Alnorthumbria Farm Vets

24/01/2025

‼️ Due to a power cut our Wooler branch is currently closed. All phone calls are currently being diverted to our Alnwick branch ‼️

14/01/2025

EDIT: issue now resolved!

‼️ We are currently having some issues with our out of hours telephones. We are working to resolve this but if you are struggling to get through to the practice for an emergency please press 1 and the small animal team will put you through to the farm vet on call for tonight. Thank you for your patience. ‼️

12/01/2025

We are now stocking NoBACZ Navel. In the largest-ever navel protection study, NoBACZ Navel showed a 21% reduction in lamb mortality compared to iodine-treated groups, plus lambs were heavier at 8 weeks.

It is faster drying than iodine, has a durable barrier, and lick-resistant properties and 2 hours after application, it forms a powerful shield that stays put so no reapplications are needed.

Please speak to us if you would like to try it this season in your herd or flock 🐄 🐑

09/01/2025

Snowy scenes this week whilst our vets have been out on calls, we hope everyone has been wrapped up warm! ❄️🐑

08/01/2025

Are you looking to improve your calves' health?

Join 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗳 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 hosted by SCCL Colostrum on 𝟮𝟵𝘁𝗵 𝗝𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 𝗶𝗻 𝗗𝘂𝗺𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀. This free one-day event will feature expert talks on colostrum management, antibody absorption, hygiene, data-driven heifer rearing, and achieving 24-month targets. All very relevant topics in preparation for the spring calving season. Don’t miss it!

Reminder! Join SCCL & other sponsors for The Calf Conference on 29th January 2025 at Easterbrook Hall, Dumfries, UK. This educational event will feature some of the UK’s top experts in calf rearing, offering invaluable insights and practical guidance.

Topics will include maximizing on-farm colostrum, assessing if your calf has enough IgG, the importance of cleanliness, using data to manage heifer rearing, achieving 24-month targets, calf housing and ventilation, and considerations for milk feeding.

Don’t miss this chance to learn from leading industry professionals. 🎟️ Free registration is available here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-calf-conference-2025-tickets-1098120410709?aff=oddtdtcreator

07/01/2025

Our ever popular lambing course is back! Suitable for all levels, those wanting a refresher or to learn something new, and those lambing for the first time. Book your place ASAP to avoid missing out! 🐑

03/01/2025

Veterinary Attestation Numbers (VANs):

If you are not part of an assurance scheme a veterinary attestation number is required for any animals sold for slaughter.
VANs became a requirement one year ago so many will be due for renewal.

Please call your nearest branch if yours needs updating. 🐑🐮

03/01/2025

Now is a great time to think about blood testing tups for sheep scab. Post tupping they will have had contact with all ewes in the flock and can inform us of your sheep scab status in time to treat prior to lambing time.

To book in please contact your nearest branch. 🐑

24/12/2024

🎄 Just a quick reminder! All our farm branches will be closing early tonight (Christmas Eve) and on New Year's Eve. We'll be back to our regular hours outside of the holidays.

Our farm vets remain on call 24/7.

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! 🌟🎉

17/12/2024

On Friday 7th February 2025 AHDB Dairy are hosting one of their 'Confident Strides' events, focussing on dairy cow mobility, in Northumberland.

Sign up for the Northumberland event here: https://ahdb.org.uk/events/northumberland-taking-steps-to-enhance-cow-mobility

Confident strides is back! 🐄📣

Join us at one of our 2025 on-farm meetings to help you take steps to enhance your herd's mobility while cows are housed.

These events offer practical, actionable ideas you can implement on your farm to improve cow welfare, even when time and resources are tight.

Book your place now! 👉https://ow.ly/53hA50UkOue

16/12/2024

Over the past few winters, the United Kingdom has seen multiple cases of avian flu. This year, eight cases have been confirmed since mid-November, primarily in the south and east of England (Norfolk and the East Riding of Yorkshire), with one case reported in Cornwall.

At present, Avian Influenza Prevention Zone measures are limited to the affected areas. However, it’s crucial to remain vigilant and maintain strict biosecurity practices, as the virus can spread through wild birds.

Stay updated on the latest developments via the APHA website here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/bird-flu-avian-influenza-latest-situation-in-england

Avian influenza prevention zone declared across the East Riding of Yorkshire, City of Kingston Upon Hull, Lincolnshire, Norfolk and Suffolk

Following a number of detections of avian influenza in poultry and wild birds across the East Riding of Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, Norfolk and Suffolk, the UK’s Chief Veterinary Officer has declared a regional Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) across the region to mitigate the risk of further outbreaks of disease occurring.

This means that from today (Friday 13 December) it became a legal requirement for all bird keepers across the East Riding of Yorkshire, City of Kingston Upon Hull, Lincolnshire, Norfolk and Suffolk to follow strict biosecurity measures to help protect their flocks, of whatever type or size, in addition to following any Protection Zone and Surveillance Zone restrictions that apply.

See the press release on GOV.UK for details: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/avian-influenza-prevention-zone-declared-in-four-counties.

A map of the Avian Influenza Prevention Zone and wider disease control zones is also available on GOV.UK: https://defra.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=8cb1883eda5547c6b91b5d5e6aeba90d

12/12/2024

The Christmas elves (Lindsay, Jess, Kay and Anna) have worked their magic on the Alnwick and Rothbury receptions- Christmas has come to Alnorthumbria! 🎄🎁

29/11/2024

PROPOSED LAMBING COURSE 2025

We are planning to run our annual lambing course for all interested parties (under 18s must be accompanied by an adult), probably mid-February 10am-3pm, somewhere within our practice area. As usual, this will include a morning (inside) of presentations and discussion, lunch, then a couple of hours on a farm where sheep are lambing, to examine ewes and lambs, practice lambing using our simulator, castration, rubber ringing tails, stomach tubing etc, plus hopefully some live lambing action!

Cost - £50+VAT including lunch and course notes

If you are interested in attending, please email [email protected] – open to non-clients too.

28/11/2024

It's not just farmer meetings we're organising this month; last night Pam organised the annual 'Sheep Meet' at Ponteland for 30 local sheep vets. Four local vets or pathologists (including Ben Strugnell of Farm Post-mortems Ltd pictured below) each presented an interesting case and with the lively discussion after each, it was a very late night! These meetings are sponsored by Ceva Animal Health UK and we are grateful to them for the sustenance provided!

20/11/2024

Lindsay took this photo of our Alnwick branch in the snow this morning, hope you are all wrapped up warm today ⛄️❄️

20/11/2024

We are excited to let you know that we now stock the new Liver Fluke Rapid Antibody Tests. The temptation to react to the warnings of a higher liver fluke risk this season by resorting to routinely treating with flukicides will be strong for some, but without a risk assessment and appropriate testing, it is not possible to know when or even if treatment is actually required.

These lateral flow tests can pick up antibodies in relation to both acute and chronic stages of infection, allowing for more targeted treatment strategies and results are available within 10 minutes.

They are user friendly but if you’d like further guidance our Vet Tech Becca can visit your farm and run the tests with you. The kits contain 10 tests as, in most cases, 10 animals will need to be tested in each group.
Staying ahead of liver fluke outbreaks is key to maintaining optimal herd health and this new test could now be a crucial part of that strategy.

For more information please call your nearest branch! 🐄 🐑

19/11/2024

At Alnorthumbria we stand with all our farmers, whether you have travelled to London today or have had to stay and tend to your livestock.

Your hard work and dedication does not go unnoticed. Our vets wore their wellies to work today (in the office not just on farm) to show our support. 🚜

One of our Alnorthumbria hats also made it onto the news today after one of our farmers kindly gave it to a news reporter who was feeling the cold!! ❄️

19/11/2024

Despite the bitterly cold weather, we had a good turnout of cattle farmers last night, keen to hear about IgG testing in calves, the new Bovilis Cryptium vaccine, and other seasonal topics. MSD Animal Health kindly paid for the food which warmed the cockles and made for a sociable evening. If you missed out, speak to any of our vets about this very useful vaccination to prevent Crypto in your calves.