Blackdown Farm Vets

25/08/2026

If you are a livestock keeper and have five minutes, please fill this in.

NSA is gathering the numbers manufacturers need to plan production, so that vaccine is there when you want and need it. This short survey takes less than five minutes to complete, and your answers will help influence availability.

Your answers stay confidential and will be reported only as combined figures.

Have your say by 13th September.

Visit https://bit.ly/4gouR5t

25/08/2026

Talk to us today about TBAS visits - they are free and especially useful if you are free from TB to prevent infection!

24/08/2026

Our office is closed this coming Bank Holiday Monday, 31st of August.

Please make sure you have everything you need ahead of the long weekend, and as always, there is a vet on call 24/7 should you need us.

21/08/2026

🐑 Bluetongue – The evolving situation 🐄

With over 500 BTV-3 confirmed positive holdings in the UK, concentrated particularly in Devon, Cornwall and Somerset, it’s important that we don’t panic — but equally, we must not be complacent.

💉 Vaccination remains our best protection against Bluetongue. Good vaccine uptake last year and this spring by our clients has given many herds and flocks valuable protection. We’ve now fulfilled all of our vaccine orders here at Blackdown, so we’re in a good position to continue supporting our clients with ongoing vaccination.

Please note - all vaccine use should be reported to Defra within 48 hours. Any spare doses of vaccination should be returned to the practice for disposal. It is illegal to sell unused Bluetongue vaccine as it is a prescription only medication (POM-V). Please talk to us about the legalities surrounding the prescription of medications and how we can help service your vaccination needs.

Clinical signs include:
🐏 Increased mortality
🐄 Fever
🐂 Lameness/stiffness/ reluctance to rise
🦙 Facial swelling
🐏 Redness/ crusting of eyes or nose
🐄 Drooling and nasal discharge
🐂 Ulcers in mouth
🦙Cloudy eyes
🐏 Drops in milk yield
🐄 Reductions in fertility
🐂 Abortion
🦙 Lethargy/ Dull

Bluetongue can have a severe impact on fertility, including more barren animals, abortions, stillbirths and reduced fertility in Rams and Bulls. In Northern Europe, there have been reports of offspring from infected pregnancies being born small, weak, blind or with deformities — all issues we may need to prepare for here in the future.

For the latest news, visit AHDB (https://ahdb.org.uk/bluetongue), Ruminant Health and Welfare (https://ruminanthw.org.uk/) and their ‘Battle Bluetongue virus Hub’ or https://www.gov.uk/government/news/bluetongue-latest-situation

Bluetongue is continuing to develop. Stay informed, monitor stock closely and report any suspicion of disease. Speak to your vet about vaccination.

We are aware that this has been a particularly challenging time for farming - if you need support, please reach out.

11/08/2026

An excellent post by the British Cattle Veterinary Association - BCVA

07/08/2026

What a fantastic day we had yesterday at Honiton Show! ☀️ It was so lovely to catch up with so many of our clients, friends and members of the local farming community. Thank you to everyone who stopped by our stand – your support means so much to us.

A huge thank you to everyone who helped make our stand a success:
🐷 Hilltop Wood Fired Hog Roasts for providing an absolutely delicious hog roast that fed over 300 people!
🌸 brook floristry for the stunning agricultural themed milk churn displays!
🪑 Fanfare for the hire of the tables and chairs.
🚜 C J Cox Limited for mowing the pitch for us.
🪚 Steve Allen for making the fantastic feet for our fence panels – they worked perfectly!
📸 Maria Sage (MMS Photography) for her wonderful photography skills.

We’re also incredibly grateful to The Farming Community Network for supplying posters and promotional materials for our stand. FCN provides invaluable support to farmers and rural communities, and we’re proud to help raise awareness of the fantastic work they do, particularly their recent Macmillan campaign.

It was a pleasure to welcome TB Champions to our stand yesterday, albeit briefer than planned! We look forward to working together in the future to support our farming community.

Congratulations to Nigel Chapman of Penn Farm, who was the winner of our photo competition with his brilliant Christmas-themed entry! 🎄📸 congratulations also to the other 11 winners of their month! Look out for or 2027 calendar later in the year, with all profits going to FCN!

A huge congratulations to everyone involved in showing cattle and sheep yesterday. The standard on display was exceptional, the hard work and dedication was obvious.

We also want to take a moment to acknowledge those who were unable to join us at this year’s show because of the ongoing bluetongue situation. We know that many farmers are facing incredibly difficult circumstances and our thoughts are with everyone affected during this challenging time. Please talk to us about vaccination or contact us with any questions, if you haven’t already.

Of course, we have to say thank you to the Blackdown Farm Vets team. To those back at the practice who kept everything running smoothly while we were at the show, thank you for holding the fort. To everyone who gave their time on the stand, chatted with visitors and helped throughout the day. It certainly paid off, with another fantastic turnout and 1st place in the 12m and under stand category! 🏆

Thank you again to everyone who helped, visited, competed and made the day so memorable. We already can’t wait for Honiton Show next year! 💚

07/08/2026

The EU has given Brazil until September 3 to prove its beef and poultry exports meet antibiotic rules, or face losing export authorisation. 🇧🇷❌

Now the NFU is urging the UK Government to take the same precautionary approach, warning that failing to act could undermine British farmers' progress on responsible antibiotic use and put extra pressure on domestic beef and poultry producers.

If the EU bans imports but the UK does not, could more Brazilian meat be diverted to the UK market?

READ MORE: https://ow.ly/aBQ650Zx7WC

06/08/2026

We are all set up for Honiton show 2026! Come see us for a hog roast and a bucket hat. Have a chat with while you’re here 🐄

05/08/2026

Cases pending confirmation: 954

That’s over 1000 potential cases since 1st July 2026

Vaccination remains the best way to protect your animals - there is a waiting list for vaccines but so far, we are still able to get it.

Speak to us today with any questions or concerns.

03/08/2026

Photography Competition - ‘Why We farm: The dedication of farmers’ (Months July - December)

This year, the best 12 entries will be used to make a 2027 calendar to raise money for FCN

Please vote for one photo per month by giving it a ‘like’. The photo with the most likes overall will win 2 tickets to either Exeter Chiefs rugby, Exeter City Football Club or Somerset County Cricket Club!