Cross Counties Farm Vets

03/12/2025

🌨 Frozen water trough hacks 🌨

What are the best water trough hacks to prevent them from freezing? We know there are a couple of tips out there but we’re interested to know what has worked for you.

Couple of options:
🔴 Floating ball
🌊 Floating a plastic bottle of salted water - salt water has a higher freezing temp, so helps keep a hole open - make sure the salt can’t get in the water!
🧣 Insulating your tanks - there’s been success with straw and even foam mats, the type you get camping
💧 Reducing capacity and flow - so the water constantly trickles in

It’s a frustrating problem to have, but a key one to solve for grazing livestock.

02/12/2025

🎄Our annual charity quiz is on Friday 5th December, and this year it is in aid of The Farming Community Network and Macmillan Cancer Support. 💚

💳 We still have a few tickets left if you would like to join us for a fun filled evening.

🎁 We know some of you cannot join us on the night but would still like to support the event. Please find a list of items available on the silent auction below. We also have a large number of fantastic raffle prizes.

📞 If you would like to place a bid, or purchase raffle tickets, please contact the office on 01455 710935 or [email protected], or pop in. For further information on any of the auction items, please speak to Lauren.

24/11/2025

Worming at Housing 🐂

As cattle come indoors, it’s the perfect time to review your parasite control plan. Worming at housing helps reduce gut and lungworm burdens, supporting growth rates and winter health.

Speak to your vet about choosing the right product and for a quote (or ask us for our latest price list):

✅ Treat effectively.
✅ Dose accurately.
✅ Keep stock healthy this winter.

18/11/2025

Oxidative Stress 🐄

We want to quickly highlight the signs of oxidative stress in dairy cows, as it’s something we often come across, especially in transition cows which won’t come as much of a surprise to you.

Oxidative stress happens when the cow’s natural defences can no longer keep up with the amount of “free radicals” produced. When free radical production overwhelms the cow’s natural defences, damage can occur at cellular level.

Prolonged stress caused by poor diet, management, heat, high milk production, infection etc can lead to:
🐮 Reduced yield
🐮 Ketosis and other metabolic disorders
🐮 Impaired immunity
🐮 Fertility issues

Vitamin and mineral supplementation can help reduce oxidative stress, especially in systems where it’s hard to change the root cause. It’s not for you to “stress” about but always good to keep in mind should you have poor performance - there’s always something to investigate.

Just a little background and food for thought for you all.

11/11/2025

Remembrance Day

As we pause to remember the courage and sacrifice of those who served, we also honour the farmers and agricultural workers who fought their own battle here at home.

During times of war, food production became a matter of national survival. Fields were tended by families missing loved ones, young people took on the work of entire crews, and communities rallied to ensure no one went hungry.

From ration books to victory gardens, the farming community’s resilience fed both soldiers abroad and families at home — sustaining hope in the hardest of times.

Today, we remember not only those on the front lines, but those who kept the home front alive.

05/11/2025

Bonfire Night 🔥

Remember Remember …

We’re all custodians of nature, so please check bonfires before lighting them in
case wildlife such as hedgehogs have taken shelter amongst the wood. Disturb
the pile by lifting sections gently (if possible) and light from one side which gives anything the chance to escape. 🦔

04/11/2025

Housing restrictions increased to cover the whole of England.

Please see below for more information.

03/11/2025

29/10/2025

📢 New mandatory housing measures for bird keepers in Leicestershire 🐦🦆🐓

🏘 In response to a significant increase of findings of avian influenza in kept and wild birds, an Avian Influenza Protection Zone (AIPZ) with mandatory housing measures will come into force from 00:01 on Thursday 30 October 2025 to protect poultry & captive birds.

🥚 From this time, all keepers of over 50 birds and all keepers who sell or give away eggs or poultry products (even if they keep fewer than 50 birds) in these areas must house their birds and continue to follow stringent biosecurity measures. If you fall into a Protection Zone outside of these areas, you must also house your birds.

🗺 Areas in the AIPZ: Cheshire, Cumbria, Derbyshire, Durham, East Riding of Yorkshire, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Merseyside, Norfolk, North Yorkshire, Northumberland, Nottinghamshire, Rutland, Shropshire, South Yorkshire, Staffordshire, Suffolk, Tyne & Wear, West Yorkshire.

🌐 Please see the press release on GOV.UK for more information.

20/10/2025

⭐ Save the date! ⭐

🎄 Our annual charity Christmas quiz will be held on Friday 5th December.

🌾 This year we are supporting The Farming Community Network, a mental health charity supporting members of the farming community who are going through difficult times. They run a confidential national helpline and e-helpline.

💚 We are also supporting Macmillan Cancer Support, who support people living with cancer as well their families and friends who we have chosen in support of our colleagues and friends.

🎟 Tickets will be on sale soon!

19/10/2025

🐌 Liver Fluke Risk 🐌

🌦 As autumn sets in, now is a critical time for us to monitor and manage the risk of liver fluke (Fasciola hepatica) in sheep. Our weather is becoming increasingly unpredictable meaning snail habitats, and therefore liver fluke, could become more widespread.

📅 Take last year for example, many regions faced a prolonged liver fluke season, even into late March 2025. We’ve had a notably drier summer this year, however warmer autumn and winters may just be prolonging the risk.

🧫 It’s important to stay aware and test before you treat – fluke treatment depends on the stage and with a moving season it’s becoming harder to know what stage you’re treating and therefore what treatment will be effective.

💷 Please don’t throw your money down the drain! Speak to your vet about testing for fluke.

16/10/2025

📝 Animal Health and Welfare Review - England Only

🗣 Many of you have already taken up the Animal Health and Welfare Review funding, but for those of you who haven’t as yet, please speak to your vet.

💷 If you’re not aware, since June farmers in England can get a funded vet visit (also called the Animal Health and Welfare Review) for each of your herds or flocks of the same species.

🐂🐑🐖 This means that if you manage several groups of cattle, pigs or sheep can now get support across all species.

🐄🐄🐄 For example, if you have three herds of dairy cows, you can now apply for funding for all three.