Livestock Matters
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Welcome to XLVets quarterly livestock newsletter. You will need Adobe Reader to view these (download Adobe Reader).
Please note: some of these newsletters are several pages long and are large files, so please be patient when downloading!
Livestock Matters Spring 2020
In this spring edition we take a closer look a factors affecting the quality of semen for successful
use of AI on farms and we talk about the vets role in compact calving.
Livestock Matters Winter 2019/2020
In this winter edition we discuss how to manage the dry cow diet, selective dry cow therapy along with herd health plans on farm.
Livestock Matters Autumn 2019
In this autumn edition we discuss dry cow management and how to best prepare for your next lactation, we also talk about some of the most common skin diseases found on Irish farms.
Livestock Matters Summer 2019
In this Summer edition we take a look at the Sheep Knowledge Transfer Programme and some of the outcomes. We look at veterinary and farming in Ireland from a New Zealanders perspective. We discuss parasite control, pre breeding scanning and Mycoplasma Bovis.
Livestock Matters Spring 2019
In this Spring issue we look at identifying the disease status in your herd and how to minimise it's effect. We also look at bull management, mastitis, minimising drug resistance, vaccination planning and a report from the XLVets Calf Health workshop on dairy calves on grass.
Livestock Matters Summer 2018
In this summer issue we take a look at dung sampling, the coughing cow, new technologies in milking setups, equine lameness, problems with dairy calves on grass and flies as a vector in animal disease.
Livestock Matters Spring 2018
In this spring issue we take a look at the fertility management of cows, heat detection, Johnes disease and managing new born lambs.
Livestock Matters Winter 2017/2018
In this winter issue we take a look at correct management procedures during the drying off phase. We also take a look at housing of the suckler cow.
Livestock Matters Autumn 2017
In this edition we discuss bull fertility and treating your cattle for parasites during housing.
Livestock Matters Summer 2017
Inside the Summer Edition we take a look at the most common Trace Element deficiencies and the importance of Heat Detection to a successful AI season.
Livestock Matters Spring 2017
In this issue of Livestock Matters we look at dairy calf housing, preparation for laming, foaling mares and much more.
Livestock Matters Winter 2016/2017
Inside this issue of Livestock Matters, we look at tips on preparation for the drying off season, suckler sheds: avoid stress and save costs with a good shed design and much more.
Livestock Matters Autumn 2016
Inside the Autumn issue of Livestock Matters. Our vets will discuss equine reproduction, parasites in cattle and sheep flock health. We also are giving one reader the chance to win an XLVets calf jacket.
Livestock Matters Summer 2016
Inside this Summer Edition of Livestock Matters, we take a look at both the pros and cons of complact calving. Donal Murphy provides details of our XLVets Skillbet DairyCheck programme an we discuss how parasites remain the number one cause of mortality in sheep in Ireland.
Livestock Matters Spring 2016
This Spring issue helps explain the Beef Data and Genomics Programme (BDGP) which will
deliver approximately €300M to 30,000 suckler farmers over the next six years. We also take a look at lameness in Sheep, offering advice on assessing lameness and
the main causes of lameness in adult sheep
Livestock Matters Winter 2015/2016
This Winter edition we talk about some of the common problems that can be encountered during the lambing season. We also give advice on health and safety at calving time, looking at the potential risks and dangers that can be avoided.
Livestock Matters Spring 2015
This Spring edition has a strong focus on herd health including Ecoli Mastitis, Cryptosporidium and lameness in dairy herds. Four Tipperary based vets offer invaluable advice to farmers on how to manage the major herd health risks in an expanding dairy herd. Nick Garvey, Old Church Veterinary Hospital describes the reasons why prolapses occur in sheep.
Livestock Matters Spring 2014
Includes a report from XLVets Farm Conference and the recent research findings presented by Moorepark Dairy Research Centre. Plus special reports on rearing dairy calves and avoiding lameness.
Livestock Matters - Autumn 2013
We look at why diseases caused by salmonella bacteria are of concern to cattle producers and how they can be tackled on-farm. As Autumn progresses, many spring-calving dairy farmers are now turning their mind's to drying-off cattle and we discuss the factors to consider during late lactation through to dry cow management. We also take a look at a new tool to help in the battle against high somatic cell counts in lactating cattle.
Livestock Matters - Summer 2013
Infectious respiratory disease in calves is complex and timing of treatment is critical, as Tommy Heffernan, Avondale Veterinary Clinic shows us. Suckler cow fertility and Johne's disease are also featured in this issue, along with a light-hearted look at how animals view the world differently to humans!
Livestock Matters - Spring 2013
In this issue we take a look at the spread of Schmallenberg virus - a new challenge for Irish vets and farmers. We also look at the development of FarmSkills, a training initiative launched by XLVets that delivers practical on-farm training for farmers. We also have a feature on clostridial diseases in cattle and sheep and another looking at optimising fertility in the dairy cow.
Livestock Matters - Winter 2012
In this issue we have the second part of the two-part series looking at the role of the farm cat and dog in the tranmission of livestock diseases. We also have features on calf rearing, cattle parasite control and suckler herd fertility.
Livestock Matters - Autumn 2012
The autumn issues takes a look at the role of the farm dog and cat in disease tranmission on farm, in the first of a two part series. We also have a feature on Redwater in cattle; investigating the increasing problem of this disease in herds. Milking procedures and mastitis are also under the spotlight in this issue.
Livestock Matters - Summer 2012
In this issue we consider 'The problem breeder', looking at some of the reasons why they occur and the impact they have on Irish dairy and suckler herds. We also investigate summer mastitis and look at the treatment and prevention of this disease and there's a feature on fertility testing of bulls.
Livestock Matters - Spring 2012
The spring issue of Livestock Matters looks at joint ill in lambs and calves and neonatal calf management and features the second part of the two part feature on the dry period. We also take a look at XLVets HealthCheck - a series of programmes which use herd disease profiling to deliver effective solutions for herd health.
Livestock Matters - Winter 2011
As winter approaches, abortion in sheep is a concern and we take a look at how investigations can provide vital information to help with future management decisions for the sheep flock. We also discuss the importance of nutrition in the dry period for dairy cows, in the first article of a two part series. We also take a look at calf pneumonia and achieving high health status herds.
Livestock Matters - Autumn 2011
This issue focuses on liver fluke in cattle; looking at the signs and symptoms and how infection can be treated and controlled. We also look at lameness in dairy cows, with a specific focus on digital dermatitis and treatment of this condition. There is also practical advice on dosing cattle at housing and biosecurity in sucker herds.
Livestock Matters - Summer 2011
The value of milk recording should not be underestimated, in this issue Willie Buckley looks at the importance of recording and how it can be used to improve milk production. We also look at Coccidiosis and IBR in cattle and Padraig Duggan discusses the benefits of using the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation database, for farmers and vets.
Livestock Matters - Spring 2011
In this issue of Livestock Matters we take a look at colostrum mangement for calves, preventing milk fever in dairy cows and ultrasound scanning. There's also a case study on BVD in cattle, which discusses diagnosis and control of the disease.
Livestock Matters - Winter 2010
In the second issue of XLVets Livestock Matters we focus on Jone's disease and there's articles on Cryptosporidium infection, bovine abortion and Neospora in cattle. Plus don't miss the new XLVets competition - open to all readers to enter.
Livestock Matters - Autumn 2010
Welcome to the first issue of the XLVets Ireland farm magazine 'Livestock Matters'. In this issue we take a look at the oestrus cycle and heat detection and how to deal with problems associated with it. There's a feature on rumen fluke and we see how the problem was tackled on one dairy farm. We also ask the question 'Do we have to live with high levels of mastitis?' and take a look at health and safety when calving cows.