News

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• Farm Vet Position

  07/06/2013
    South East England ...

• 2 Farm Vet Positions

  05/06/2013
  NW England/SW Scotland ...

• Feed4Life Roadshow

  05/06/2013
  Taking place on a number of dairy farms across the UK our Feed4Life Roadshow is open to all cattle farmers and their staff...

• Ask the vet

  23/05/2013
  Westpoint vet Peter Aitken BVSc MACVS MRCVS provides expert answers to your livestock questions ...

• Winning the war with worms

  22/05/2013
  Now that the end of a long winter spring is finally in sight and for many calving is coming to a close...

• Keep watch for SBV

  19/05/2013
  ...

• Calf pneumonia and scours...offer firm advice

  18/05/2013
  ...

• A word from the vet - mastitis

  17/05/2013
  ...

• New Practice

  17/05/2013
  Over the past 18 months we have seen a growing demand for our services from farmers throughout our practice area ...

• South West Newsletter - May 2013

  17/05/2013
  We would like to invite you all to join us this summer at the following shows...

• US shows the way to high milk production

  16/05/2013
  Westpoint Vets recently took a party of farmers to the central valley of California to find out what was new in dairying across the pond...

• Cow lameness on the agenda

  16/05/2013
  The CattleMobility4life Roadshow comes to town ...

• Target worming plan to fit farm worm stats

  14/05/2013
  Dr Tim Potter contributes to Farmers Weekly article by Olivia Cooper ...

• Warnham Practice Newsletter - April 2013

  08/05/2013
  There has been quite a lot of discussion regarding the control of Johne’s disease in cattle over the past few years both in dairy and beef sectors...

• Midhurst & Winchester Practice Newsletter - March 2013

  08/04/2013
  There has been quite a lot of discussion regarding the control of Johne’s disease in cattle over the past few years both in dairy and beef sectors...

• Northpoint Practice Newsletter - March 2013

  08/04/2013
  Lambing time is often a favourite time of the year in the farming calendar ...

• Reading Practice Newsletter - March 2013

  08/04/2013
  There has been quite a lot of discussion regarding the control of Johne’s disease in cattle over the past few years both in dairy and beef sectors...

• Cumbria Practice Newsletter - March 2013

  08/04/2013
  We have recently seen an increased incidence of Salmonellosis in the practice...

• Why do dairy farmers select Hereford bulls?

  14/03/2013
  Some experiences of a farm vet by Rob Drysdale MRCVS ...

• Beware hidden danger of mycotoxins in feed

  12/03/2013
  Farmers weekly speaks to a beef farmer who has addressed the problem along with Vet Mike Reynolds ...

• Protect Your Investment Maximising Calf Survival In Suckler Herds

  11/03/2013
  Any beef farmer knows that the calf is the key output of the suckler business ...

• Johne's disease in cattle

  09/03/2013
  There has been quite a lot of discussion regarding the control of Johne’s disease in cattle over the past few years both in dairy and beef sectors ...

• Look beyond SBV for root causes of lamb abortions

  07/03/2013
  Schmallenberg virus has caused significant losses for some early lambing flocks, but producers may be too quick to blame the disease for high abortion rates this coming season...

• Trace element nutrition in livestock

  03/03/2013
  Trace element nutrition in livestock is more than just guess work says Veterinary Surgeon Peter Aitken BVSc MACVSc MRCVS ...

• LDA Recap

  01/03/2013
  With the dreadful year we’ve had weather wise, many of you will be struggling for decent forages when feeding this winter, the subject of the displaced abomasum is probably going to be one that’ll come up ...

• Spring is definitely just around the corner

  28/02/2013
  Hopefully we have seen the back of the worst of the winter weather now and already there are lambs on the ground so spring is definitely just around the corner ...

• Beef symposium

  28/02/2013
  The International Beef Symposium was held over two days at the beginning of October in Barcelona with myself and Shona Young from the Midhurst practice lucky enough to attend...

• Finally Back

  25/02/2013
  Well I am finally back at work as a vet here in Westpoint...

• The importance of being prepared for lambing.

  25/02/2013
  Launceston and Okehampton based vet Lesley Bingham BVM&S MRCVS discusses the importance of being prepared for lambing...

• CattleMobility4Life Roadshow

  18/02/2013
  Manage minimise and prevent lameness! ...

• Midges are still active so watch out for Schmallenberg Symptoms

  29/01/2013
  Milk drop? Check for SBV ...

• Health Planning

  17/01/2013
  Another year a fresh start ...

• Clostridial disease in Lambs

  16/01/2013
  Assuming lambing season goes without too many problems and that your lambing percentage was good...

• Breaking news Three Counties are offering training to its customers

  15/01/2013
  please click on the link below ...

• Cow Management - A trim in time. . .

  29/12/2012
  Early intervention is key to preventing lameness ...

• Coughing Calf Capers

  02/12/2012
  The autumn term is a gloriously disease ridden affair in my household ...

• Westpoint 4 life project

  01/12/2012
  farmers can now easily monitor the effects of these diseases and intervene with confidence ...

• Herd Health: Assess your Animal Health Performance Indicators

  30/11/2012
  Concerns regarding global food security and the sustainability of agriculture have increased the importance of efficient livestock enterprises ...

• As the year comes to an end

  29/11/2012
  Westpoint Senior Vet and Director, Phil Elkins BVM&S MRCVS talks about what makes a successful farming enterprise...

• Schmallenberg Virus (SBV)- Cause for Concern

  28/11/2012
  With two cases of SBV confirmed in Northern Ireland only last week it is fair to say that another livestock disease may not be far away from the South of Scotland as a result it may be worth familiarising ourselves with this emerging disease so that we act in our own best interests should we need to...

• Livestock Health South East Dairyman’s Certificate module on nutrition

  27/11/2012
  The overwhelming points of discussion were what are we going to feed the cows this winter and what is it going to cost! ...

• Heifer Integration-managing the future of your herd!

  26/11/2012
  The cost or more appropriately the value of bringing heifer replacements into your herd may constantly be under scrutiny...

• Swine Times Winter 2012

  15/11/2012
  As farmers I know you’ll sympathise with me spending most days up to my knees in the muck Although probably most of you will think I like it honestly it’s not what I live for ! ...

• Milk4life Roadshow

  06/11/2012
  Taking place at 5 different locations throughout the UK, our exciting new Milk Quality Roadshow is open to all farmers and their staff...

• Sheep Newes Winter 2012

  01/11/2012
  Whole flock health by Erin Caswell BVet Med MRCVS and an article on the Schmallenberg Virus latest update...

• Pneumonia Hit Squad

  22/10/2012
  Youngstock Stop the Loss campaign! ...

• Farm4Life from Westpoint

  28/09/2012
  Westpoint Veterinary Group has launched a range of pre-packaged performance monitoring services which can be tailor made to provide specfic herd health prgrammes on farms from calfhood and beyond ...

• Worming at Calving Pays Dividends

  28/09/2012
  The weeks post calving are very demanding on the cow’s body, with the energy required for milk production exceeding the energy which is produced from feed intake; this creates an ‘energy gap’...

• Targeting health and performance

  25/09/2012
  Andrew Myock and Eric Lawrence working closely with Westpoint Vet James Dixon ...

• NYA CONFERENCE

  13/09/2012
  With the number of heifer wastage at birth, during the rearing period and first lactation being 8%, 15% and 19% respectively – youngstock management is an area that must not be overlooked...

• Last Cow standing

  31/08/2012
  by Westpoint Vet Alex Walters ...

• Outcomes of 560 Bull Breeding Examinations performed in the United Kingdom

  30/08/2012
  by Westpoint Vet Alex Walters ...

• Calf Scour

  21/07/2012
  When a calf is born it does not have a fully developed immune system and is vulnerable to infection and disease...

• Westpoint is expanding

  20/07/2012
  In the current economic climate, many mixed vet practices are focusing their resources on a narrowed spectrum of species they treat on a daily basis, meaning that there has been a decline in practices offering a dedicated farm animal service ...

• Calf Scour

  19/07/2012
  Calf scour (diarrhoea) is the most common disease affecting young calves accounting for around 50% of all calf deaths...

• Spring Is In The Air, But Are You Ready?

  18/07/2012
  I can hear the blackbird singing outside, the daffodils are budding, the tame pheasant in the garden looks fat and glossy, so the game bird season is nearly upon us...

• Coccidiosis can hit calves hard

  09/07/2012
  Dr Tim Potter was invited to speak at this years National Youngstock Conference about the growing concern of Coccidiosis in calf rearing...

• Behaviour around calving & benefits of pain relief

  09/07/2012
  This year's Boehringer forum on farm animal well being was held in Lisbon and Westpoint Vet Rob Drysdale went to hear the latest thinking...

• Mastitis diagnosis by PCR

  09/07/2012
  Paul Daly of Westpoint Veterinary Group discusses mastitis diagnosis by PCR...

• Dairy Farmers

  07/06/2012
  Dairy farmers show how having protocols in place can help staff and herd performance ...

• Unreliabull Fertility Performance

  31/05/2012
  Fertility remains a key focus in improving profitability within both the beef and dairy industries in the UK...

• Diarrhoea in lambs

  26/04/2012
  Diarrhoea is caused by a number of agents leading to excessive fluid in the gut...

• Alpacas

  03/04/2012
  Why do we give vitamin D to alpacas? ...

• Healthy Hooves

  02/04/2012
  includes review of 5 point dutch trimming ...

• The A to Z of Life as a New Graduate

  23/03/2012
  by Ami Sawran ...

• National Herdsmans Conference

  08/03/2012
  Monday 23rd (pm) and Tuesday 24th April at Harper Adams University College ...

• Schmallenberg Virus

  21/02/2012
  Important please see our information ...

• Red Mites talk

  14/02/2012
  Our Podcast with specialist Poultry Vet David Spackman NDP BVSc MRCVS and Agricultural Consultant Andy Marshall BSc (Hons) Agric FBIAC is now available on our website...

• Westpoint support Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institute (RABI)

  30/01/2012
  Jules Dare presented Bill Westnedge and Sally Field from the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institute (RABI) with a cheque for £500 at Warnham last week...

• Youngstock management

  04/01/2012
  Tim Potter from The National Youngstock Association ...

• Pneumonia Don’t under estimate the costs!

  28/12/2011
  With the changeable weather the last few months we have been seeing an increasing number of cases of pneumonia in housed cattle   ...

• Mycotoxins - Are you ready for this winter's challenge

  24/12/2011
  Westpoint Vet Rob Drysdale and Alltech UK's Ruminant sales manager Graeme Smith advise how to identify, treat and better avoid mycotoxicosis...

• BVD Will it affect my herd?

  08/11/2011
  Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD) is as the name suggests, a viral disease often seen to cause diarrhoea ...

• Winter is only just around the corner!

  07/11/2011
  In this copy of Sheep Newes we will be looking at issues that could affect your flock over the coming autumn and winter months...

• From the vet's practice to Helmand Province

  02/11/2011
  An interview with Westpoint Vet Paul Horwood ...

• A new approach pays off

  02/11/2011
  With milking cow numbers increasing by three-fold over the last decade Colin and Yvonne Dent along with son Mark found cell counts rising out of control...

• Planning For Efficient Suckler Cow Feed Management This Winter?

  02/11/2011
  As housing looms and with winter also rapidly approaching our attention is drawn to efficiency of feeding management to maximise productivity and profitability of the suckler herd...

• Welcome to the first issue of Swine Times

  27/10/2011
  Welcome to Westpoint Veterinary Group's new Pig newsletter ...

• Westpoint serving you

  23/09/2011
  Introducing our new practices! ...

• Mastitis detection with “Real Time” PCR technology

  22/09/2011
  In dairy herds throughout the UK mastitis continues to be the most common disease...

• Westpoint SW dairy farmer wins national competition at this years Dairy Event

  14/09/2011
  Dairy Event 2011: James Willcocks takes the DFF 2011 winner's trophy Dairy Event 2011 ...

• Pregnancy rates best indicator of fertility

  14/09/2011
  Producers need to stop focusing on calving interval as an indicator of fertility performance and instead look at pregnancy rates...

• Dairy Event 2011: Rumen bolus

  09/09/2011
  A new rumen bolus being trialled for the first time in the UK could help prevent problems such as lameness and poor fertility ...

• Mastikit - Mastitis Detection Technology

  07/09/2011
  Do you get frustrated by "no growths" on milk samples you send to the lab? ...

• You say goodbye, we say hello

  01/09/2011
  After a busy lambing and calving season and a dry spring it appears that just as everyone has been preparing for the straw and silage season it started raining! ...

• New Westpoint Farm Veterinary Practice opens!

  11/08/2011
  We look forward to welcoming ALL new clients to our Dumfries practice, both now and in the future...

• Mastitis: Control, treatment, antibiotic residues and milk quality implications

  05/08/2011
  Our very own Vet Matt Dobbs spoke at the 2nd International Symposium held in China in May  ...

• Research - Comparison of oestrus detection methods in dairy cattle

  04/08/2011
  Westpoint Vet Amy Holman has contributed to a paper on Comparison of oestrus detection methods in dairy cattle ...

• Summer sun, something’s begun, but what?

  14/07/2011
  The spring heatwave is over - Wimbledon’s just finished and my beehives have finally stopped trying to swarm - Most clients with laying flocks report another good year for eggs and hatchability ...

• Southern Practice Newsletter - Summer 2011

  22/06/2011
  One of the reasons I moved to the Southeast 4 years ago was for the sunshine and dry weather ...

• Game, Set and Match - maybe not!

  21/06/2011
  By the time you read this play at Wimbledon will hopefully have finished - That is unless rain stops play as normal and they use the following week -  Murray, Federer and their tennis playing chums will have sweated their way around SW19 serving up all manner of aces but what about your cows being served?   ...

• Calving Difficulties

  14/06/2011
  Calving is one of the most critical times of a cow’s life - A smooth calving is the first step towards a successful and profitable lactation as well as providing the best possible start for the newborn calf...

• Practical Poultry Vet!

  21/04/2011
  Practical Poultry Magazine have teamed up with Westpoint Veterinary Group to produce an education based website  ...

• A day in the life of a vet

  20/04/2011
  Come along to a dairy farm in Hampshire with vet Matt Dobbs to find out what it takes to look after cows to the highest standard...

• "High Health” is key to production!

  18/04/2011
  For Angus Stovold, Lydling Farm having a high health status has always been top of his priority list...

• BVD is a well recognised problem in adult cattle

  10/04/2011
  Recently I was called in to investigate an outbreak of pneumonia in a group of calves that did not respond as well as expected to treatment...

• Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD)

  21/03/2011
  Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD) is as the name suggests a virus that infects cattle...

• Lungworm

  09/03/2011
  Thinking about turning out young calves is probably not at the top of the agenda just yet for most people but if you want to use the best known form of lungworm control then you do need to be thinking now...

• Parlour Decisions: Penny Wise, Pound Foolish - Look to the future

  25/02/2011
  With dairy input costs having risen by an extra 1...

• High performing, healthy, profitable cows

  07/02/2011
  WillsBro Holsteins is one of the most well known names in the UK dairy industry...

• Controlling and Eradicating BVD - Should this be a priority for Jersey Producers?

  17/01/2011
  As we enter 2011 it is clear that the rate of change in the dairy industry will continue at a great pace...

• Adding Value not costs

  12/01/2011
  Food scares the rise of the television foodie tightening supermarket standards and pressure on the Government to raise standards of animal welfare have all helped to redefine the role of veterinarians on farm in the past decade ...

• Feed ‘em right this year

  10/12/2010
  As the evenings draw in most ewes will have gone to the tup now and we’re starting to think in terms of getting ready for lambing time...

• Preparation for Lambing

  20/11/2010
  Careful preparation for lambing is paramount to maintain high levels of welfare for pregnant and lambing ewes as well as their newborn lambs...

• South West Healthy Livestock Initiative (SWHLI)

  18/11/2010
  Coming to a farm near you an exciting series of talks on many subjects to promote the benefits of rearing youngstock as healthily and profitably as possible...

• Environmental mastitis

  17/11/2010
  Environmental mastitis is recognised as the major challenge to improving milk hygiene and quality ...

• Fertility Focus

  15/11/2010
  Reproductive efficiency is directly linked to the profitability of dairy and beef farms, as it affects milk production and the number of calves born per year...

• Vet Matthew Dobbs wins Nuffield's Bullock Award

  10/11/2010
  Vet and Nuffield scholar Matthew Dobbs has won the 2010 Steven and Gill Bullock Award for excellence in using the learning from his scholarship to grow a £7-5m animal health business, to innovate and to contribute to the industry...

• Coccidiosis in Game birds

  05/11/2010
  Coccidiosis is a major problem in young birds, and can be seen in birds as young as 7 days old - The infection causes enteritis, which can result in poor growth rates, thin birds, and in extreme cases, sudden death -  Partridges are notoriously susceptible to coccidiosis...

• Practice makes cakes for charity

  29/10/2010
  ...

• New Kent Unit’s start-up challenges!

  01/10/2010
  Phillip Boyd of Wissenden Lodge Farm, Ashford in Kent currently farms 100 head of mixed continental and British beef cattle on a single suckle system, calving in a tight spring block and he writes...

• Has your herd got a foot hold on fertility?

  21/09/2010
  Approximately one in 4 cows in the national herd is lame - a fact which raises serious welfare concerns within the industry - Poor mobility within the national herd costs the UK dairy industry thousands of pounds per year in lost milk production, higher cull rates and poor reproductive function...

• Plan now for winter housing

  01/09/2010
  Another summer is slowly coming to an end, and as winter approaches and the evenings draw in, thoughts have to turn once again to planning for housing and the winter period...

• Westpoint Vet wins Young Consultant of the Year

  01/06/2010
  Alex Walters from Westpoint’s Ashford Practice has won The British Institute of Agricultural Consultants (BIAC) YOUNG CONSULTANT OF THE YEAR 2010...

• Face up to foot rot!

  01/05/2010
  Foot rot remains a big issue in many Westpoint flocks - The highest risk is to open flocks even if you are bringing in only rams or some store lambs, but even closed flocks can have foot rot problems...

• On-farm mastitis investigation

  21/03/2010
  Mastitis vet Keith Baxter takes you through his approach to a farm with milk quality issues, “Each farm has its own set of problems so a methodical technique helps detect where a particular problem lies...

• Beef ‘PIP’ is a Real Grower!

  21/03/2010
  The Westpoint Prime Beef Team have been working hard with beef producers across the South to ensure that their ‘Beef Profit Improvement Plans’ are up and running in early 2010...

• Focus on Teat Hygiene

  21/09/2009
  Teat cleanliness is a vital area of milk quality control...

• Happy Christmas and Happy New Year

  18/09/2009
  End of one year – start of the next - Drying a cow off is not the end but the start of the next lactation - 2010 will see Westpoint in its tenth year and recognised as the biggest farm practice in the UK...

• Fertility a key driver for milk production.

  21/06/2009
  As conception rates continue to fall, submission rates need to increase - Ultimately this means heat detection must improve probably by learning to use heat detection systems and aids, and to use secondary signs of heat as we once used the standing cow...

• Happy new year

  21/03/2009
  As of January 1st 2009, there are significant changes to the fallen stock regulations - primarily the abolition of the free collection scheme...