Galloway Vets - Farm Team

14/04/2026

Here is a Bluetongue Factsheet.
Please get in touch with one of our vets for further advice.

14/04/2026

We had a very informative Bluetongue meeting earlier this month and discussed the best options to protect your livestock.
Our thanks go to Colin Mason BVM&s BSc Cert CHP MRCVS for sharing his knowledge with us and to the Arden House for the delicious food.

11/04/2026

🚨 Schmallenberg Virus (SBV): What You Need to Know This Spring

Schmallenberg is a viral disease spread by biting midges, which are active from April to November. The virus was circulating widely across Scotland during the 2024 midge season, and we are now seeing the effects.
🔍 What we saw in Spring 2025:
• Multiple cases of foetal deformities in lambs and calves
• High levels of SBV exposure detected across herds and flocks
• Increased risk of difficult lambings/calvings due to deformities

🐑🐄 How SBV affects livestock:
• Cattle: Fever, diarrhoea, milk drop
• Pregnant animals: Infection at key stages can cause deformities
– Sheep: 25–50 days of pregnancy
– Cattle: 62–180 days
• Early infection may lead to embryo loss, abortion, or barren ewes/cows

🧬 Immunity & disease patterns
Animals develop natural immunity lasting 2–3 years — which is why SBV tends to appear in waves, though cases can occur annually.

🚨 On‑farm vigilance
If lambing or calving feels unusually difficult this spring, consider SBV‑related deformities as a potential cause and contact your vet.

🛡️ Prevention (no vaccine currently available in the UK):
• Consider delaying mating to avoid peak midge season
• Housing, midge netting or insect repellents may help in limited, high‑value cases
• Reduce midge breeding sites — e.g., keep muck heaps away from stock

Stay alert this season and speak to your vet if you have concerns.

04/03/2026

📢 Our next meeting will be on Bluetongue
📅 Wednesday 1st April 2026, 6.30pm
📌The Arden House Hotel
We are lucky to be joined by vet Colin Mason BVM&S BSc CertCHP MRCVS who is going to present on the challenges ahead with this disease.
All welcome

12/02/2026

We had a fantastic turnout for our 'A Balanced Approach To Mastitis Control' meeting this week. Our thanks go to Alistair and Ross from Hipra for their presentation and to the Murray Arms for the delicious food.

03/02/2026

⚠️New BVD rules from 1st February 2026⚠️

From 1st February 2026 all calves born to dams who moved onto a holding while pregnant will require BVD testing before 40 days of age. This will include in calf heifers and heifers coming back from wintering accommodation.
Calves will not be able to move off until a result is back and if a result is not back before 40 days of age the herd BVD status will be temporarily set to 'not negative' and animals without an individual negative status will not be allowed to leave.
Calves can be tested with a blood sample or a tissue tag sample, the tag can be an official ID tag or management tag.
Please be aware that currently BVD results are taking around 2 weeks to come back from the lab so make sure any required testing is completed in good time.
Please get in touch with our vet team if you have any questions on this.

31/01/2026

Another great AI training course last week. Well done to all involved.

Please get in touch if you'd like to join any future courses.

Another successful AI training course delivered this week, this time in Scotland with Sarah Robertson, one of our Genetics Consultants, supporting Galloway Vets AI trainer Will McCarthy.

Many thanks to Robert Wallace at Craigley farm too for facilitating the days.

Knowledge sharing and practical, on farm training are at the heart of what we do, helping build skills and confidence for the next generation of dairy innovators. Our courses are designed to support your farming journey with real world, hands on experience.

Interested in joining a future course? Contact your local Genetics Consultant to find out more 🌟📞

26/01/2026

Douglas and Cara from Norbrook provided us with an excellent training session on using medicines responsibly. Our thanks go to them and to the Arden for the lovely food.

13/01/2026

🐄 Dairy Clients Meeting 🐄
We look forward to seeing you there, note change of venue.

07/01/2026

💉Medicine Course, £50 plus VAT
📅6.30pm 22nd January at Arden House Hotel
🍽️Hot dinner served, we look forward to seeing you there!

07/01/2026

We had a great time at our Christmas Social 🎄just before Christmas and hope that everyone enjoyed it too.
Our thanks go to Bryan from NoBACZ who presented their product range and to the Arden House for the delicious Christmas dinner.