Contract Farm Service

 

We run a normal 24/7 callout service for our farm clients – experienced vets predictable charges reasonable drug markups, computer driven health plans as necessary.

And we also do an all-in farm service. The deal here is that we negotiate a monthly fee for each client – this covers all visits, all professional fees (including caesareans and other surgery) and health plan updates. The only things not included are drugs (they’re charged a wholesale plus 10%) and outside lab charges (they’re charged at cost with no markup at all).

To find out more ask some of the clients.

John Grey Unthank Wittingham 07860 215249

Rob Green Folions Thropton 07801 634513

Les Mclean Whittle Farm Alnwick 07813 213732

Neil Ralston Jedburgh 07966 476377

 

The farmers like it - easy budgeting, quick response, revisits as needed rather than as they feel they can afford.

We like it - we get to see cases early, we can investigate thoroughly, and we some unusual problems. (Good vets are driven by curiosity as much as by money).

For example dead lame bullock; X-ray it; if this shows no fracture and no infected joint the chances are that the bullock will make it, and there are no welfare implications about eventual transport to slaughter. X-rays and certification included in the monthly fee. This only works because we have an X-ray machine in each car.

And from time to time we will see three dead ewes on one farm within three days. Lab PMs are very expensive but if one of us comes and does three fast post mortems, all included in the monthly fee, a lot of things can become very clear. If one ewe has twin lamb (fatty liver, triplets) and the other has pneumonia (good condition obvious fresh lung damage) the deaths are a coincidence, not the start of an epidemic. And if they’ve all got the same condition we can have an informed discussion about management changes.

“Outbreaks” of “stillborn” and “death in three days” in lambs are expensive; and a rapid visit to examine the situation, sort out the history, and postmortem five or ten lambs can often be very useful. And of course to all-in farm clients it is free at point of use.

In all postmortems done on farms we can take all sorts of lab samples to backup or disprove our first impressions.

Other topics which are interesting Urs at the moment are

Worm egg counts; Sheila Rushbridge at the Aberdeen SAC lab runs worm scan; simple straightforward – farmer collects and posts ten samples SAC mix the samples and do worm egg count which is of course an average. The great saving here is that if the samples are very low in worm eggs – there is no need to worm. This saves money and upheaval; but most importantly will slow down or even reverse the emergence of resistant worms. Toby Tennant, Shaws, 01387 376241, is a client who has very good results with this system. He’s an enthusiast and he’ll explain it to you.

Semen analysis; Urs has been on the courses and he is now equipped and ready to do tups. He is now working at bull insemination.
We think that semen analysis is very valuable and grossly underused by farmers.

 

 

And here is a list of happy farm clients who are not in the Contract Farm Service.

Charlie Rutter Burradon Mains Thropton 01669 630219

Graham Dixon Alwinton Farm Harbottle 01669 650231

John Aynsley Chesterhope Thropton 01669 620037

Toby Tennant Shaws Newcastleton 01387 376241