Close vet partnership pays off

A Cumbrian farm is reaping the benefits of working more closely with his vet by improving livestock health and performance without increasing overall vet and medicine costs.

Three years ago the Geldard family from Low Foulshaw, Levens, agreed with their vets, Kendal-based Highgate Veterinary Clinic, to set up a farm contract with a fixed monthly fee to attend to all their veterinary services for their sheep flock and beef herd including so called “fire brigade” visits. Medicines bought through the vet are not included but are sold at a discount – 25 per cent for therapeutic medicines and 15 per cent for vaccines.

Key to the contract was the drawing up a health plan for each of the sheep and beef enterprises.  This looked at the current health strategy on the farm, recommended changes and improvements and is now reviewed regularly.

“We started the new system three years ago and it has definitely improved the health of our cattle and sheep,” says Charles Geldard.  “We are now getting a better service but paying much the same for our vet bills.”

Charles farms in partnership with his brother Richard and mother and father, Rachel and John.  John Geldard won the Farmers Weekly ‘Farmer of the Year’ award for 2007 for his pioneering creation and development of the Plumgarths Hub which links local food producers with local retailers.

They farm 480 acres of grass at Low Foulshaw with a further 170 acres rented.  They run a 1,000 pedigree Lleyn flock on a commercial basis and 120 pedigree Charollais flock under the Wraycastle prefix. A 150-head commercial suckler cow enterprise is currently being revitalised with the introduction of stabiliser genetics to improve production, quality and simplify the management system.

Highgate vet Mark Stott has been working with the Geldards for 13 years and they are the first beef and sheep producers in the practice to go onto the contract system.  He finds he spends more time on the farm but his work is much more productive.

“The contract greatly improves the relationship between the vet and the farmer,” says Mr Stott.  “We spend much more time giving animal health advice and on preventive measures and much less on fire brigade work.

“If we treat a sick animal we will look to see if there is any risk of other animals going down with the same problem, and how any similar problems can be prevented in the future,” he explains.  “In the past it might have been tempting to treat the sick animal and head off the next farm. But now we sort things so we do not have to come back. 

“The arrangement also changes the relationship between the practice and the client.  Farmers are encouraged to contact us for advice over ailments which they can treat themselves,” says Mr Stott.

This is backed by Charles Geldard.  “We are much more likely to pick up the phone to the vet and get advice,” he says.  “Before we would be reluctant to phone and leave problems until too late – which is the wrong attitude.  We have a much better system now.”

Veterinary visits to Low Foulshaw now average about two per month – more than they were before the farm contract was introduced.  “For example, while calving problems are rare, if we were struggling with a difficult calving then we would be much more likely to call in the vet which means we are less likely to lose the calf or even the cow,” says Charles. The sheep and beef health plan has been an important part of the farm contract says Mark Stott.

“Farm health planning is a worthwhile exercise because it saves farmers money by improving the health of their animals, improving the efficiency of treatments and better timing of vaccines so animals are better protected at risk periods,” he says.

In the Geldard’s case the health plans were drawn up by Highgate vet Sara Harker.  “We told her our vaccination and dosing policy and how we looked after our stock,” explains Charles Geldard.  “She went away, looked at it and made some recommendations which we all discussed – something we would not have done otherwise.”

The farm health plan is under constant review and immediate action will be taken to stamp out and prevent any minor health problems that may crop up.  The Geldard’s and vet Mark Stott also sit down once a year and review the beef and sheep health plans in detail to consider if any improvements can be made.

Sheep health

For the sheep flock the first recommendation of the health plan was to change the worming policy and cut treatments from three times to two times a year.  Advice on the most appropriate wormer to use is also given.

Faeces samples for worm analysis are now taken, for which there is no charge if they can be processed at the clinic.  “We would have not thought of doing this sampling unless we were talking to our vets and it is something we will do more often in the future,” said Charles Geldard.

Another change was to start using a foot rot vaccine (Footvax^®) in the hoggs wintered off the farm.  This proved so successful it has been extended to the whole flock which has cut down costs of labour and antibiotics.

The vaccination policy for controlling clostridial disease and pasturella in lambs has also been changed.  In the past lambs would be given a dose of Heptavac-P^® Plus at weaning in mid-July and again in mid-August while the breeding ewes were injected in March about three to four weeks before lambing.  Now lambs are vaccinated at the beginning of May and then again a month later to ensure earlier immunity against clostridia and pasturella.

“This means the lambs retained for breeding need an extra vaccination which is done when the main flock is vaccinated in March,” explains Charles Geldard.  “But overall it is worthwhile and flock health is much better.”

Cattle health

The suckler herd currently comprises 75 traditional Limousin cross Black & White cows, 50 Limousin/BW cross stabiliser cows and 25 pure stabiliser cows. All are in-calf to stabiliser bulls and will calve from March to August.

“Because of the Holstein influence and the poor quality of traditional suckler cows fertility is getting an increasing problem,” explains Mr Geldard.  “Using Stabilisers will improve the quality of the stock and improve fertility.

“We intend to calve all heifers at two years old and calve over a 12 week period – March, April and May.  This will simplify the system, reduce costs and make health management easier.”

A policy to eradicate and protect the herd against BVD has been continued under the Beef Health Plan with all cows vaccinated against BVD.  “Being free of BVD helps calf health,” points out Mark Stott.

Pneumonia prevention in calves is achieved by using Bovilis^® Bovipast RSP in August and September.  The first injection is given one month before housing and the second at housing when the calves are five to six months old.  “We had a problem with calves getting pneumonia outside at one point which was a concern but now this problem has been sorted,” says Charles Geldard.

Cows are also vaccinated (Rotavec Corona) one to three months before calving.  “This transfers immunity through the colostrum to prevent calves scouring and protects against rotavirus, coronavirus and E. coli,” added Mark Stott.

Overall, Mark Stott and Charles Geldard feel this approach, which maximises the benefit of vet and herd health plans, has worked well from a financial and welfare point of view.