NEWSLETTER
I've just starting an email newsletter (weekly max), which will provide:
- Links to that week's videos (vlogs and technicals)
- Anything else cool I see animal-health related
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Sheep Veterinary Society presents…SHEEP MEET, 2025 sponsored by @Ceva_UK.
The Badger, Ponteland, NE20 9BT
Wed 5th November for 7pm start.
Buffet will be provided
Open to non-members and members
At this point I was fascinated by what this means for practical farmers
Dick was clear - bringing in animals from a ‘clear’ tested herd of it was from a high risk area was probably a terrible idea
Cattle coming north from the hot spots is a time bomb waiting to blow…
14/18
@GeorgeBurrell97@herdyshepherd1@puncherton Agree w conservative sweeper numbers + sensible bull £ NS is economic choice. How does AI cost change if you up the sweeper ratio? Some good work suggests no harm to calving pattern even when 1:70. Also surprised every year by n clients spending £10k or more on a stock bull.
@GeorgeBurrell97@herdyshepherd1@puncherton Difficult to generalise isn’t it. The ‘other AI’ gave £70 - 394/calf for NS vs £74-232 for FTAI. IMO they complement each other nicely where the facilities and appetite exist. Annual calves sired, cost of labour, % preg to AI, weaned calf £, straw costs seem biggest swings.
@croftfootfarm@herdyshepherd1@puncherton ..Agree scale and logistics have to be in place. And it does psychologically relegate the stock bull from main character to supporting player - not for everyone.
@croftfootfarm@herdyshepherd1@puncherton ..depreciate, stifle themselves etc. And the biggest cost is he is taking the place of a productive cow! Some excellent work showing you get up to 1:70 ish without affecting preg rate or calving pattern, with a 50% AI hold...
@croftfootfarm@herdyshepherd1@puncherton We've found £ should be justified (using sensible semen) on just a kg of beef basis on even our most marginal farms. For our bigger farms they could prob shave 30% off their bull stud liability. No doubt there is an investment in time but seems to be rewarded at the calving end.
@herdyshepherd1@puncherton Will stick my neck out on this one - IMHO FTAI is the most underutilized tool on suckler farms of scale and will save/add £. Complements natural service nicely. I’ll concede Galloways of any description don’t seem to do very well with AI (synchro response different?!).
Two clients, two annual health plan appointments, 12,000 miles apart.
Reassuring that farmers turn up to the vets in style - or does it just say something about @JohnDeere drivers?! 😁
Where has the last 4 years gone?!
Our final AHDB meeting approaches! It would be fantastic to see as many people there as can make it!
Please book onto the link
https://t.co/0ix589vvwd