Bishops Castle Vets - Farm

29/07/2025

🚨 WORM ALERT: Haemonchus contortus 🚨

We have recently seen some severe cases of Haemonchus contortus, a blood-sucking roundworm that can cause rapid, fatal anaemia in sheep. Heavy infections may cause sudden death, bottle jaw, or poor growth in lambs and ewes which can look similar to a fluke infection.

⚠️ A single female can lay up to 15,000 eggs per day, with a short 20-day lifecycle. This means numbers can explode quickly, especially in warm, wet weather.

Regular worm egg counts (WECs) are essential to monitor infection levels and respond before it’s too late. Don’t wait for clinical signs — protect your flock by testing and targeted treatment.

👉 Collect your free WEC sampling kit and to us about setting up a WEC schedule for your farm.

🪱 For some more in depth information follow the link to the SCOPS podcast episode on haemonchus!
https://scops-podcast.simplecast.com/episodes/haemonchus-what-to-look-for-and-how-to-respond-no-need-to-panic

13/06/2025

⚠️*Bluetongue Virus Update*⚠️

➡️ *ENGLAND* from 1st July - the whole of England will be within a restricted zone. Therefore no testing is required within England.

➡️⚠️ *WALES* policy from *1st July*:

❗Stock moving from England to Wales will require pre-movement testing at the owners expense.
❗Stock going from England to an *abattoir or cull market* in Wales will no require testing

We appreciate that this is going to have significant consequences on trade and sales, and the policy at market and national level will undoubtedly be under regular review.

➡️ Bluetongue virus is an emerging threat to our livestock coming into the main risk period from July to October.

➡️ Vaccination is strongly recommended to help protect stock against disease.

➡️Please see below a link to a decision making tool regarding vaccination of your livestock:

https://ruminanthw.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/BattleBluetongue-vaccine-decision-maker-tool-February-2025-.pdf

Please give us a call to speak to us about any of the above and protection of stock on your farm.

Thanks

Bishops Castle Vets

10/05/2025

👀👀

Cattle, pig and sheep farmers can get funding for vet services. This includes disease testing and advice to improve welfare and productivity.

16/04/2025

Happy Easter!

🐣🐰Easter Weekend Opening Times🐰🐣

As always for veterinary emergencies there is out of hours cover by our vets on the usual phone number 01588638356 📞

Please remember to collect all medications you need within our opening hours for over the Bank Holiday Weekend 💊

Happy Easter to all our lovely clients and their animals!

08/04/2025

🪱 Nematodirus Forecast 🪱

** We are now stocking various drenches at very competitive prices **

Currently there is a **HIGH NEMATODIRUS RISK for our area** particularly fields grazed by young lambs last year can be very infective. Nematodirosis usually affects lambs aged 6-12 weeks or those that are under increased stress causing decreased growth rates and sudden death.

If you graze lambs on a high risk pasture during a high risk period treatment with a 1-BZ white drench is recommended and usually very effective. A worm egg count 7-10 days after treatment can be done to confirm efficacy of treatment and check for any signs of resistance.

⭐️We now stock seasonal drenches at a competitive price! Please get in touch if you would like to discuss a suitable treatment plan for your flock ⭐️

Check the SCOPS Nematodirus forecast throughout the early grazing season here https://www.scops.org.uk/forecasts/nematodirus-forecast/

12/03/2025

** Cattle Herds in Wales! **

A reminder about the BVD Eradication Scheme in Wales.

All herds in Wales must test for BVD before July 2025 . This involves blood sampling a screen of animals within the herd, which can be tied in with other visits e.g. TB testing.

Further information can be found on the following website, but please get in touch to discuss this further.

Outline of the new Welsh Bovine Viral Diarrhoea Eradication Scheme.

07/02/2025

Now is a good time to stock up on lambing/calving essentials! We are stocking NoBacz as a navel treatment, benefits include rapid drying time, sealant and a bitter taste to prevent licking. Feedback has been really positive so far 🐄 🐑

25/10/2024

A Restricted Zone is in place across multiple counties in England.

Watch our YouTube videos to find out more on the actions you need to take and the restrictions in the zone.

Animal movements: https://youtu.be/AKuehmsfGKg

Germinal product movements: https://youtu.be/gKO5IC3nkI4

You can use the interactive map to check if you are in a bluetongue Restricted Zone.
https://www.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=514ec88edec74575958d860f0196d2ea

19/07/2024

Mixed Practice Vet Vacancy – South Shropshire
We are looking for a Vet to join our team of 8 vets, 3 RVNs and excellent support staff. The position is primarily a maternity cover position, however longer-term options will be considered. We are a fully mixed practice covering a wide area of South Shropshire, with a genuine mixed caseload of SA, LA and Equine. We are proudly independent and provide a comprehensive, affordable service to our clients as well as offering our own OOH.

What are we looking for? Ideally a mixed vet with some experience, however full support can be provided to a new or recent graduate. We have 2 GDP advisors in the practice. We are looking for a team player who isn’t afraid to get involved and enjoys all aspects of mixed animal work. The role is hugely varied with great opportunities in medical and surgical cases. You can do all of this whilst working in a beautiful part of the country with a great selection of loyal clients.

What can we offer? We have a number of consulting rooms, a large staff area, ultrasound for both small animal and large animal, dental equipment for small and equine. We are soon upgrading our digital x-ray for small animal and equine, SA dental DR and an upgraded small animal ultrasound machine. The day rota is split between visits, operating and consulting with each full-time vet working a 4.5 day week. Following a weekend on call, you will work a 4 day week. The OOH rota is 1 in 5 with full support at all times and we have nurses on call too. There is a good CPD allowance, holidays and remuneration which can be discussed.

In the first instance please get in touch with Elliott on 07817351894 or email [email protected]

24/05/2024

📣***𝗜𝗠𝗣𝗢𝗥𝗧𝗔𝗡𝗧 𝗔𝗡𝗡𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗖𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧***📣

BISHOPS CASTLE AUCTION
WEEKLY 🐑SHEEP🐑 MARKET DAY
IS MOVING TO FRIDAYS!

𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝟱𝘁𝗵 𝗝𝘂𝗹𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰.

Weekly sales of Prime Lambs, Cull Ewes and Store Lambs
52 weeks of the year (bank holidays not included)
Strong buyer support promised!

For further details/entries, please contact:

☎️Bishops Castle: 01588 638755
☎️Auctioneer: James F Evans 07851 552438
☎️Auctioneer: Jonny Dymond 07803 412617

For information on all our upcoming Livestock and Machinery Sales, please visit: https://www.hallsgb.com/auctions/

09/05/2024

☀️SFI Animal Health and Welfare Reviews☀️

We have been doing a few of these at the practice recently.

The review provides substantial funding for an annual vet visit to review and discuss health and productivity on farm and perform the required minimum disease testing (e.g. BVD for cattle, Worm egg counts for sheep).

This AHWP visit also satisfies the veterinary attestation requirements for the export of products to the EU (VAN certificate).

Funding can be applied for in a matter of minutes for either cattle, sheep or pigs. Once approved, the visit can take place and following completion of a post visit report the review is complete.

Please get in touch to find out more or follow the link below for more information or to apply!

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29/04/2024

Watch out for nematodirus just now!

2024-born lambs growing well on spring grass?🐑🌱

Don’t let them get hit by nematodirus‼️

Use the free SCOPS forecasting service ➡️ www.scops.org.uk/nematodirus