News

Happy New Year to everyone, I hope this year offers you all prosperity and happiness. Hopefully some political sense will be seen this year?! I neglected to introduce Carey Davis at the end of the last year. Carey will be familiar to many of you as she farms on the Mendips with her family and was previously in a similar role with Westfield Vets. Carey is taking on the TB...

We should be coming to the end of the high-risk fluke period. Lower temperatures mean that development of the external stages of liver fluke will be reduced as its’ intermediate snail host requires temperatures above 10oC. We should try to avoid using Triclabendazole (e.g. Fasinex) as there shouldn’t be any early immature fluke and we can use a more suitable product that kill...

With the clocks going back last weekend, it seems as though Winter has crept up on us once more, with preparations now underway for the housing period. The recent dry spell should have allowed the completion of maize harvest and cultivations. The winter housing season is always when we see an increase in the incidence of calf scour. Both dairy and beef herds can find this...

We have seen a few interesting cases this past few weeks of cattle and sheep eating plants that have proved toxic. Often a wet spell in the autumn encourages grazing animals to seek out some more fibrous plants; or weather conditions encourage the proliferation of unwanted plants and moulds/fungi (mycotoxins). We have had reports of Ergot poisoning this year and I have heard...

I am a little late with the announcement but I am really pleased to tell those of you who hadn’t already heard of the safe arrival of a baby boy for Lucy. George John Searle was born on the 13th July weighing 9lb 9oz. Lucy and Richard are of course delighted and are enjoying parenthood. We are pleased to welcome Sophie back for a few months to help cover Lucy’s leave. I have...

It seems such a long time ago that we had a settled period of fine weather but hopefully the last few weeks have provided just that for you and an opportunity to get some crops harvested. The ‘Animal Health and Welfare Review’ program that is being funded by RPA has recently been expanded to allow for a follow-up with extra funding now available. It really is well worth you...

The Weather let us down for our 20th Celebration but thank you to so many of you for turning out. We had a great night and I am sure you did too! I am pleased to say we raised close to £2000 for Somerset FCN which is a tremendous effort. I know this money will be put to good use within our local farming community. Although lambing seems like yesterday, it won’t be long before...

The seasons this year have certainly presented their challenges. Grass is now growing with plenty having been cut, I am hopeful that the maize in the ground will enjoy the warm soil and grow well. We need to start thinking about parasite and worm control. The warm wet conditions allow the emergence of gut worm larvae on the leaf of grass for the calves or lambs to ingest. We...

It has not been an easy spring so far, especially for those spring block calving herds who have struggled in the wet weather with poor grass growth and reduced grazing intakes. Unsurprisingly, UK grass growth rates in 2024 are well behind last year and the 5 year average, and spring calving cows have been struggling to meet their nutritional requirements from grazed grass....

Well, the unsettled weather continues and turn-out is delayed. The temperature fluctuations are particularly marked making it hard to manage housed cattle and avoid stress that will precipitate pneumonia. On a positive note, the grass is growing so food will be available when they go out! Ewes and lambs are poaching up pastures so please be vigilant for the early signs of...