On the Hoof podcast episodes

Listen to the episode here.

This ‘On the Hoof’ Podcast is aimed at people who are considering purchasing Maedi Visna (MV) Accredited sheep at the upcoming sales. Alison Braddock has special guests from the Lleyn Sheep Society; Bethan Klinkenberg and Kathryn Dick’ who will help to explain what goes into producing a high health status sheep and what the society does to promote high health status sheep. 

Further information is available on our website (www.sheepandgoathealth.co.uk) membership database (www.psghs.co.uk), Health Schemes helpline 01835 822456 and Quick Reference Guides (All about Maedi Visna (MV) (sway.com); MV/CAE Accreditation (sway.com); and Monitoring Schemes (sway.com)).

Details of Lleyn Sheep and the sales are available at  www.lleynsheep.com

Listen to the episode here. 

In this ‘On The Hoof’ podcast for vets in practice, Alison Braddock chats to Dave Wilson, Health Schemes Veterinary Manager about what to do when a client’s animal tests positive for MV following a routine periodic blood test in the Premium Sheep and Goat Health Schemes.

The podcast touches on how MV acts in the flock and the disease prevalence in GB. It also looks at the testing methodology and options to tackle the infection and how to cope with a larger flock breakdown.

Further details can be found at www.sheepandgoathealth.co.uk

Listen to the episode here. 

This ‘On The Hoof’ podcast caters for vets in practice with clients testing for Johne’s Disease in the Premium Sheep and Goat Health Schemes (PSGHS). Alison Braddock, Marketing and Business Development Manager talks to Dave Wilson, Health Schemes Veterinary Manager about the testing, paperwork and health plan requirements needed to become Johne’s Accredited and how to maintain health status. They also touch on the risk levels that are used. Further details can be found at www.sheepandgoathealth.co.uk

Listen to the episode here. 

This ‘On The Hoof’ podcast for vets in practice covers the Premium Sheep and Goat Health Schemes (PSGHS) ‘Monitoring’ Schemes for MV/CAE and Johne’s Disease. This scheme has been designed for flocks who are unable to meet the biosecurity requirements of Accreditation and is a lower health status but it does offer regular flock screening and an early warning to limit disease spread.  Alison Braddock, SRUC Veterinary Services talks to Dave Wilson, Health Schemes Veterinary Manager about the testing and paperwork requirements needed to become PSGHS Monitored and how to maintain Monitored status. Further details can be found at www.sheepandgoathealth.co.uk

Listen to the episode here. 

This ‘On The Hoof’ podcast for vets in practice covers MV/CAE Accreditation in SRUC’s Premium Sheep and Goat Health Schemes (PSGHS). Alison Braddock, SRUC Veterinary Services talks to Dave Wilson, Health Schemes Veterinary Manager about the testing and paperwork requirements needed to become MV/CAE Accredited, as well as how to maintain Accreditation and how farmer clients can go about adding animals to an MV/CAE Accredited flock or herd. Further details can be found at www.sheepandgoathealth.co.uk

Listen to the episode here

In this ‘On the Hoof’ Podcast for vets in practice (equally useful for farmers too!) Colin Mason, Centre Manager and Veterinary Investigation Officer, Dumfries talks to Alison Braddock, Marketing and Business Development Manager about the parasitic gastroenteritis (PGE) risk in sheep. Colin highlights the importance of critically assessing lamb performance and growth rates, zero tolerance of scouring and ‘test don’t guess’ with monitoring FECs on a regular basis.

Internal Parasites | SCOPS & Nematodirus Forecast | SCOPS

Veterinary surveillance blogs | SRUC

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In this ‘On the Hoof’ podcast Heather Stevenson, Veterinary Investigation Officer, Dumfries, explains the importance of minerals and trace elements in the sheep flock. This podcast is hosted by Alison Braddock, Marketing and Business Development Manager who asks Heather about essential minerals and trace elements. They cover, sampling, testing and tips on effective and safe treatment. This podcast is equally useful as a quick overview for both vets and farmers.

Metabolic Profiling in the Sheep Flock - Why and How to Do It | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service

Listen to the episode here

This ‘On the Hoof’ Podcast with VIO and Centre Manager Helen Carty is hosted by Alison Braddock, Marketing and Business Development Manager and examines the new phase 6 in Scotland’s BVD eradication programme. Helen covers, what’s happened so far and what’s coming next. Helen also touches on how much BVD is in Scotland now and what vets in practice should do to support BVD eradication.

Phase 6 leaflet: Phase 6 Flyer - ScotEID Library (Scot EID home page Home | ScotEID)

The survey: Qualtrics Survey | Qualtrics Experience Management

Listen to the episode here

This ‘On the Hoof’ Podcast for vets in practice focuses on three livestock parasites, liver fluke, rumen fluke and Haemonchus. Alison Braddock speaks to special guest Philip Skuce who is a Principal Scientist in Parasitology at the Moredun Research Institute. Philip discusses the important issue of wormer resistance and the mantra ‘test don’t guess’ and discusses the increasing interest around veterinary medicines and the environment. Useful links for listeners include SCOPS | Sustainable Control of Parasites in Sheep and Promoting Sustainable Control of Cattle Parasites - COWS - Promoting Sustainable Control of Cattle Parasites.

Listen to the episode here

In this podcast Alison Braddock, Marketing and Business Development Manager speaks to Colin Mason, VIO and Centre Manager, Dumfries, about Schmallenberg virus (SBV). 

Colin explains about what the Scottish Surveillance system has picked up and what we need to be aware of as we look at calving and lambing in 2025.

The virus, which is spread by biting midges, is not a notifiable disease but there has been concern about the impact of this disease across the country. The podcast covers vaccination, diagnosis, and clinical signs.

Further details are available in our blogs Veterinary surveillance blogs | SRUC

Listen to the episode here

This latest On the Hoof episode for vets in practice addresses the issue of bovine respiratory disease. Alison Braddock, Marketing and Business Development Manager speaks to Colin Mason our well known contributor and Centre Manager in Dumfries who gives an update on this multifactorial disease. Further details on sampling are available on our website www.sruc.ac.uk/vets please also visit our Disease Surveillance Blogs Veterinary surveillance blogs | SRUC and tests available SRUC Veterinary Diagnostics | Farm animal diagnostics test and price list

Listen to the episode here.

In this episode Alison Braddock, SRUC Veterinary Services asks Mike Coffey about the application of genomic selection in livestock in the UK. Mike is an SRUC colleague and well known in the world of genomics, he is Professor in Livestock Informatics and Head of Edinburgh Genetics Evaluation Services (EGENES).

Genomic selection is now widespread in UK dairy and is gaining momentum in beef and sheep. It has led to large benefits for dairy and has the potential to revolutionise food production systems. Usually, people think of genomic improvement for productivity, but the process can be almost as equally effective for welfare traits, disease traits, society traits such as methane emissions and resource use traits such as feed efficiency.

This podcast follows a webinar on the subject which is available at Webinars Bitesize Programme and if you have any further questions about this subject please email alison.braddock@sruc.ac.uk

Listen to the episode here.

In this ‘On the Hoof’ podcast for vets in practice, Alison Braddock, Marketing and Business Development Manager chats with SAC Consulting’s Mary Young who is a Ruminant Nutritionist with the livestock team.

In this second podcast with Mary, she explains about the Ruminant Subscription Service offered to vets and covers the important seasonal topics of forage budgeting, forage sampling and condition scoring.

Further information on body condition scoring suckler cows is available on these videos:

• The Benefits of Cow Condition Scoring - Part 1
• The Benefits of Cow Condition Scoring - Part 2

There is also a useful document on condition scoring here too.

Listen to Part I here

Listen to the episode here.

In this On the Hoof episode of the SRUC podcast, Alison Braddock, Marketing and Business Development Manager, talks to Kate Lamont, Senior Researcher and Chair of SRUC’s Social Science and Ethics Committee.

This insightful podcast for vets in practice, looks at how to get the best out of client interactions on farm visits to help address livestock health issues. The podcast offers communication strategies and tips and looks at life from a farmer’s perspective!

This follows a vet CPD webinar on the same subject available here https://tinyurl.com/28jx9kme

Listen to the episode here.

Colin Mason, Veterinary Investigation Officer and Centre Manager Dumfries, talks to Alison Braddock, Marketing and Business Development Manager, about – eye disease in dairy cattle.

There has been an increase in submissions with Infectious Bovine Keratoconjunctivitis otherwise known as ‘Pink Eye’ in recent months.

This podcast covers clinical signs, risk factors and prevention and discusses the importance of early identification of cases for management and treatment.

Listen to the episode here.

This On the Hoof podcast for vets in practice, examines the issue of Haemonchus contortus (Barber’s Pole worm) in sheep.

This parasitic worm has been on the increase in the UK over the past few years and it’s important that vets are aware of the increasing incidence of Heamonchus, helped by the warmer and wetter summers and warmer winters. Alison Braddock, Marketing and Business Development Manager talks to Megan Fergusson, Veterinary Investigation Officer from Ayr Disease Surveillance Hub. Megan covers clinical signs, diagnosis, and prevention with some top tips on combating this parasite.

Useful advice is available here: scops.org.uk/internal-parasites/quarantine-advice-for-internal-and-external-parasites/

Listen to the episode here.

Alison Braddock, Marketing and Business Development Manager, SRUC Veterinary Services talks to Mary Young, Ruminant Nutritionist, SAC Consulting about how vets in practice can support farmer clients as they prepare their livestock for the Autumn and Winter. Mary talks about silage data for example and offers tips and advice to help provide nutritional support to vet practices. Mary explains about a Ruminant Subscription Service offered to UK vet practices.

The following useful links were discussed in the podcast and are available to listeners:

• Ruminant Nutrition Subscription Service
• Ram booklet
• Outwintering booklet

Listen to Part II here

Listen to the episode here.

In this ‘On the Hoof’ podcast for vets in practice we look at Lungworm. Helen Carty, Centre Manager and VIO based in Ayr talks to Alison Braddock Marketing and Business Development Manager.

Please take part in the Control of worms sustainably (COWs) survey COWS Lungworm Survey 2024 (surveymonkey.com) which is open throughout 2024 and vets are encouraged to submit as many forms / cases over the year.

Further information is available at www.cattleparasites.org.uk (Promoting Sustainable Control of Cattle Parasites - COWS - Promoting Sustainable Control of Cattle Parasites COWS home page, lungworm-240823.pdf (cattleparasites.org.uk) and specific chapter on lungworm on COWS website). For further information about our SRUC Veterinary Services tests etc. please visit www.sruc.ac.uk/vets

Listen to the episode here.

This podcast aims to raise awareness of ‘Heat Stress’ in dairy cattle. Host Alison Braddock, Marketing and Business Development Manager asks Colin Mason, Centre Manager and VIO Dumfries about the potential impact of heat stress on the dairy herd. They explore its impact on production, touch on THIs and offer an overview of this important issue.

To learn more, visit www.sruc.ac.uk/vets

Listen to the episode here.

In this On the Hoof Episode for Vets in Practice, Alison Braddock asks Colin Mason, Vet and Centre Manager, Dumfries about how to recognise and confirm lead poisoning in livestock. They also look at causes and prevention and the number of cases seen in the lab each year. This is particularly timely with livestock turnout at this time of year!

Further information can be found in our blogs:

SRUC Veterinary Surveillance blog: www.sruc.ac.uk/veterinary-surveillance

SRUC Health Scheme Member blog: www.sruc.ac.uk/health-scheme-member

Listen to the episode here.

In this episode Alison Braddock, Marketing and Business Development Manager asks Heather Stevenson, Veterinary Investigation Officer based at Dumfries Disease Surveillance Centre about Nematodirus. This parasitic worm causes problems in lambs, so this podcast looks at clinical signs, diagnosis and top tips on treatment, prevention and control.

The link to SCOPS | Sustainable Control of Parasites in Sheep is a useful tool to use.

Please also see our  Veterinary surveillance blogs | SRUC

Listen to the episode here.

In this Veterinary Services ‘On the Hoof’ podcast episode, Alison Braddock, Marketing and Business Development Manager talks to Colin Mason, Centre Manager and VIO from Dumfries about turning out dairy youngstock. This podcast covers Coccidiosis risk and looks at how to prevent post turnout scours plus an overview of Summer Scour Syndrome.

Listen to the episode here.

We all know plenty about best practice colostrum management for dairy calves and yet a failure of passive transfer still lies behind many calf health issues we see in dairy herds and beef units. Alison Braddock chats with special guests Katie Denholm and Ali Haggerty who have led several research projects in recent years focussing on these problems on commercial dairy farms.

• Katie Denholm is a farm animal academic clinician with a special interest in dairy calves and colostrum management at the University of Glasgow.
• Ali Haggerty is a vet in SW Scotland and provides freelance consultancy to milk processors and other industry bodies as well as research into dairy calf health and colostrum.

This podcast complements the webinar of the same name available on the Webinars Bitesize Programme | SRUC

Listen to the episode here. 

This ‘On the Hoof’ podcast provides a quick recap about Bovine Abortion Investigation for vets in practice. Alison Braddock, Marketing and Business Development Manager asks Colin Mason, VIO and Centre Manager, Dumfries about what information is needed at the lab, when and what samples to take and not forgetting to celebrate the negative results!

The Sampling Guide srucvs-sampling-guide.pdf is available on our website www.sruc.ac.uk/vets

Listen to the episode here. 

In this ‘On The Hoof’ podcast for Vets in Practice, Alison Braddock, Marketing and Business Development Manager asks Lorna Shaw, Ruminant Nutritionist SAC Consulting about nutrition for ewes pre-lambing. 

Lorna explains about feeding systems and the importance of assessing the adequacy of nutrition on the farm. Troubleshooting common nutritional issues is also discussed plus how to identify areas for improvement.

This podcast complements the bitesize webinar available on our website at Online CPD Academy | SRUC

Listen to the episode here. 

This ‘On The Hoof’ podcast for vets in practice, examines the importance of nutrition in suckler cows pre-calving. It covers feeding systems and how to assess the adequacy of nutrition on the farm. Alison Braddock, SRUC Veterinary Services talks to consultants and specialists in ruminant nutrition Lorna MacPherson and Karen Stewart (SAC Consulting). This podcast complements the bitesize CPD webinar for vets in practice.

Listen to the episode here. 

The investigation, diagnosis and control of Q fever to protect animal and human health does present vets and farmers with some challenges.  In this podcast Alison Braddock Marketing and Business Development Manager asks Colin Mason VIO and Centre Manager about how vets should manage this disease with their clients. This follows a bitesize webinar on the subject.

Listen to the episode here.

Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD) is one of the most important diseases in terms of production losses and animal welfare.

Disease dynamics are complex involving pathogens and the environment.

In this podcast Alison Braddock, Marketing and Business Development Manager, asks Megan Fergusson, VIO (Veterinary Investigation Officer), about how vets can help their clients tackle this disease on the farm. 

Listen to the episode here.

In this podcast for vets in practice, Alison Braddock, Marketing & Business Development Manager for Vet Services, asks Colin Mason, Veterinary Investigation Officer & Centre Manager about Clostridial disease.

This podcast focuses on Blackleg and Blacks disease - two more common presentations at this time of year. The podcast covers causes, risk factors and prevention.

Read our blog on Black's disease.

SRUC offer testing for Clostridial Alpha, Beta or Epsilon Toxin ELISA.

Listen to the episode here.

This bitesize podcast is part of the "On the Hoof" series from our Veterinary Services division.

Alison Braddock, Marketing and Business Development Manager speaks with Heather Stevenson Veterinary Investigation Officer (VIO) Dumfries about liver fluke risk in 2023.

As we approach what would have traditionally been peak liver fluke season (autumn-winter), 2023 has been a very strange year weather-wise.

We had a very dry cold spring, a very hot early summer, an extremely wet July-August and, most recently, a heatwave accompanied by heavy rain.

This will inevitably impact on the life-cycle of the liver fluke, through its mud snail intermediate host, Galba truncatula. This will ultimately dictate the risk of liver fluke this season.

Forecasts are available online at Sustainable Control of Parasites in Sheep (SCOPS) SCOPS | Sustainable Control  and of Parasites in Sheep and NADIS NADIS - National Animal Disease Information Service

Listen to the episode here.

Our On the Hoof series of podcasts on veterinary matters continues!

Alison Braddock, Marketing and Business Development Manager asks Colin Mason, Centre Manager and Veterinary Investigation Officer, some key questions around investigating milk drop in Dairy herds.

It is truly multifactorial with causes including infectious disease, nutrition, management or a combination of all three. With the advance of increased technology on dairy farms there is also an abundance of data to draw on.

From a disease surveillance perspective, it is also of interest as a potential way in which a new and emerging disease may start in a herd.

This podcast complements a recent webinar on the subject and discusses how to approach an investigation, consider some of the common and more exotic differential diagnoses relevant to individual herds and try to help navigate the complexities of what might be going on on farm.

Details of the webinar is available here: Webinars Bitesize Programme | SRUC.

Listen to the episode here

This podcast is a special edition for GB calf week.

Listen in to discover just a sample of the current dairy-bred calf research happening in Scotland. There are some fantastic projects on the go at the moment involving collaborations between SRUC, University of Glasgow and vets in private practice.

In this episode Alison Braddock chats with Colin Mason and David Bell from SRUC, Katie Denholm from the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Glasgow and Ali Haggerty from Stewartry vets.  

They discuss their current projects including critical control points for colostrum cleanliness, Mycoplasma bovis in colostrum and ultrasound diagnosis of respiratory disease. A must listen for anyone interested in fine tuning calf health, highlighting projects to keep an eye on for future results.  

Listen to the episode here.

Alison Braddock, SRUC's Marketing and Business Development Manager for Veterinary Services is joined by Katrina Henderson , Veterinary Investigation Officer and Lorna MacPherson, Senior Consultant to chat about nutrition and health planning for dairy beef calves.

This podcast also looks at the management of dairy beef calves to prevent common problems. This podcast accompanies the CPD bitesize webinar "An Introduction to Dairy Beef Calf Systems – Nutrition and Infectious Disease".

Watch the webinar: Webinars Bitesize Programme | SRUC

Listen to the episode here.

Interested in large animal veterinary science? This is a slightly niche (but no less important) departure for the SRUC podcast.

Our Veterinary Investigation Officers Katrina Henderson and Iain McCormick recently completed a project looking at the mortality of young beef cattle.

Katrina joins host Alison Braddock to chat about the project which specifically looked at the top ten causes of calf death and pre-disposing factors. Katrina and Iain reviewed all pre-weaned suckler calf post mortems carried out by SRUC from across Scotland between 2016-2020. 

The findings have been the subject of a recent CPD bitesize course for vets which can be found at the link below - the webinar has been recorded, and is free to watch (account creation required).

Fancy studying veterinary science or animal care with SRUC? They are amongst our most popular courses for a reason. We have world-class facilities and expertise and hundreds of animal care professionals have joined the industry after learning with us. You can find out more about them at the links below.

Watch the webinar "Calf losses from breeding to weaning" on our free online CPD portal.

Animal Care courses at SRUC

Animal Sciences courses at SRUC

Veterinary Medicine courses at SRUC

Veterinary Nursing courses at SRUC

Listen to the episode here.

Join John Scholefield and Anne Seaton for an introduction to SRUC veterinary services and the role they play as part of SRUC. From supporting farmers and veterinary practices to tackling infectious disease, the work is varied and never dull.

The team covers disease surveillance for the Scottish Government, so this involves doing post-mortem examinations and laboratory testing to diagnose disease and to investigate disease outbreaks. This work goes across the range of livestock species, so cattle, sheep, pigs, poultry and game birds as well as other species are monitored by the team.

They also do testing for a wide variety of conditions and medical issues animals may experience. They also offer training courses, health schemes, quality assurance schemes and a whole lot else besides. Listen to the episode to learn about the breadth and depth of work they do.

To learn more, visit www.sruc.ac.uk/vets