HFV Milk Lab:
Identifying the bacteria that are responsible for the mastitis patterns on your farm by culturing a pre-treatment milk sample is a simple but really powerful tool in understanding your cows' udder health. These milk samples can be cultured fresh in our lab at HFV and you will have a result within 12-16 hours to know how long to continue treatment for, or the samples can be stored on farm in the freezer and cultured in a batch to look at bacterial patterns over time and used to review treatment protocols.
We can also culture milk samples from high cell count cows to identify the bacteria that are causing the chronic udder infections on farm - particularly useful if bulk tank cell counts are creeping up or if you have more than 10% of cows calving in with high cell counts.
MILK SAMPLING FOR A CULTURE:
We only want to grow the bacteria in the milk; not the bacteria on the skin of the teat, from your hands or from any contaminants that drop in the sample.
We have secured funding for 40 subsidised HFV milk cultures to help get you started so speak to Paula or Tom if you would like your farm to be involved.
NEW 6 MONTH TB TESTING INTERVAL:
Keep a look out for your letter from APHA detailing the new 6 monthly TB testing schedule that comes into action in Shropshire and Staffordshire from 1st September 2020.
All whole herd tests that go clear between now and August 2021 will then be on a 6 monthly testing schedule. As usual you'll have a 2 month window to book in these tests so it's worth planning ahead to make sure the testing windows fit your system as best possible. APHA will allow a one off change to bring your testing window forward if that helps with logistics.
Any herds with a low risk of TB (no breakdowns for at least 6 years) and TB CHeCS accredited herds will be allowed to continue on an annual TB testing schedule as normal.
If you need any more information, or to bring your testing window forward please get in touch with Paula on 07764 747855.
For all new clients - please phone XL Farmcare on 0800 612 5289 to request a change in preference if you would like Haywood Farm Vets to do your statutory TB testing. It usually takes a couple of weeks to get things swapped over.
What to look out for:
- coughing, especially when moved
- milk drop
- neck outstretched
- mouth breathing
- sudden death
DID YOU KNOW?
Pilobolus or "Dung Canon" is a normal fungi found in dung pats that grows to 2-4cm tall. The lungworm larvae crawl up the fungus to the head which then explode spreading the larvae 2 metres from the pat. It is these larvae which contaminate pasture and infect other cattle.
Lungworm is simple to treat if it is caught early enough, but coughing and clincial disease highlights there are holes in the current worming or vaccine strategy which need to be addressed before next grazing season.
Who's Who at HFV
PAULA SCALES
BVSc (Hons) MRCVS
Paula grew up in Lancashire, the youngest of four Wilsons, surrounded by forage harvesters and learned at an early age the work that goes into good quality silage and the importance of a strong work ethic! She completed her veterinary studies at the University of Bristol in 2007 and has worked in farm practice ever since, first in Derbyshire then at the University of Nottingham before relocating back home to Shropshire in 2012.
Paula set up HFV in May 2020 to future proof her way of farm vetting - locally owned, for local farmers who value positive input from vets that really know your farm. She has a keen eye for detail, a reputation for perhaps asking the tricky questions and challenging the status quo, but sees great value in getting the whole team behind improving health and productivity on farm.
Out of Hours Phone:
07398 743095
HFV provides your farm with 24 hours emergency care, 365 days of the year. Any advice or emergency calls to 07398 743095 after 4.30pm will automatically divert your call to either Paula or Tom.
Please add this number to your phone, share with your team and make sure it is on your emergency Red Tractor contact list.
GET IN TOUCH:
Paula: 07764 747855 paula@haywoodfarmvets.com
Tom: 07837 291097 tom@haywoodfarmvets.com
Enquiries: mail@haywoodfarmvets.com
Website: haywoodfarmvets.com
Open hours: M-F 08:30 - 16:30
Out of Hours: 07398 743095