Farming at Capontree Vets

09/04/2026

Pre-breeding examination for heifers

Pre- breeding examination of heifers is a key part of selecting heifers for breeding. Pelvic measuring helps to identify any heifers with small or abnormally shaped pelvises.

We use a device called a Rice Pelvimeter which takes vertical and horizontal measurements of the pelvis internally. From this, an age corrected pelvic area is then calculated. Measurements of less than 140cm2 are considered too small and not suitable for breeding.

At the same time we can check the heifers reproductive tract to identify any abnormalities or identify heifers that are not cycling by checking their ovaries.

07/04/2026

Preparing for turnout
It won’t be long now until you start turning cattle out, especially if the weather stays good!

• Vaccines

Now is a good time to make sure all cattle are up to date with BVD/IBR/Lepto and scour vaccines!
Heifers will need two doses of some vaccines (i.e. Lepto) to be given at least 3 weeks before going out with the bulls which can require some forward planning!

• Huskvac

Huskvac is especially important for dairy heifers going out to grass for the first time this year to prevent lungworm later in the summer. This area is high risk for lungworm in cattle, we see severe disease in youngstock every year

Two doses need to be given 4 weeks apart. Both doses should be given at least 2 weeks before turnout.

01/04/2026

30/03/2026

Dont forget we have two trips to look forward too this summer....
Call the suregery to secure your place ☎ 016977 2318 ☎

26/03/2026

Blue Tongue
Thankfully Bluetongue serotype 3 (BTV-3) did not spread through this region last summer. But with isolated cases in Ireland over winter, and even South Cumbria, there is growing suspicion it may have spread more than it was actually diagnosed last year. So there may well be risk of disease this year!

As there is no treatment for the disease, and we cannot stop the Midge that spreads it, slowing its spread through vaccination and restricted movements in affected areas remains the best defence. We advise you consider vaccination. Most importantly the Tups and Bulls to reduce chance of infertility. With breeding ewes and cows given strong consideration for vaccination too.

23/03/2026

Ewe Abortion Investigation
Some abortions are often accepted as a part of lambing, but this does not have to be the case️...

Infectious abortions continue to account for a significant proportion of losses and is something we can control and reduce. The industry target for abortions is less than 5%, anything greater than this can indicate a problem and should prompt an investigation.

Three types of infectious abortions are responsible for 86% of all abortions. These include Enzootic abortion (52%), Toxoplasmosis (25%) and Campylobacter (9%). To prevent future infections, we recommend the aborted ewes are isolated and permanently marked.

There is currently subsidised testing available to blood test 5-6 aborted or barren ewes for Toxoplasma or Enzootic Abortion in your flock.
If you have abortions in your flock this spring, please contact the surgery. We can sample fresh lambs and ideally the placenta for the major causes of abortion quickly and easily.

19/03/2026

🚜 Farming Equipment & Technology Fund 2026 is NOW OPEN🌱

If you’ve been thinking about upgrading your equipment or investing in new technology, this is your moment. The FETF 2026 grant is open for applications – but only for a limited time.

This fund is designed to support farmers, growers, foresters and contractors with investments that improve:
✔️ Productivity
✔️ Animal health & welfare
✔️ Slurry management

⏳ Applications close at midday on 28 April 2026– just a 6-week window to get your application in.

👉 If you’re planning to invest in your business in 2026, don’t wait – this could be your last chance to access this funding for a while.

For more information visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/farming-equipment-and-technology-fund-fetf-2026

Apply for a FETF grant for help to buy items that improve productivity, manage slurry and improve animal health and welfare.

13/03/2026

🩺Mastitis🩺

Mastitis is inflammation of the udder which is usually caused by some form of bacteria. Most of the time this is from bacteria going up the teat canal and into the udder.

Symptoms of mastitis may include:
🐑Heat
🐑Swelling
🐑Clots in the milk
🐑Watery or bloody milk

❗️Good hygiene is the mainstay in preventing cases of mastitis by reducing the amount of bacteria in the environment able to infect the udder.
❗️Other factors like body condition score, udder conformation and other diseases like Maedi Visna can also lead to mastitis developing.

📞If you are concerned about mastitis in your flock please get in touch.

12/03/2026

🌟We are at Borderway UK DAIRY EXPO on Saturday 14th March🌟

Come and say hello

10/03/2026

🐮Practice Average Test Value (ATV) for Johnes in Dairy Herds🐮

Now most dairy herds have completed their annual Johnes testing we collated the results to see how we measure up to the national average.

For herds that are milk testing an ATV is automatically created for you by your milk recorder, this can be found on CIS or NMR. The National target is 5.5 but the average for herds in the UK is currently 5.8.

The average value from blood testing is calculated differently and can’t be compared to the 5.5 target generated for milk recorders. However, this value can be calculated each year from your results and used to track your own progress.

Our results show, for both blood and milk testing, a big range between farms within the practice.

How good is Johnes control in your herd?
We can go through a detailed Johnes Risk Assessment with you to look at;
❗️calving areas,
❗️colostrum management, testing, sourcing policy
❗️grazing management.

07/03/2026

🌟Arkguard🌟

Arkguard is a new, non-antibiotic supplementary product. It contains billions of IgY antibodies which act locally in the gut.
This allows for more antibodies from the ewe’s colostrum to be absorbed systemically to establish the lamb’s immune system.

Arkguard is designed to be a one-off 2ml dose per lamb from birth, but can be repeated daily for up to 3 days for more vulnerable lambs.

Supplements are useful tools, but nothing will replace a belly full of good quality colostrum and a clean, dry lambing environment!

📞For more information about Arkguard please contact the Practice!

06/03/2026

🐑🩺Watery Mouth🐑🩺

Watery Mouth is a condition caused by E. coli bacteria. Lambs ingest the bacteria from the environment in their first few days of life.
Signs include:
🩺hyper-salivation,
🩺a swollen belly,
🩺weakness/collapse.
Lambs die due to the bacteria releasing toxins into the bloodstream.

As with most conditions, prevention is better than cure!

🌟Colostrum is essential in establishing a lamb’s immune system. The antibodies in colostrum are absorbed into the blood stream from the gut.
The lamb’s ability to absorb antibodies and the quality of those antibodies decreases hourly after birth to basically 0 by 24hrs old.🌟

❗️Remember lambs should receive 50ml per kg (200-250ml) of colostrum in the first 2hrs from birth, then 3 more similar feeds across the next 24hrs❗️