Millcroft Farm

10/06/2026

⚠️ BLUETONGUE UPDATE ⚠️

🔵 Cases of Bluetongue have been confirmed in Cumbria.

🔵 Clinical signs include:
🐄 Reduction in conception rate
🐄 Milk drop
🐄 Abortions
🐄 Blind calves

🐑 High temperature
🐑 Swollen head
🐑 Lameness
🐑 Ulceration of the mouth

💉 Vaccinate to protect your stock.

🗓️ Animals that received a Primary Vaccination Course last year require a Booster Vaccination this year.

☎️ Please contact the Farm Team on 01900 826666 with any queries or to place your vaccine order.

⬇️ Please click the link below to stay up to date with the latest Bluetongue news:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/bluetongue-information-and-guidance-for-livestock-keepers

29/04/2026

⚠️ NEMATODIRUS WARNING ⚠️

🪱 The current SCOPS Nematodirus Forcesast for West Cumbria shows that hatching is imminent.

☀️ The recent weather is providing perfect conditions for a mass hatch.

🤷🏻‍♀️ What does this mean?

🐑 6-12 week old lambs are the most vulnerable.

🟢 Fields grazed by last years lambs are highest risk.

🧭 South facing slopes and sheltered costal ground tend to hatch earlier than shaded or higher pastures.

🌅 A sudden warm spell after recent cooler nights can trigger a mass hatch so disease can appear fast.

🤔 What to do this week?

✅ Check the SCOPS map for the nearest weather station to your farm and compare with your own fields.

✅ Prioritise monitoring lambs on last years lambing fields and lowland pastures.

🧐 Watch for sudden onset of symptoms:

🔴 Scouring
🔴 Dull or depressed
🔴 Stopped sucking
🔴 Looking ‘tucked up’
🔴 Loss of body condition
🔴 Dehydration

❗️IMPORTANT REMINDERS❗️

💩 Faecal Egg Counts won’t show Nematodirus risk as disease is caused by immature larvae not eggs.

⏰ Timing matters more than product choice, white drenches (BZ) remain the recommended option.

⬇️ Check the SCOPS forecast using the link below:

https://www.scops.org.uk/forecasts/nematodirus-forecast/

SCOPS is an industry led group that represents the interests of the sheep industry. It recognises that, left unchecked, anthelmintic resistance is one of the biggest challenges to the future health and profitability of the UK sheep industry.

27/03/2026

⭐ MASTERING MEDICINES COURSE ⭐️

🗓️ Wednesday 15th April, 10am-1pm.

☕️ Light refreshments will be provided.

☎️ Please contact the Farm Team on 01900 826666 to book your place.

❗️DID YOU KNOW?
As of 1st February 2025 Red Tractor Standards changed and require at least one person working on the farm to have undergone training in the last 5 years.

12/03/2026

🐑 Are Ewe aware of NoBacz Navel?

🛑Protect your youngstock the right way.

👋Wave goodbye to reapplications & uncertain outcomes.

🦠 No Bacz Navel is a quick drying, lick resistant barrier that safeguards against bacteria & infection.

🥇It’s the No. 1 choice over Iodine.

🧑‍🔬 Backed by Science - In the largest ever navel protection study, NoBacz Navel showed a 21% reduction in lamb mortality & farmers saw 230g additional bodyweight per lamb at 8 weeks old.

💰 With NoBacz Navel you’re investing in both safety & savings.

😀See healthier, heavier lambs and fewer infections overall.

☎️ Contact us to stock up and see the NoBacz difference!

09/02/2026

🐄 Johne’s Meeting 🐄

🗓️ Thursday 26th February 2026

🌎 @ Penrith Auction

☎️ Please contact Paragon Vets 01768 483789 to book your place

⬇️ See below for full info

02/01/2026

👀 🗓️ A date for your Diaries!

🥧 Please join us for a catch up, supper & get your head in the Lambing Game! 🐑

⬇️ Please contact The Cumbria Farmer Network to book - see details below.

🐑Lambing time success - made easy!🐑

Join us for an evening with Millcroft Veterinary Group , as they talk us through how to prepare for a successful lambing season.

📅Tuesday 13th January, 7-9pm
📍Fairfield Cafe, Mitchell's Auction, CA13 0QQ
🍽 Hot food provided so please book now!

Ring the Farmer Network on 01768 868615 or follow this link to book a place and tell us of any dietary requirements - https://bit.ly/LambingSuccess

12/12/2025

⭐️DIY AI ⭐️

Are you interested in learning how to artificially inseminate (AI) cattle? 🐄

Being able to do your own AI has a lot of benefits:
🕙 Better control of service timing
🦠 Better disease control
💷 Reduced cost
🐮 More job variety and job opportunity

🔵Millcroft Vets are now running 3 day AI Training Courses.

🥧 Lunch provided and AI certification awarded upon completion of the course. 📜

💷 The cost of the course is £525 + VAT.

☎️ Please call the Farm Team on 01900 826666 if you are interested.

🗓️ Dates will be arranged as soon as possible once there are enough participants.

10/12/2025

⭐ MASTERING MEDICINES COURSE ⭐️

🗓️ Wednesday 17th December, 1-4pm.

🌍 Highfield Community Centre, Cockermouth, CA13 9JF.

🔴 W3W: cocktail.soggy.happy

☕️ Light refreshments will be provided.

☎️ Please contact the Farm Team on 01900 826666 to book your place.

❗️DID YOU KNOW?
As of 1st February 2025 Red Tractor Standards changed and require at least one person working on the farm to have undergone training in the last 5 years.

07/11/2025

🔵 Protecting Animal Health - IMP For Livestock Farmers

Workshop organised by AHDB & West Cumbria Rivers Trust

🗓️ Wednesday 12th November 2025
⏰ 10:30am - 2.30pm
🌎 Moo Hall, Blue Dial Farm, Allonby CA15 6PB

W3W: bashful.encodes.skim

🔵 Matthew Colston from Elanco will be discussing the impact & management of liver fluke.

🔵 Sarah Tomlinson from AHDB & TBAS will cover challenges of wildlife & management of diseases including TB & Johnes.

🥧 Pie & Chips lunch will be provided

Booking link ⬇️

https://ahdb.org.uk/events/cumbria-protecting-animal-health-ipm-for-livestock-farmers

17/10/2025

⭐ MASTERING MEDICINES COURSE ⭐️

🗓️ Wednesday 5th November, 1-4pm.

🌍 Highfield Community Centre, Cockermouth, CA13 9JF.

🔴 W3W: cocktail.soggy.happy

☕️ Light refreshments will be provided.

☎️ Please contact the Farm Team on 01900 826666 to book your place.

❗️DID YOU KNOW?
As of 1st February 2025 Red Tractor Standards changed and require at least one person working on the farm to have undergone training in the last 5 years.