Portland House Farm Animal Vets

11/08/2026

🐑🦟🐂 Bluetongue Update 🐂🦟🐑

Bluetongue is still spreading rapidly across the UK with confirmed cases as far north as Scotland and the peak of the outbreak is not expected until September.

💉 Vaccination is the only way to protect your flock or herd, with just one midge bite capable of spreading and causing disease. A reduction in disease severity is seen as early a week after vaccination so it is never too late to vaccinate.

💉 Like most of the country we are now out of stock of bluetongue vaccine but we are expecting some stock from Europe coming in within the next few weeks. We are putting together a list of clients who are waiting on vaccine so we can try and ensure we have enough stock allocated for everyone.

📞 Give us a call to pre-order your vaccine
📞 Any suspicion of disease needs to be reported to APHA or your vets, please see the table below for signs to watch out for.

07/08/2026

Did you know that it is estimated that 50% of beef and dairy calves suffer from Failure of Passive Transfer (FPT).

This can be either from poor quality colostrum, or too little suckled/fed within 4hrs of birth.

Calves with FPT are 2.3 times more likely to have respiratory disease and are 4.3x more likely to die before 6m of age than calves that have good levels of passive transfer.

Today Katherine went out on farm to test some calves for passive transfer to check how the colostrum management on farm was doing after some issues last year. Calves under 7days old were blood sampled and the test run in house for quick feedback. These calves all looked really well but some did have fail of passive transfer so looks aren't everything and further tweaks to the farms protocols made before the next cow calved this afternoon!

Give us a call to see how we can help you make sure you are doing everything you can do give your calves the best start possible.

04/08/2026

Bluetongue Webinar by AHDB for an update on the current situation.

Cases have risen rapidly in the past few weeks so it is vital to act now to protect your stock. We currently have vaccine available but there has been some shortages over the past few weeks so don't leave it until its too late. Please speak to a vet to find out more.

⚠️ Bluetongue cases are rising rapidly, with severe clinical signs being reported.

If you keep livestock, now is the time to stay informed.

Join the next webinar on Wednesday at 5pm, to hear the latest updates from Defra, local vets, the NBA and NSA on the current BTV-3 situation and what it means for your farm.

Register now and stay informed: f44ca7a7-8bc3-4c38-a348-df2b92cf1da7@a12ce54b-3d3d-4346-95ef-ff13ca5dd47d?source=copyLinkOneEventsShareDialog" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/f44ca7a7-8bc3-4c38-a348-df2b92cf1da7@a12ce54b-3d3d-4346-95ef-ff13ca5dd47d?source=copyLinkOneEventsShareDialog

Submit questions in advance: https://bit.ly/46kyBAf

22/07/2026

Ever wondered how our vets perform ram vasectomies? Watch vet Rebecca chat you through the process 🐑👀

21/07/2026

🐑🐑 Ram MOT/Fertility Days 🐑🐑

Following on from the success of the recent ram vasectomy clinics we are now offering Ram Fertility Days for reduced price tup fertility exams.

Did you know nearly 30% of rams are sub-fertile? Leading to low scanning rates and increased barren and ewe culling rates

How many of you properly check your tups prior to tupping? Whilst a ram's testicles may appear normal the s***m might not up to scratch and this isn't obvious without a full semen analysis.

We are offering a basic tup MOT with no semen analysis or a full fertility exam at the practice for as many tups as you need doing. Drop the rams and trailer off and pick them up once they're done. If it's hot we'll have a shaded pen and water available for them.

Please give the practice a call to discuss how this could benefit your flock 📞01777 703663 (option 2 for farm)

Prices quoted are ex VAT and per ram.

21/07/2026

🐑🐑 First cases of Bluetongue for 2026 season🐑🐑

There have now been 12 reported cases of Bluetongue in cattle and sheep across England since 10th July.

Whilst mortality rate can reach as high as 70% of affected animals in sheep it can also have a quiet yet huge impact on the productivity on farm by affecting the fertility of both cattle and sheep by causing increased barren rates. This is particularly worrying in cattle where no other clinical sign may be seen and so farms can be unaware of the issue until it's too late and calving has been affected.

However, it is not too late to protect your flock or herd by vaccinating. Please give the practice a call to find out how it could benefit your farm 📞01777 703663 (option 2 for farm)

10/07/2026

🐑💚

08/07/2026

🐑✂️Vasectomy Day!

Three ram’s came to the practice today for their discounted vasectomies - £100 each (ex VAT)

Thinking about teaser rams this season? Our next Vasectomy Day is the 20th July 📆

23/06/2026

🐑🐑 Sheep Abortion Facts 🐑🐑

🐑 The two most common causes of abortion in sheep are Toxoplasma and Enzootic Abortion in Ewes accounting for nearly two thirds of abortion diagnosed!

🐑 They can also cause just low barren rates, stillbirths or weak/sickly lambs so can potentially go unnoticed for a few years, especially Toxoplasma

🐑 Each abortion is thought to cost £127.96/ewe

🐑 Both diseases are also zoonotic and can cause abortion or flu like symptoms in humans

🐑 Nearly 100% of flocks are thought to have been exposed to Toxoplasma, including 'closed flocks'.

🐑 62% of screened flocks tested positive for EAE on the MSD FlockCheck scheme

⭐️⭐️Both of these are preventable via vaccination, please give us a call and speak to a vet to find out how to protect you flock and take advantage of our current offers⭐️⭐️

18/06/2026

Date for the Diary 📅
- Ram Vasectomy Clinic
- Spaces are limited so contact the practice to book your space.