Farm Newsletter - March 2004

Highgate Veterinary Clinic

173 Highgate, Kendal, Cumbria, LA9 4EN
01539 721344


Home Contact Us Opening Times How to Find Us
Pet Owners
Farm Clients Farm Services Farm Contracts Farm Newsletter Info Sheets Case Histories Training and Events
Meet the Staff
Links

Farm Newsletter - March 2004

In this issue Castrating Disaster Lamb Hypothermia—Easy steps to treat it Defra News—T.B. Continues to Grumble on in Furness Peninsula BSE and Scrapie Fallen Sheep Fallen Cattle	PDF This newsletter is also available as a PDF file Click here
TOP Castrating Disaster When did you last have your Burdizzo bloodless castrators serviced? The pair on the left have been allowed to go rusty and haven’t had a service for over 10 years. They were used to castrate 20 stirks about a month ago. Half of these animals now have scrotal abscesses, some of which have burst leaving gaping holes. The nippers had broken the skin and allowed infection into the dying testicle. The aim is to sell these as stores in the spring but at least some of them are going to need a “little tidying up” before then. If your Burdizzos are looking rusty and tired, we can arrange for them to be reconditioned before your stock receive a similar fate .
TOP Lamb Hypothermia—Easy steps to treat it Hypothermia and starvation kills thousands of lambs each year. Do you ever get the lambs that appear just cold but still die when warmed up? Well, newborn lambs have special stores of body fat which last for 5 hours. After that you need to feed before warming them. The accompanying chart takes you through step by step.

Injecting glucose is a quick and easy way to get energy into weak lambs. First, mix 20 ml of boiled water with 20 ml of 40% glucose. Holding the lamb by its front legs, inject 10 ml per kg body weight into the abdomen. Use a site 1/2 inch to the side and one inch below the navel. Aim towards the tail base. Use a new needle each time (19G x 1” cream coloured ones are best) You won’t puncture anything unless you use force to stab the needle in. Why not practice on a dead lamb? Please ask if you would like a thermometer, bottle of glucose or a demonstration!
TOP Defra News—T.B. Continues to Grumble on in Furness Peninsula In 2003, nine herds in Furness were found to have reactors to TB. In the last month a further four holdings have had reactors identified on them. All cattle in this area are due to be tested by the end of March. So far no TB has been found in badgers. Thank you for arranging your tests promptly and please ask if you would like any purchased animals tested privately.
TOP BSE and Scrapie Last year, there were 16 cases of BSE in Cumbria and two to three cases of scrapie are being reported every month.
TOP Fallen Sheep Tel 01228 591999 within 24 hrs of death and they will be collected FOC and tested for scrapie. The sheep must be over 18 months old and there are no collections on Fridays, Saturdays or Sundays. TOP Fallen Cattle Tel 0800525890 within 24 hrs of death and they will be collected FOC and tested for BSE. They have to be over 2 years old and there are daily collections. Remember that sudden deaths in cattle must be reported to us so they can be tested for Anthrax before being moved. PDF This newsletter is also available as a PDF file Click here

Back to Farm Newsletters

May 2004 Newsletter

© Highgate Veterinary Clinic, United Kingdom, 2009