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North Yorkshire farm to undergo sheep lameness trial
Sheep and dog
Every sheep farm experiences the issue of lameness and the serious impact it can have on productivity.

Trial aims to end debate on antibiotics versus trimming 

A new trial at a North Yorkshire farm aims to shed light on the best approach for treating lameness in sheep.

Lameness is common on sheep farms and can have a serious impact on productivity. 

Lame ewes from the Marrick Abbey Farm in Richmond will undergo a trial to determine whether antibiotics or trimming offer the best treatment. During the six-week trial, half of the ewes will be treated with antibiotics and have their feet trimmed, while the other half will receive only antibiotics.

It is hoped that the trial, run with the help of SAC Consulting (part of Scotland's Rural College (SRUC)), will demonstrate that recovery is faster and more successful using injectable antibiotics only.

SAC Consulting Agriculture Consultant, James Hadwin, explains: "There has been a good deal of research into treating lameness and the advice is not to trim…we expect the trial at Marrick Farm to demonstrate this and we hope local farmers will be interested in the results.”

SRUC say that local farmers will have opportunities to find out about the trial because Marrick Abbey is one of 19 EBLEX "focus farms" taking part in a 12-month campaign to tackle cattle and sheep health and welfare issues. Each farm will hold a series of free events for farmers will take place over the next nine months.

Marrick Abbey's first meeting will take place on Wednesday, August 6 from 4pm to 8pm. As well as a practical session on lameness, which includes details of the new trial, issues of flock bio-security, returning wintering stock and flock fertility will also be discussed.

Farmers who wish to register to attend the free meeting should ring the EBLEX events office on 01904 771211 or email brpevents@eblex.ahdb.org.uk 

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Vets to run marathon for World Animal Protection

News Story 1
 Two recently graduated veterinary surgeons will be running the London Marathon in April to raise money for the charity World Animal Protection.

Alex Bartlett and Maeve O'Neill plan to run the race together if they are given the same start times.

Dr O'Neill said: "You're always limited in what you can do to help animals, so it is nice to raise money for a charity that helps animals around the world."

Dr Bartlett added: "I have never run a marathon before and am excited to run my first one for such a good cause!"

Both Dr Bartlett and Dr O'Neill have fundraising pages online. 

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News Shorts
BSAVA releases new Guide to Procedures

The British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) has published a new edition of its Guide to Procedures for Small Animal Practice.

It has added four new procedures; cystostomy tube placement, endotracheal intubation, point-of-care ultrasound and wet-to-dry dressings.

BSAVA says that it is an essential step-by-step guide to diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed in practice. The textbook includes new images and illustrations, as well as high-definition videos for use prior to procedures.

Nick Bexfield and Julia Riggs, editors of the new edition, said: "We have built upon the success of the previous editions by responding to the feedback received from the BSAVA readership, and hope this new guide helps to further increase the confidence and accuracy with which these procedures are performed."

Print copies are available in the BSAVA store, with a digital version in the BSAVA library.