Farm practice

Figure 2. Mature flukes isolated from the liver of a sheep. Photo credit John Graham-Brown.

Update on liver fluke in sheep and cattle

The liver fluke life cycle takes around 20 weeks to complete and requires a snail intermediate host (Figure 1). Mature flukes (Figure 2) reside in the liver of the definitive host. Fluke eggs are...

The role of biosecurity in the prevention of disease

Figure 1. The distribution of interns going on to undertake further education after completing their farm animal veterinary internships.

UK practitioners' motivations and experiences of farm animal internship programmes

A questionnaire was created using a proprietary online survey tool (Jisc Software Package, Bristol, UK). The questionnaire comprised 14 questions with a range of free text and multiple-choice...

How can we contribute to sustainability goals?

The United Nations has defined 17 Sustainable Development Goals including no poverty, zero hunger, good health and wellbeing, gender equality, clean water, climate action and sustainable use of the...

Over the fence contact is another biosecurity risk.

Livestock Workshops: eradication of disease

BVD virus is in the Flaviviridae family. There are two genotypes, BVD 1 and 2. BVD 1 occurs in the UK, and there are two biotypes: cytopathic and non-cytopathic. Most persistently infected calves have...

Figure 1. Area of alopecia extending down neck, along the dorsum and to both axillae.

Large animal dermatology: common cases

It is June in North Somerset and the NADIS (2023) forecast shows a high risk for period for myiasis. A client with a flock of 60 Poll Dorset ewes has called because one of the rams has a large area of...

Figure 2. The implementation framework for the Veterinary Prescribing Champions Network.

Shared-practice approach to responsible antimicrobial use in farm animal vets in Wales

Every practice offering farm animal services was identified through the veterinary delivery partners and invited to nominate one vet to represent their practice on the network. That vet would also act...

Figure 2. Ease of administration of a topical parasiticide

Parasiticides: perspectives and prospects

The introduction of relatively more efficacious and safe parasite treatments can conveniently be traced from the early 1960s, though many of the older treatments were still in use at this time. A book...

Figure 2. The process of applying for, completing and claiming the funding for the pathway visit.

The Animal Health and Welfare Pathway for England: an update

These are different for the different species involved. For cattle we have settled on bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD). For sheep there will be anthelmintic resistance testing and for pigs there will be...

Figure 1. Elements of virtual fence systems with data communication routes.

Virtual fencing systems: balancing production and welfare outcomes

Figure 1 highlights the main generic components of VF. This article will aim to cover these capabilities as a family, though will necessarily mention individual products. In summary, all animals in...

Figure 1. Bracken fern, one of the world's most abundant plants. It produces (a) lush green growth that can poison livestock, and (b) becomes dry and brown in summer, which is also toxic.

Bracken poisoning

Bracken (Pteridium species) (Figure 1) is a genus of ancient, large coarse ferns. It is a very common and widespread plant that grows throughout the world (except where it is very cold or very dry)....

Figure 1. Freshly calved cow and environment

Q fever: a disease with underappreciated significance?

C. burnetii is a small, Gram-negative bacterium and obligate intra-cellular pathogen that causes Q fever. C. burnetii can infect humans, cattle, goats, sheep and many other mammals. C. burnetii...