Farming at Capontree Vets

15/05/2026

https://scotsheep.org.uk/

14/05/2026

13/05/2026

🐮🌱Risk of Grass Staggers (Hypomagnesaemia)🌱🐮

Grass staggers is a true veterinary emergency and can quickly become fatal if not recognised and treated promptly.

❗️Watch out for these signs❗️
🐮Muscle tremors, staggering, or collapse
🐮Spasmodic/frequent urination and defaecation
🐮Poor appetite
🐮Reduced milk yield
🐮Increased heart rate
🐮Sudden death

Magnesium is an essential mineral for ruminants and cannot be stored in the body. Animals therefore rely on a consistent daily intake to help prevent grass staggers.

📞If you are concerned about any animals or would like advice on reducing the risk of grass staggers, please contact the practice📞

03/05/2026

Happy Stock, Happy Farm Walk-and-Talk – Cumbria

Location: Park House Farm, Longtown
Date: 5th May 2026
Time: 10.30am – 1pm – What3Words reference: ///sheds.raves.mini

During the month of May, the team from Digital Dairy Chain and SRUC are hosting events in Dumfries and Galloway, Ayrshire and Cumbria showcasing their work in cow welfare.

You can find out more and book here:

During the month of May, our team from Digital Dairy Chain and SRUC are hosting events in Dumfries and Galloway, Ayrshire and Cumbria showcasing our work in cow welfare.

30/04/2026

🐮🐑Cryptosporidium (Crypto):🐮🐑

Crypto is one of the 4 main causes of scour in young calves. It is a protozoa (tiny parasite) that damages the lining of the guts leading to scour. It is very contagious and can last in the environment for a long time. Lots of eggs are shed in the faeces of infected animals and it only takes a small number of eggs to cause a problem.

🩺Good hygiene is vital to try and reduce cases of crypto on farm:
🩺Keep calving area clean
🩺Muck out calf pens and disinfect on a regular basis
🩺Allow calf pens to dry before bedding up
🩺Isolate any scouring calves from healthy animals to try and reduce spread

Correcting dehydration is the priority when treating cases of scour, this involves feeding water and electrolytes in addition to their milk. Ideally the electrolytes should be given as a separate feed to the milk.

📞Please get in touch if you are having problems with calf scour in your herd.📞

27/04/2026

🐮Calf Scour:🐮

We are seeing a few cases of calf scour as we get into the bulk of Spring calving. Scour can be very detrimental as can lead to severe dehydration and be fatal if not treated appropriately.

We can perform a quick test on a scour sample to determine the cause. The 4 diseases we test for are:
🩺E. Coli
🩺Coronavirus
🩺Rotavirus
🩺Cryptosporidium

These diseases cause scour by damaging the lining of the intestines which makes it hard for nutrients to be absorbed.

The priority of treatment is to correct any dehydration with electrolyte feeds, or, in severe cases a vet may need to place an IV drip.

Please get in touch if you are having problems with calf scour in your herd

24/04/2026

🐮🐑

🤩🐾 Veterinary Receptionist Week 🐾🤩

This week has been Veterinary Receptionist Week - a chance for us all to show our appreciation to our fabulous receptionists.

Our reception team are the heart of the practice - the friendly voices at the end of the phone, the calm in busy moments, and the ones who keep everything running smoothly behind the scenes.

We really would be lost without them!

23/04/2026

🐮TBAS🐮

The TB advisory service offers two free visits to discuss TB risk on farm, and offers four simple cost effective, practical recommendations based on the risks identified.

❗️Visit 1: Review of biosecurity, highlight areas where there is a TB risk and how to reduce the risk
❗️Visit 2: Follow up visit 3-6 months later to check if recommendations from first visit have been implemented

We are expecting changes to the hotspot area going forwards, we are waiting the exact area where the changes will be implemented, to be confirmed by DEFRA soon.

Completing both TBAS visits will be requirement to move to annual testing if you are in the eligible area.

21/04/2026

Animal Health Update - Covering post lambing & calving topics and common issues within the area.

☎️To book - 01768 868615 - admin@thefarmernetwork.co.uk

🍽️Supper provided

Animal Health Meeting

Join us for a practical session looking at flock and herd health.
🗓 Tuesday 12th May
📍 The Forge Studios Allendale
⏰ 7pm

👉 Open to all – a great chance to share experiences and pick up tips.
📩 Book your place: https://bit.ly/4cc6x4I

20/04/2026

‼️Nematodirus Forcast - Warning ‼️

Peak hatch is expected within 7 days.

📞If you have any concerns please contact any of the practices📞

For more information:
https://www.scops.org.uk/forecasts/nematodirus-forecast/

17/04/2026

Have your cattle been bolused for minerals before turnout?
Copper and Iodine are essential for good fertility in cows.

For freshly calved suckler cows recently turned out to grass, it is important to ensure that there is enough grass cover to meet cows’ nutritional requirements. If there is not, they must be supplemented to ensure they are to milk well, keep condition and be fit for the bull.
In a set stocked system sward height should be at least 6cm at turnout to meet requirements.