Kerry Vale Vets

09/10/2025

Autumn conditions after a dry Summer.

We are seeing a few odd cases in our farm animals this Autumn after a prolonged dry period.

1. Acorns - there has been a bumper crop of acorns this year, with problems potentially seen in all speicies. Many farmers are supplementary feeding hay or silage to discourage acorn ingestion. Some, frustratingly are housing animals due to the sheer amount of acorns on their farms despite grass finally being available. Clinical signs often are shown after the damage is done, so close monitoring and preventing exposure is most important. Horse keepers should pay close attention to horses especially fat horses on starvation paddocks with acorns present, in such cases acorns should be swept away or areas electric fenced off. Signs can range from mild gut irritation through to kidney failure and death, once clinical signs are present. Supportive treatments (fluids, B vitamins, Charcoal) can help in early, mild cases.

2. Autumn Nematodirus - Due to a prolonged dry spell, many lambs, especially on dry farms are at risk of late Nematodirus. Grass growing weather is worm growing weather, and many farmers, on dry farms are finding that lambs are only needing their first worm treatment now. The clinical signs of Nematodirus can be confused with acorn poisoning (dark scour, hollow abdomen and mortality) ,so it is important that farmers assess worm status before contributing all lamb deaths to acorn poisoning.

3. Lungworm in adult suckler cattle - most farmers are well versed in preventing and managing lungworm in youngstock if present on their farm. In normal years, adult cattle maintain an immunity by being exposed to a low level of lungworm larvae throughout the grazing season. In dry years, this exposure and immunity can be lost , making some adult cows vulnerable to disease. An avermectin should be considered alongside other treatments for individual adult animals with respiratory disease. Outbreaks of disease should be assessed as Fog Fever may also be a factor in the Autumn.

05/10/2025

Ram Fertility
With an estimated 20% of rams showing subfertility, now is a good time to assess your rams.
As well as semen analysis using the microscope, assessment of teeth, lameness and testicular lumps and bumps are also important.
Thankfully infertility is very rare, but sub fertile rams can be problematic, getting ewes slowly pregnant, resulting in poor scanning percentages and dragged out lambing periods seen.

Full semen assessments can be carried out for sale purposes including detailed reports. Some farmers however,opt for quick assessments (Quick Fire Exams) where a semen sample is checked for density and movement to identify the poorest rams in a group. This can be helpful to let you know which rams shouldn't be relied on to work on their own! These quick assessments can be done as an hourly rate job and the work can also be supported through farming connect for eligible farms.

It is also worth remembering that 24 hours of having a fever can knock fertility for 6 weeks, so any ram that has had a history of pneumonia, or a bad lameness, might warrant a check to see that semen quality is up to standard.

It is also important to consider raddling to assess work rate. Some rams can have good semen quality, yet have low s*x drives when turned with ewes, this can lead to overworking of other rams (poor things!)

Get in touch to book a visit or to bring a trailer to the yard.

30/09/2025

The RSPCA Farm Dog Neutering Scheme is now running for our farm clients. Please contact Newtown Vet Clinic for further info 01686 510 015

28/09/2025

07/09/2025

Forage Shortages 🌵🌵🌵
Despite the long awaited rain arriving, we are seeing issues relating to a shortage of forage, here are some considerations.
🐂🐂🐂 Suckler Cattle - Summer conception rates may have been affected by heat and nutritional stress, we have seen a similar picture in dairy cattle. We are encouraging farmers to crack on with scanning so that barren cattle can be managed appropriately. Scanning can be carried out 4 weeks after bull removal. For pregnant cattle, yo-yo dieting i.e going from too thin to too fat in mid gestation can lead to oversized calves in Spring and dreaded cow cesareans, aim to keep condition scores reasonable with supplementary feeding.
🐏🐑Breeding ewes - thin ewes will have difficulties getting pregnant or, can suffer if they become pregnant carrying multiple lambs. Some farmers are supplementing grazing with energy buckets to get ewes to a fit condition pre-tupping. It is also important to supplement minerals in line with farm requirements.
🐏🐑 Fattening lambs - some farms are struggling to finish lambs, sometimes despite creep feeding. In these cases it is important to remember that some roughage is important for efficient rumen function. A functional rumen is also required to generate vitamin B12. So secondary B12 deficiencies could be an issue. Interestingly, Willow branches can be a source of B12 for lambs.
🐴🐴🐴 Thin horses - we are coming across a few older, thin, horses. It is important that these horses gain condition for Winter, so supplementary feeding is a must. It is also important to check worm egg counts and to have their teeth checked.
🍄🍄🍄 Poisoning - When forage is in short supply horses and farm animals will forage hedges and trees, increasing the risk of poisoning. We have had a few cases of acorn poisoning in cattle already!

12/07/2025

POSITIVE BLUETONGUE IN HEREFORDSHIRE

The first positive cases of the season have been reported and unfortunately, some are not far from home.

We are urging those clients who haven't yet to vaccinate all breeding stock.

Please get in touch

15/06/2025

Bluetongue update
We have had a number of enquiries regarding the Welsh Government announcement regarding Bluetongue policy. Please see the following pointers:
🐮 In summary, from the 1st of July there will be significant differences between Welsh and English policy significantly affecting border farmers.
🐑 Animal movements from Wales into England will be allowed, however animal movements into Wales from England can only occur after a negative pre-movement blood test.
🐏 A pre-movement test involves collection of a blood sample from animals within a week of movement, the lab fee alone for this test is between £37 - 48 per animal.
🐮 Welsh farmers utilising grazing / wintering ground in England. With the expected costs associated with blood testing many farmers are opting to move animals from Shropshire or Herefordshire, back into Wales prior to the 1st of July.
🐑 Welsh farmers buying or selling in English markets. Although animals can move from Wales into England, they will not be able to return if they fail to sell satisfactorily. The same applies preventing Welsh farmers from buying at an English market - unless animals have had a preemptive pre movement test (which will be unlikely).
🐏 Showing. Welsh animals can attend shows in England, however restrictions will be placed on their farm, the show animals must be isolated from other animals on return and a blood test must be taken to show that the animals are free from disease before restrictions are lifted on the farm.
🐮 Vaccination. Vaccination is recommended by both the English and Welsh policies. The vaccine is currently available to order, we are advising that clients prioritise vaccinating breeding animals, as many of the farms that were affected by bluetongue in the East of England suffered financial losses due to deformities and poor fertility outcomes. For more information on vaccination please get in touch.

The above policy will affect every farm differently, we are advising that farmers prepare for the worst case scenario now. The policy may change and evolve, for instance when the midge season has passed and the risk of disease reduces, however if we have a mild Winter we may have a prolonged midge season and prolonged increased risk of disease. Please get in touch if you have any queries

12/05/2025

🐮Bluetongue vaccine🐏
Vaccine is becoming available sporadically to protect your flocks and herds against bluetongue.
Now is a good time to consider vaccination before mating, it can take 4 weeks for the vaccine to become active and provide protection. As well as seeing sick animals, farms in bluetongue affected areas have seen poor fertility outcomes in cattle and sheep with low fertility rates, high abortion rates and deformities leading to severe financial losses.

1.We recommend that farmers use the AHDB vaccination cost calculator to help inform a decision on vaccination:
https://ahdb.org.uk/news/vaccination-cost-calculator-launched-to-help-battle-bluetongue The currently available vaccine is at a cost of £3 per sheep £12 per cow (2 x £6 dose)

2. If you decide to vaccinate get in touch to discuss best timing - the vaccines are not licensed for use in bulls and tups, off license use in males may hamper fertility if used close to the breeding period, early vaccination may be warranted.

3. We are advising farmers to think about bluetongue when sourcing animals, avoid buying from bluetongue hot spots.

4. Bluetongue can theoretically be spread by shared needles, ensure good practice when injecting groups of animals and change needles regularly.

We don't know how prevalent bluetongue is likely to be in the area, we may be lucky, but the risk is thought to be higher this year than last year.

A record of all animals that receive the vaccination must be kept and uploaded on the Government portal online within 48h of injection.

Please get in touch to discuss further

A new tool has been created to help vets and farmers assess the potential economic risk or return for a farm considering vaccinating livestock against BTV-3

02/02/2025

Scabigard, orf vaccine for lambs is currently available. Please contact us to secure your doses.
Whatsapp Anwen on 07928511163

26/01/2025

We are delighted to welcome Ali Morris to the practice, Ali has been flat out helping with our backlog of TB testing, castration and FAWL reviews since November and has already been a big asset to the practice during a very busy period, hence the very overdue facebook introduction.

Ali will be working Mondays and Thursdays and will be focusing on the farm aspect of the business. She has a special interest in sheep health, fertility and production and calf health.

Outside work, Ali enjoys spending time with her two young boys and managing her flock of Badger Faced Welsh Mountain sheep. She also is on a local darts team! Ali is looking forward to meeting you all.

05/01/2025

We are excited to announce that our dedicated small animal clinic, Newtown Vet Clinic will be opening later this month.
Please follow the link Newtown Vet Clinic and like and share the page to spread the word, we will be updating our progress regularly.

26/09/2024

Tup sales - don't buy in someone else's problems.
Many farmers will be buying stock into their flocks. Unfortunately with purchasing comes the risk of buying in drug resistant worms, fluke and scab.
The SCOPS website have fantastic resources on quarantine protocols
https://www.scops.org.uk/internal-parasites/quarantine-advice-for-internal-and-external-parasites/
https://www.scops.org.uk/workspace/pdfs/effective-quarantine-and-treatments_1_1.pdf
Wormer dispensing: If you let us know the number of purchased stock animals with accurate weights we can dispense the required dose of Zolvix and Startect to provide the gold standard quarantine wormer.
01686 510 015