of June is World Milk Day.
The 2024 theme will focus on celebrating the vital role dairy plays in delivering quality nutrition to nourish the world. Dairy is an accessible, affordable, and nutrient-dense food and an essential part of balanced diets across the world. Get ready to mark the event and celebrate the dairy industry and all things milk related. https://worldmilkday.org/

16/05/2024

We are going to be running a lunchtime meeting, for dairy farmers, discussing mastitis on Wednesday 29th May 12-2pm.

Get in touch if you fancy coming along - lunch is provided!! 🐮

15/05/2024

🐑 ⚠️ Nematodirus Warning ⚠️🐑

The Nematodirus forecast indicates that the risk of Nematodirus is now HIGH in our area, based on recent weather conditions. If the hatching of Nematodirus eggs coincides with susceptible lambs grazing, heavy infestations can occur. Nematodirus can kill lambs before clinical signs (stunted growth, scour) are seen, and prior to eggs being detectable in dung samples. As such it is prudent to dose lambs based on age, grazing history and the forecast.

Lambs 6-12 weeks-old, that are grazing grass that had lambs on it last year are at the highest risk. Other stressors (coccidiosis/mixed age-groups grazing together/lots of triplets) increase the risk to lambs from Nematodirus.

If you have susceptible lambs grazing then think about dosing them NOW - a white wormer would be our choice.

If you have any questions, please do call us to discuss.

05/12/2023

🎄 Merry Christmas from the Avondale farm vets! 🎄

Last weekend we had our Christmas party at Boogie Bingo at The Strathaven Hotel which was such fun. This cardboard cutout of Lewis Capaldi was the prize secured by one of the farm vets who won a dance off! Video evidence is posted in the comments - it is probably not the vet that you expect!! 🥳😅

01/12/2023

We are still experiencing difficulty with our phone lines. Please continue to use the out of hours number to contact us. Thank you for your patience.

30/11/2023

**Attention farmers, our phone lines are currently down. Please phone one of our vets on their mobile phone or the out of hours number on 07801497140. The practice is open as normal. We will update when the phones are up and running again**

14/11/2023

NEW SERVICE - 🐮 STRESS FREE DISBUDDING 🐮

WHAT IS IT?

This is a technique popularised in New Zealand that involves using sedation whilst disbudding to improve efficiency and calf welfare. All calves to be disbudded are given a quick physical exam before receiving an injection of sedative into the muscle. This will cause the calves to temporarily lie down and relax, allowing enough time (usually 1 hour) for us to work round the group to disbud them. This allows us to do a large number in a relatively short amount of time. What might take a farmer most of the day to do can be done in less than an hour. Calves are also much more relaxed throughout the process, which has been shown to reduce rates of disease and improve growth rates.

HOW WILL IT WORK?

This is a veterinary led service. We will come on farm periodically (every 2 weeks - 2 months depending on calf numbers) to disbud all young calves. Provided we know which calves are to be done the farmer does not need to be present. It can easily be slotted in at the end of a visit e.g. scanning or can be done at a separate time. For block calving herds we would typically do large numbers across 1-2 visits.

WHICH ANIMALS ARE SUITABLE?

Calves aged 2-8 weeks of age are the ideal candidates. We can disbud slightly older or younger animals but we would aim for most calves to be within this age bracket. Both group penned calves and individually penned calves are suitable.

WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES?

1. Quicker - 20 calves in a crate will usually require two people and might take the best part of a day. By disbudding using sedation we can do this in a fraction of the time.
2. Leave us to it - provided we know which calves are to be done the farmer doesn’t need to be present. Reliable workers are becoming increasingly difficult to source and your time is more important than ever. Let us help you take it back
3. Improved welfare - sedation means calves are much more relaxed throughout the disbudding process and feel less pain. Calves feel better and are quicker to feed. Studies have demonstrated increased growth rates and lower rates of disease, particularly pneumonia when calves are disbudded this way. Milk buyers are constantly pushing towards welfare friendly practices and may introduce premiums for this in the near future.

If this is something you would be interested in trialling please get in touch with one of our vets either by phone or out on farm.

10/11/2023

🐑 NEW SERVICE - OPA SCANNING 🐑

This week Jenna and Catriona have spent time at Moredun Research Institute learning everything there is to know about OPA (Ovine Pulmonary Adenocarcinoma aka Jaagsiekte’s disease) and perfecting their sheep lung scanning technique for speedy and accurate diagnosis of the disease.

The practice is proud to be involved in a Scotland wide research project into OPA levels and the impact of the disease on the Scottish flock. Keep an eye out for all OPA updates which we hope to share as the project develops.

We are now recruiting flocks interested in learning about their levels of OPA to help us with the project. If you are keen to be involved please get in touch! 🐑

08/11/2023

⭐️🐴Castration Clinic🐴⭐️

We are happy to announce we will be running a castration clinic on the 13th of November 2023 at Avondale veterinary Clinic.

⭐️Cost £275 per c**t ⭐️
Included in cost:
-Sedation
-Local anaesthetic
-Pain relief and antibiotic injections
-Castration
-3 days of antibiotics
-3 days of pain relief

⭐️Requirements ⭐️
-Must be under the age of 3 years old
-Must have 2 descended testicles
-Must be up to date with tetanus vaccinations. If not there will be a surcharge of £45 for tetanus anti-toxin

If not a suitable candidate for standing a full general anaesthetic (knock down) would be required costing an additional £55

Payment will be required on the day for new clients

🐴 Call the practice on 01357 520251 to book in. Spaces are limited 🐴

✨Feel free to share this post ✨

04/11/2023

Just another reminder about our flock health club. This week we have been sending out membership forms and have had a great response! If you would like to join please message one of the farm vets and we'll send a form your way 🐑✨

02/11/2023

We are very proud to be one of the sponsors for our amazing local rugby club! 🏉⭐️

26/10/2023

Thank you so much to all of the sheep farmers who attended our flock club intro meeting earlier this week. Such a great turnout that we couldn’t fit everyone in our meeting room and had to relocate to the waiting area!

Please see the link below for some excellent lameness resources on everything covered in the meeting and more!
https://www.flockhealth.co.uk/Resource-Hub/How-to-keep-sheep-feet-healthy

We have also attached a poster summary of everything included in our flock health club.

If you missed out and would like to hear more about our flock club please get in touch with one of the farm vets ☺️

23/10/2023

🐑 Flock Health Club 🐑

Do you want to increase the number of lambs you get to market through reducing mortality, increasing pregnancy rates and having a proactive approach to flock health?

Why not join our new flock health club!

Avondale will soon be offering membership to our flock health club to all clients with sheep. By joining you will get discounted benefits to maximise the health, and production, of your flock.

⭐️ Come along to our introductory meeting to learn more! 7pm Tuesday 24th October (tomorrow!) ⭐️
The flock club intro will be followed by a talk on sheep lameness - just one example of the great range of talks we plan to offer through the club.

Please contact the practice, or any of the farm vets, to come along to the meeting!

20/10/2023

🎂 Happy 40th Birthday Colin! 🎂

Today we’ve been celebrating Colin who turns 40 this weekend (not quite 53 like one of our farmers predicted!!) 🤣

Thanks to lovely local baker VBakes for capturing Colin’s entire personality in 6 wee cupcakes 🐮

13/10/2023

🐑 Healthy Feet, Happy Sheep 🐑

Upcoming Meeting - 7pm on Tuesday 24th October

Lameness in a sheep flock means pain for the sheep, distress and cost to the farmer and its control is responsible for the majority of sheep sector antibiotic use.

As part of our brand new flock health club (watch this space!) we will be running a meeting, with MSD, to discuss the value of lameness prevention, diagnosis and the use of the Five Point Plan in controlling lameness.

Please get in touch with the farm team if you would like to come along.

09/10/2023

MEET THE TEAM

FELIX

Felix started with us at Avondale recently, some of you will have met him already!

Felix is from Glasgow but went to Nottingham Vet School and came to Avondale on a placement here as a student and really liked the team and the area. When he is not working Felix likes playing music and doing leather craft.

02/10/2023

SHEEP SCAB

Scab is very contagious and infestations can be brought into a flock via shared equipment, contact with infested sheep or from wool tags from infested animals.

The picture shows a Psoroptes ovis mite - the cause of sheep scab. It was identified by examining skin scrapes and wool plucks under the microscope.

Scab causes intense itchinesses and wool loss; it can lead to weight loss and skin infections.

Accurate diagnosis is important prior to treating for external parasites as the treatment and management of different conditions vary.

Please call us if you have itchy sheep or are concerned about scab so that we can help you choose the best treatment and management of it in your flock.

16/09/2023

Matt delivered this healthy calf via caesarian section last week…he was just too big to arrive by the usual route! The calf was up and sucking within minutes of the surgery being completed 🥰

11/09/2023

We had such an impressive turn out at our worming control meeting on Wednesday! Special thanks to guest speakers Megan Fergusson and Frank Turnbull. The speakers have very kindly shared their presentations with the practice so give the surgery a call on 01357 520251 if you would like the information. Otherwise ask our farm vets if there are any further questions!

02/09/2023

What a day at Strathaven show!
Great to have so many clients visit the stand for a catch up, and for those who missed us there’s always next year.
Well done to exhibitors.

26/08/2023

Counting down the days. We will be there so come and visit the stand for a blether with the team. There might even be some refreshments on the go…

1 week until show day 🐮

23/08/2023

6/09/23 Farmer Meeting – Parasite Control

We will be hosting a lunchtime meeting on Wednesday 6th September at 12 noon (sandwiches/lunch provided), and hope to see as many of you there as possible!

We will be pleased to be joined by Megan Fergusson (SRUC) who will cover topics including gut worms and fluke, and their monitoring and control. Also speaking will be Frank Turnbull (Veterinary Parasitologist, Techion) who will explain the use of FECPAK in practice. FECPAK is a piece of equipment that we have at the practice which assists with the rapid turnaround of egg count results.

We will also speak about the sustainable farming grants, some of which can be claimed under the category of parasite control.

Please confirm your attendance by calling the surgery – 01357 520251 or emailing us – [email protected]

17/08/2023

FLY STRIKE

Following a damp July, we are hearing of lots of cases of strike, including in shorn sheep. From afar some cases may not even be noticeable with the usual dark patch of wool or dirty fleece, but on closer inspection the affected areas can be extensive.

Speak to the farm vets about the treatment options.

10/08/2023

🐮Calling all cattle farmers!🐮

The University of Liverpool are carrying out a survey to better understand how farmers deal with cows and heifers around calving.

Complete the survey, and leave a contact number, to give you the chance to win an iPad or calving camera! 🐮

Online survey BOS

28/07/2023

Colin recently recorded a piece for Scotland's Farm Advisory Service - FAS on cobalt deficiency in growing lambs, also known as ‘Pine’. The deficiency can cause poor growth rates and has a negative impact on lamb’s immune systems, resulting in them succumbing to other diseases and/or poor response to vaccination.

We can blood sample lambs to check their trace element status which could help determine if you should be supplementing them. Speak to one of the farm vets for more information 🐑

Any disease or ill health in livestock can have a negative impact on production through reduced growth rates, fertility, and rearing ability. Poor or prolong...

23/06/2023

Our fantastic vet Jenna hard at work!

22/06/2023

CHECK YOUR SWIMMERS

Catriona, Rosie and Jenna were out doing some semen testing CPD last week in partnership with the SRUC. They received further training in performing a bull breeding soundness exam by experts in the field. Pre-breeding exams involve a full physical examination of the bull to check for any lameness or ill health, examination of the te**es and p***s and evaluation of a s***m sample.

A bull should pass on all of these aspects to be considered suitable for breeding. Historical success in serving cows does not guarantee future fertility.

Bulls must be tested every year prior to use, even if they have been on the farm for several years. We also strongly recommend testing any new bulls.

Subfertility is estimated to affect 1 in 5 bulls and a subfertile bull is severely detrimental to profit.

A calving interval over 365 days can cost upwards of £1 per cow per extra day. This means a farm with 200 breeding animals and a calving interval of 400 days could be losing £7000 per year!

The Scottish government recently launched the sustainable farmer pathway scheme which grants a £250 payment towards on farm veterinary investigations. Bull breeding soundness exam is one of the investigations included under this scheme, so we recommend taking advantage of this and getting your bulls checked!

06/06/2023

Avondale vets had two teams competing at the Strathaven Gala raft race on Sunday. Colin and Matt were up first in the mixed event alongside nurses Morven and Erin. After a blistering start the uneven weight distribution (see photo) eventually caught up on them and the team ended up running a ground to stumble home in 3rd. Catriona was up next with help from Kiera, Laura and Robyn. A good effort was sadly not enough to progress past the heats after some unsportsmanlike conduct from the opposing teams. Everyone enjoyed a great day out and there was plenty of support from other members of the team. Our sights are set firmly on taking the win next year but perhaps some raft building CPD is in order first.