Cattle

Cases of interest

As 2024 draws to a close it is not long now before we pass the shortest day and move into 2025, and we wish you all some time off to enjoy at least part of the festive season. Please note that the laboratory in Edinburgh is closed on the 25th & 26th December and the 1st & 2nd of January.…

SRUC Veterinary Services
17/12/2024

Achieving a more targeted BVD Check Test

Scotland’s BVD eradication scheme requires all breeding herds to update their BVD status annually. The Check Test suits some herds very well and when vets are allowed to implement it properly, it is an extremely reliable test for BVD exposure.…

SRUC Veterinary Services
22/11/2024

Ruminal acidosis

At this time of year, it is not uncommon to see cases of ruminal acidosis, this is often due to dietary changes associated with reduced grazing or housing.…

SRUC Veterinary Services
22/11/2024

Parasite disease update November 2024 – South West Scotland

It is always interesting and challenging to predict the seasonal variations in parasite disease risk. This year is no exception and the often used phase ‘test and don’t guess’ is particularly relevant.…

SRUC Veterinary Services
21/11/2024

Revolutionizing Health Risk Management for Beef and Sheep Farmers: A New Web-App for Vets

HerdPlan, funded by the Scottish Government and developed by SRUC’s Veterinary Services team, enables UK vets and farmers to work together to create proactive health plans to improve productivity and increase income on farm.  …

SRUC Veterinary Services
08/10/2024

Help COWS understand lungworm better

We have had several anecdotal and confirmed cases of lungworm in cattle already, starting in mid-June. The peak of cases tends to occur in September, and we think this year will be no exception.…

SRUC Veterinary Services
28/08/2024

Sustainable Farming Initiative - Roundworms

As part of the second year of Scottish Government’s ‘Preparing for Sustainable Farming’ initiative, farmers can claim £250 for undertaking up to two animal health interventions in 2024. Two important interventions which will receive funding (and could be claimed for separately on mixed units) are the control of roundworms in sheep and cattle.…

SRUC Veterinary Services
22/08/2024

Haemonchus diagnosed in multiple submissions this week

We have had several submissions of lambs this week. In four of the five submissions, there have been significant numbers of Haemonchus worms visible in the abomasal washes, associated with worm egg counts of 13,650-64,800 strongyle eggs.…

SRUC Veterinary Services
16/08/2024

Babesia on the March?

Like last summer, we are seeing a slight increase in case numbers of Babesiosis in cattle..…

SRUC Veterinary Services
13/08/2024

June cases

Another month has ended and we still seem to be having a very Scottish summer. The balance of submissions and diagnoses has taken its usual seasonal shift away from abortion and towards parasitic disease. Nematodirosis and Coccidiosis were diagnosed across all the hubs and central laboratory in June.…

SRUC Veterinary Services
19/07/2024

Look out for lead

May to August are the peak months for seeing lead poisoning cases with 74% of our diagnoses made during the summer months after turn out, with younger animals more susceptible.…

SRUC Veterinary Services
30/05/2024

BSE Disease confirmed in Ayrshire

A case of classical Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) has been confirmed on a farm in Ayrshire.…

SRUC Veterinary Services
10/05/2024