Farm Animal Services

 

What can Rowe Veterinary Group Farm Animal Services do for you?

* 'The routine visit'. These are one of the most valuable services available, providing an economical way of using your Veterinary surgeons. Although fertility and lameness work is the backbone of these visits they are an excellent opportunity for us to discuss all other health, production and welfare aspects. Modern ultrasound techniques are routinely available at no additional charge and allow much closer control of fertility with more accurate diagnosis of fertility problems and earlier more reliable pregnancy diagnosis.

* Herd health plans. These are rapidly becoming an essential part of running a modern farm, many suppliers now insisting on them. On Farms already using the routine visit system we will be able to quickly produce such plans however plans can be produced for all farms after consultation with one of the Veterinary surgeons.

* Computerised health and production recording. This is available using the DAISY system developed by Reading University to all dairy farms using routine visits. DAISY allows farms that are not yet computerised to benefit from the advantages of computerised records without either buying a computer or indeed having to see one at all!

* Mastitis/Cell count investigations. We are always happy to offer advice on individual cases and herd problems. Visits can be arranged to examine milking routines, housing, records and individual cases to help manage this increasingly important problem.

* Metabolic profiles. As our cows are pushed to produce more and more milk diet plays an increasing part in maintaining both health and production. Bloods and milk samples can play a valuable role in determining the adequacy of the diet in a given group.

* Vaccination regimes. Identification of infectious disease and advice regarding prevention and control is a big part of our work. Often vaccination will play a key role in all farm species.

* Worm control. Both gut and lungworms continue to be important pathogens. We can help in identifying the actual risks to your stock and supply advice regarding worming products and regimes as well as supplying the drugs themselves.

* Flock visits and health plans. Advisory visits at certain key times of the lambing year can be invaluable in identifying and preventing problems before they occur. The production of a flock health plan incorporating advi ce on vaccination, worming and all other aspects of flock health is available at any time of year.

* Laboratory services. Our fully equipped laboratory is available 24 hours a day 365 days a year. Rapid analysis of milk samples in mastitis and faeces samples in scour outbreaks can make all the difference in control.

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Success Through Partnership

We have provided a continuous service for the local farming community since the late 1940's. During this time both agricultural and Veterinary science has made huge advances. As farming has changed we have always prided ourselves on changing too. Providing high quality farm Veterinary services using up to the minute advances in technology, medicines and advice remains a core activity for the vets in the farm animal department.

The days of providing only the traditional fire brigade service for sick animals are no longer with us. We are still proud to offer this cover, always having at least 3 vets on duty 24 hours a day, every day of the year but in addition we also provide a dedicated preventative medicine service. We believe that preventative medicine holds the key to the future of agriculture in this country. Veterinary surgeons are trained to treat the whole herd or flock as well as the individual animal and are thus well placed to assist farmers in many aspects of day to day stock management. We are always willing to offer help on any aspect of animal health, production and welfare. In addition to the expertise available within our own practice we have access to a range of external Veterinary and paraprofessional consultants such as nutritionists.

"Our aim is to provide a professional, efficient, caring and economical service to help our farmers meet the challenges of farming in the 21st century."

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Rowe Veterinary Group Farm Animal Services and Organic Farming

With the increasing popularity of organic food production more and more farmers are changing to this exciting method of farming. Organic farming brings its own very specific challenges and problems, which we are well equipped to help with. Even though organic farmers rely on drug therapy much less than conventional farming methods a close collaboration with the farm vet department is more important than ever. We can help in identifying potential and actual health problems early and together design effective control strategies.

Services of particular interest to organically run farms include:

* Herbal remedies. Many herbal remedies are now available for the treatment of farm animals, we can advise on the sensible use of many of these products.

* Herd/flock health plans. Preventative strategies are particularly important when blanket treatments such as dry cow therapy are no longer used.

* Worming. Control of parasites requires an in depth knowledge of the life cycle and behaviour of the worms involved. Combined with screening of faecal samples from at risk groups this allows us to design control strategies without the routine use of anthelminthics.

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Foot and Mouth Disease

Foot and Mouth Disease has arrived in Gloucestershire. The first case was confirmed on the 11th March 2001 in Blakeney, Gloucester. As of the 30th April 2001, 73 affected farms have been identified. Steady progress is being made in slaughtering affected herds. In an effort to contain the disease the government has instigated a 'fire wall' policy, ordering the slaughter of animals on farms adjacent to infected herds.

The practice would like to extend its heart felt condolences to everyone who is being affected by the outbreak. Our thoughts must be with both those farmers who have lost their animals and those facing the uncertainty of the days ahead.

Three of our Veterinary Surgeons, Mr Philip Marsh (head of the farm animal department) and Ms Kirsty Ford volunteered to help MAFF during the outbreak. This was a demanding and unpleasant job. We are very grateful to our colleagues for what they were able to do during this difficult time.

The Farm department is fully active during the crisis. We are endeavouring to 'rotate' Vets to maximise the length of time any vet spends between visits to farms and thus minimise any risk of cross infection. All vets are taking full disinfection precautions.

All animals with symptoms suspicious of FMD should be reported directly to MAFF. Please do not hesitate to ring us for advice first.

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