01363 77286001363 772860
Past Events
Next Wednesday, the 2nd of May, we are holding our very first meeting for our All Year Round Calvers!
This is the exciting start of a St Boniface Vets Dairy Discussion and Benchmarking Group.
For our first meeting we will be looking at fertility. We have done some benchmarking, so you can see how you are doing compared with your colleagues and hopefully this will form a basis for some good and healthy discussions and sharing of experiences/ideas.
After this, there will follow more meetings throughout the year, with hopefully some farm walks and discussion/benchmarking on different topics.
We have been running a similar group for our autumn calvers for a few years now, which everybody seems to really enjoy and value.
Please come along next week. It is FREE and we will provide a bite to eat too. Starting at 11am, finishing at 1pm.
If you are interested in being part of this group, please give Jess a call 01363 772860.
NB If you are keen to join the club, but can't make it this time, then please let us know.
St Boniface Farm Vets are running a DIY AI course from 16th to 19th April 10am-3pm.
This 4 day course leads to a certificate.
The cost to attend is £437.50 + vat per person
Please contact the surgery if you are interested 01363 772860
The course covers:-
- The legislation governing AI in the UK
- The structure and function of a semen storage flask
- How to carry out safe handling and maintenance of a semen storage flask
- Practising safe and correct semen handling technique
- The two stage theory of AI technique
- Identify key anatomical features on an abattoir specimen
- How to prepare and load a 0.25cc AI gun
- Accurately identify anatomical landmarks relevant to AI by manual palpation
- Gain practical experience of AI in live cows
- Achieve a level of competence with AI technique DEFRA certified by the instructor
You only need to save 1 calf or prevent 1 call-out to pay for this - Handy tips guaranteed!
This is not just aimed at beginners, but for everybody involved in calving cows.
The workshop will start at 10:30am with a presentation, followed by a hands-on practical session after lunch.
We will cover areas including:-
Different stages of a normal calving
When to interfere
Reasons of calving problems
How to deal with them
Common problems after calving
In the practical session, you will get to identify and correct different presentations on a calving simulator, using real calves.
Due to the practical aspect (we have 2 simulators), we will limit the places to 6-8 people, so everyone will get enough practice.
The cost will be £75 + VAT per person, including lunch.
All FarmSkills courses are taught in groups of 6-8, to allow everyone to get the most from the course. The trainers are Lantra approved and all delegates will receive a FarmSkills certificate on completion of the course.
The second part in our Winter Meeting Series is Advanced Breeding; once your calves are all achieving excellent growth rates and reaching their full genetic potential, it is time to start talking Genomics and Advanced Breeding.
As a part of XL Vets, with Raft solutions, we are offering the Zoetis Clarifide genomics service to you.
This test provides fantastic insight into how to screen the genetic potential of your herd and to plan subsequent breeding programmes. Tony and Danielle will be holding these evening meetings on the following dates:-
8th March, near Lifton
22nd March, near Thelbridge
Come and talk to all the Farm Vets about forth coming changes in the industry that WILL AFFECT YOUR BOTTOM LINE.
To reserve your place, please call 01363 772860
You only need to save 1 calf or prevent 1 call-out to pay for this - Handy tips guaranteed!
This is not just aimed at beginners, but for everybody involved in calving cows.
The workshop will start at 10:30am with a presentation, followed by a hands-on practical session after lunch.
We will cover areas including:-
- Different stages of a normal calving
- When to interfere
- Reasons of calving problems
- How to deal with them
- Common problems after calving
In the practical session, you will get to identify and correct different presentations on a calving simulator, using real calves.
Due to the practical aspect (we have 2 simulators), we will limit the places to 6-8 people, so everyone will get enough practice.
The cost will be £75 + VAT per person, including lunch.
All FarmSkills courses are taught in groups of 6-8, to allow everyone to get the most from the course. The trainers are Lantra approved and all delegates will receive a FarmSkills certificate on completion of the course.
Spice came in to the Wolfgar surgery to have a gastroscope (an endoscope passed into the stomach) to re-check the stomach for ulcers, after they were found on a previous scope.
Spice had a course of omeprazole and sucralfate, to treat her ulceration, along with long term management changes.
We are pleased to report that Spice’s stomach looked clean and healthy, and the ulcers, that were previously causing her a problem, had gone.
While she was with us, we also removed some small sarcoids from her chest and inside of her leg, using a laser. This involves minimal trauma, and after a couple of weeks, she will be able to return to ridden work.
For more information on Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome or Laser Surgery, please contact the practice - 01363 772860
St Boniface Vets are running a DIY AI course W/C 26th February, 10am-3pm.
This 4 day course will run on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and lead to a certificate.
The cost to attend is £437.50 + vat per person
Please contact the surgery if you are interested 01363 772860
The course covers:-
- The legislation governing AI in the UK
- The structure and function of a semen storage flask
- How to carry out safe handling and maintenance of a semen storage flask
- Practising safe and correct semen handling technique
- The two stage theory of AI technique
- Identify key anatomical features on an abattoir specimen
- How to prepare and load a 0.25cc AI gun
- Accurately identify anatomical landmarks relevant to AI by manual palpation
- Gain practical experience of AI in live cows
- Achieve a level of competence with AI technique DEFRA certified by the instructor
Through February, March and April St Boniface Farm Vets are running a series of meetings addressing cattle fertility and healthy calf production. The series begins with calf rearing and the promotion of rapid growth to produce an efficient and healthy heifer. Trouw Nutrition are joining the St Boniface Farm Vets team and Harpers Feeds to present cutting edge research and practical advice that can be applied in your calf rearing programme.
The first opportunity to hear more about calf rearing will be on 5th February, in Morchard Bishop.
The day is planned as follows:-
09.45 – 10.00 Arrival & Coffee - The London Inn, Morchard Bishop
10.00 – 10.05 Welcome - Harpers Feeds
10.05 – 10.45 Benefits of Optimising Heifer Rearing - Danielle, St Boniface Vets
10.45 – 11.15 LifeStart sets Life Performance - Georgina, Trouw Nutrition
11.15 – 12.00 Making & Maintaining a Healthy Calf - Chris, St Boniface Vets
12.00 – 12.15 Questions & Discussion - Harpers Feeds
12.15 – 12.45 Lunch
13.00 – 14.30 Travel to a local farm and farm walk
* 5th Feb - Wood Barton, Morchard Bishop
If you are unable to make the event on 5th February, we are running a second session on 21st February, in Holsworthy (The Red Post Inn, followed by a Farm Walk at Shernick Farm).
Come and talk to all the Farm Vets about forth coming changes in the industry that WILL AFFECT YOUR BOTTOM LINE.
To reserve your place, please call 01363 772860
St Boniface Vets are providing a 2 day course in cattle foot trimming, suitable for complete beginners or those wanting a detailed refresher.
The course will run 10.30am to 3pm on 23rd and 24th January at the surgery in Crediton with lunch provided.
Places are limited, to ensure a high quality personal delivery, so book early to avoid disappointment.
We will also be offering a unique one-to-one follow up session, on your farm, a few weeks later to refresh elements of the course and allow you to ask further questions after trimming your own cattle again.
This is all included in the course fee of £350+VAT.
After completing the course you will be confident in the theory and practical elements of:
- The basic functional anatomy of a cow's feet and what can go wrong causing lameness
- Understanding hoof horn overgrowth and the need for trimming
- The correct application of the Dutch 5 Step Method of functional and correctional trimming
- The safe restraint of cows for trimming and appropriate use of equipment such as knives and powered trimming tools
- Recognising the early signs of lameness and how to make effective interventions for better cure rates
- Understand how the level of lameness in your herd can be measured and improved with Mobility Scoring
- Recognising the common lesions affecting the foot and how to treat them
- The correct application of foot blocks and pros/cons of what is available in the marketplace
- The appropriate use of veterinary authorised treatments and when to call the vet for further advice
Lameness is a challenge to all cattle herds with a large economic impact, early intervention on a single sole ulcer will save £300-500 in potential lost production and culling risk.
Investing in this course will make your herd more profitable.
Call the surgery now, to reserve your space - 01363 772860.
Please bring your own trimming equipment and clean wellies/waterproofs.
We only have a limited number of spaces available, please call the practice to guarantee your place on this hands on course - 01363 772860.
Join us for a FREE evening meeting on Wednesday 17th January.
We will provide a range of helpful tips to keep your horse fit and healthy through the winter months.
Please contact the practice to reserve your place - 01363 772860