Cattle Quarterly Summer 2021

SUMMER EDITION 2021 CattleNEW
Quarterly

Keeping Mum

A healthy approach to
maternity leave and
returning to work

IN THE PROFESSION BCVA IN ACTION CATTLE CASES
Fiona Lovatt Q&A on the
collaborative Farm Vet How your association is Mo Kemp offers a clinical
Champions initiative putting the private vet at the study of 15 cases of
heart of the TB conversation Schistosomus

The esssential read for BCVA members

CATTLE QUARTERLY FROM THE EDITOR

Contents Welcome to

3 BCVA News Cattle Quarterly
Latest from your association
T his is the launch edition of a new publication that we hope
4 Cattle Cases will become a valued member benefit.
Maureen H. Kemp on Schistosomus I’ve been editor for Cattle Practice for five years, and it has
been an ambition for some time to supplement our journal with a
6 Send a Cow sister publication that includes accessible CPD, case studies,
Good work continues despite Covid interviews, and news.

8 In Focus We hope you will find Cattle Quarterly valuable as a
Kat Hart shares her experience of resource and member benefit, and we also hope you consider
managing pregnancy in practice contributing to it too. I would like to encourage members, especially
those in practice, to consider sharing their experiences by
12 Farm Vet Champions submitting a case study.
Fiona Lovatt tells us about the campaign
In this edition you’ll find a case study about the prevalence
15 Entry Level Membership of the fatal congenital disorder Schistosomus reflexus. There is a
CHECS TB initiative & BATVA training testimonial feature by Kat Hart who shares her experience of
having children whilst working as a farm animal vet, and an
17 TB Policy Launch interview with Fiona Lovatt about the Farm Vet Champion initiative.
BCVA puts focus on the private vet You’ll also be able to read all about the BCVA collaboration with
CHECS that has produced the TB Entry Level Membership and
19 CPD Diary associated training programme, plus more about our updated TB
Your opportunities in the next few months Policy Statement, with its focus on the role of the private vet in
combatting this devastating disease.
Podcasets for
engaging quick CPD Please feel free to email us directly at [email protected],
on the move or at home and either myself, or a member of the editorial board will get back
to you. We are keen to hear your views.
https://www.bcva.org.uk/resources/cattlecast
Also available on Spotify, iTunes, and Acast About The Editor

Cattle Quarterly is published by John Remnant qualified from Bristol in
the British CattleVeterinary Association, The 2008 and spent three years working in
Glenmore Centre, 17 Jessop Ct, Quedgeley, mixed and farm animal practice before
Gloucester GL2 2AP. moving to the School of Veterinary
This magazine is a member-only benefit. Parties Medicine and Science at the University
interested in receiving Cattle Quarterly should of Nottingham. He was appointed as a
email [email protected]. Clinical Lecturer in Farm Animal Health
Tel: 01452 725735 and Production in 2014, becoming a
Email: [email protected] Clinical Associate Professor at
Web: www.bcva.org.uk Nottingham in 2020.
He is a European Veterinary Specialist and an RCVS
EDITORIAL TEAM Recognised Specialist in Cattle Health and Production and holds
EDITOR – John Remnant a PhD in the measurement of oestrus detection in dairy herds.
MANAGING EDITOR – Kay Colquhoun He has been on BCVA’s Board for five years, taking on the role
PRODUCTION EDITOR – Aimee Hyett of Cattle Practice Editor and is now joint Secretary of the
DESIGN AND PRODUCTION association with Karen Bond and Editor of Cattle Quarterly.
BCVA Headquarters, The Glenmore Centre
PRINTER – Taylor Brothers Bristol Ltd

No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without written permission
of the publisher. Views expressed within this publication do not necessarily represent
those of the Editor or the British Cattle Veterinary Association.
BCVA is committed to reducing the environmental impact of its publications
wherever possible and Cattle Quarterly is printed on paper made from sustainable
resources and can be recycled. When you have finished with this edition please
recycle it. Members can access the online archive of Cattle Quarterly at
www.bcva.org.uk.

2 CATTLE QUARTERLY

NEWS

Getting Congress Ready MilkSure Deadline Looms

In January, BCVA Board took the decision to take a BCVA Members are urged not to leave booking their place
cautiously optimistic approach to planning for Congress on the 2021 MilkSure courses until the end of the year if
2021. Despite the UK entering a third lockdown, there was they want to make sure they are fully trained to be able to
some evidence and a lot of hope that it would be possible deliver the training to clients.
to host a live event at Celtic Manor, in Newport, South
Wales, 14-16 October. Up until 1st January 2022, non-MilkSure Registered
Vets will be able to deliver Part 2 training and MilkSure Top
The Congress team is obviously prioritising all Up, providing the certificate can be signed off by a MilkSure
aspects of health and safety, whilst working on both an Registered Vet from within their practice. After 31st
online and live programme that will challenge and December this year, any vet carrying out MilkSure training
encourage members across the profession and at various with their clients will need to be registered with MilkSure. If
stages of their career. Put the date in your diary and if you you are not registered, you are not able to sign the
have any questions, email offi[email protected]. Watch certificate. To be registered you must have attended the
your inbox for details. We look forward to seeing you. MilkSure CPD for vets.

Thank you for Sharing Farmers no longer need to register for MilkSure, it is
all done via the vet and please note that BCVA does not
The first half of 2021 has been packed with consultations keep a copy in their records for inspections. MilkSure Dates
and surveys. Whilst the opportunity to represent farm vets’ are posted online regularly, and we always send members
voices is always welcomed by BCVA, we appreciate that priority booking emails. Places are limited and fill fast. If
this can be an additional demand on your valuable time you want to pre-register, email the office and a member of
when we approach members for comment. We will only the team will be happy to help.
ever ask for input where we know it is the right thing to do,
and BCVA Board appreciates your contribution this year to New Benefits Welcomed
the various Defra consultations relating to bTB, Red Tractor
changes, and also to the requests for input into the RCVS When Nikki Hopkins became President one of her
review of the Veterinary Surgeon’s Act and for 'Under ambitions was to broaden the free benefits for members.
Care'. For those who like to participate in research studies As a farm vet in practice on the Wales/England border, she
surveys, we regularly post relevant ones to our profession understands the value of content that can be accessed
on the website in the Resources section. easily at home and on the move. In May 2020 BCVA
launched CattleCast, a podcast series accessible on your
usual platforms, on your phone, and on our website. In the
first year we have published 16 episodes, with topics
covering Covid’s impact, TB
testing, starting your own
business, Red Tractor
changes, respiratory disease,
and embryo transfer and the
vet-led team. All remain
available in the CattleCast
archive online, along with the
Webinar library. Please let us
know what subjects you would
like us to cover next. We also
welcome speaker suggestions
and participation by members.
Email [email protected].

CATTLE QUARTERLY 3

CASE STUDY

Cattle Cases

Mo Kemp and colleagues discuss
15 cases of schistosomus

Schistosomus reflexus (SR) is a rare and fatal congenital were similar to Australian study by Knight (1996), who
disorder. Primarily observed in ruminants, its defining reported 23.3% in heifers and 76.7% in cows. In three
features include spinal inversion, exposure of the cases the cows were given euthanasia, with further
abdominal viscera because of a fissure of the ventral intervention not deemed to be in the best interest with
abdominal wall, limb ankylosis, positioning of the limbs regard to welfare in two cases and in the third the uterus
adjacent to the skull and, lung and diaphragm hypoplasia was already found to have ruptured. Of the further 12
(Maxie, 2007). cases, a caesarean section was performed in nine cases to
deliver the calf and foetotomies were performed in the
Within a large rural practice in North Wales, it remaining three cases. In at least five cases the cows were
seemed that we were seeing more of these deformities carrying twins with only one twin being affected and the
than in previous years, so we decided to document the other calf being grossly normal.
number of cases.

Over the last four years we had seen at least 15
cases of schistosomus reflexus. The total number of calls
for dystocia during this period was 2,415, of which 1,784
(74%) were in beef herds and 631 (26%) were in dairy
herds (Table 1). Giving the incidence of SR as 0.62%.

Table 1: Shows breakdown of calvings, caesarean sections Table 2: Signalment and outcome method of 15 cases of
and all dystocias in beef and dairy herds schistosomus reflexus

There is no available data for the incidence of SR in Although the dataset of SR cases is small, there
the UK, however an earlier Australian study reports the seemed to be more cases in spring time (March to May)
incidence from 1966 until 1985 as 1.3%. Of the 15 cases and more cases in dairy cattle. The number of cases of
seen in our practice nine occurred in the spring time dystocia in dairy cattle was relatively similar throughout the
(March-May), two in the summer, three were in Autumn and year (as shown in Figure1).
one in the Winter. Eleven of the cases (73%) were in dairy
cattle with the other four (27%) being from beef suckler
cows. A study by Knight (1996) found 80% of cases in dairy
breeds and 20% in beef breeds.

Three cases (20%) were seen in first calvers and the
others (80%) were multiparous cows, the proportions

4 CATTLE QUARTERLY

CASE STUDY

References

Maxie, M.G.. (2007).
Jubb, Kennedy & Palmer's
Pathology of Domestic Animals.
2. 10.1016/B978-070202823-6.50043-9.
The 5th edition of Jubb,
Kennedy, and Palmer's Knight,
R.P. (1996)
The occurrence of schistosomus
reflexus in bovine dystocia.
Australian Veterinary Journal
Vol 73, 3 105-107

Figure 1: Average dystocia per month (SR = Schistosomus reflexus)

About the author &
acknowledgements

Maureen Kemp is formerly of Wern
Veterinary Surgeons, where this study
took place with
Dyfrig L. Williams and Richard Kemp.
Maureen and Richard now work at
Calcoed Vets, in Holywell. The authors
wish to acknowledge Heather Toft of
Wern Veterinary Surgeons for providing
the photos. Also, appreciation to
farmers of North Wales for providing
the cases. 
 

Figure 2: Schistosomus reflexus foetus Figure 3: Schistosomus reflexus See Your Case Here
delivered by Caesarean section from foetus delivered by Caesarean section
Limousin cross cow from Holstein/Friesian cow The aim of Cattle Cases is to present
clinical scenarios which are
encountered in farm practice, and we
especially welcome submissions from
our members. You might take a
problem orientated approach to a
challenging diagnosis, present a
treatment or surgical dilemma, or
focus on one aspect of a complicated
case. If you have a case that you
think will make a good article then
please email [email protected] for
the guidelines.

CATTLE QUARTERLY 5

SEND A COW

Global Solutions

Catherine Harris outlines how Send a Cow continued its
international work during the pandemic

Before and during the pandemic, Send a Cow had Uganda Update
been busy setting up new projects and supporting
more smallholder farmers across rural Africa. The In September 2020 we launched a new project sharing an
pandemic meant many group training sessions were not innovative pest management technique with farmers in
able to go ahead, but our projects are now back on track Kyotera, Uganda. Farmers in the region were reporting
and our team members are taking the necessary maize loss to weeds and pests, and the climate crisis was
precautions to keep project members, staff and the wider further exasperating harvest losses and soil degradation.
community safe.
‘Push Pull’ helps farmers to protect their crops and
Jeanette Kanyange and her Jersey cows. fodder using a simple intercropping technique. It can help
to boost both maize and fodder harvests, enabling cows to
Cross-breed programme produce more milk.

The Send a Cow cross-breeding programme that Send a Cow recently caught up with Namagembe
introduced the Jersey breed to Rwanda made the Josephine, a Ugandan Farmer implementing the technique
headlines this year when it featured on BBC news, telling alongside her husband and six children. “At first Push Pull
the stories of the women it had empowered. was strange to us” she explains, “but soon we understood it
and began to implement it. We have learned that
The Rwandan genocide of the mid 1990s left Desmodium grass is a good fodder for livestock. It also kills
thousands of widows with full responsibility for their families pests on our maise because of its pungent smell. The
and villages. That tragic legacy continues and yet now, Desmodium’s smell doesn’t allow the moth stem borers to
thanks to a collaboration with the Royal Jersey Agricultural breed.”
and Horticultural Society (RJAHS) and Send a Cow, which
began in 2016, they are rebuilding their lives by using the What can you do?
Jersey cow's nutrient-rich milk.
This summer Send a Cow are encouraging supporters to
The Jersey breed's successful milk-yielding get behind their Climate Change appeal. The climate
characteristics, high nutritional value, ease of calving, and crisis is destroying the lives of those least responsible for
an ability to adapt to extreme climates makes them ideal for it right now. In rural Africa, families are going hungry as
this environment. This Channel Island breed has revived their crops are lost to extreme weather like floods and
Rwanda's dairy industry and Send a Cow also trains the drought. You can get involved with your practice or as an
farmers, with those who become ‘paravets’ sharing their individual. We can support you with fundraising materials
expertise to help this growing sector to thrive. for your practice including cow ears, bunting and event
materials and we can also recommend challenge events
nearby to you such as cycling and running events, and
even Tough Mudders.

You can find out more at www.sendacow.org or email
Catherine Harris with any enquiries:
[email protected]  

6 CATTLE QUARTERLY



IN FOCUS T he Health and Safety Executive describes
agriculture as ‘a hazardous industry’ for those
Keeping employed in it, and the routine work of those of us
in clinical practice can include sizable equipment, hormone
Mum injections, zoonotic diseases, and fractious animals. Also,
we are often part of a small team, with colleagues and
Fertility and reproduction clients relying on us, so there’s much to consider, for
are bread and butter to a everyone, when a member of that team is having a baby.
cattle vet. Yet, either as
employers or employees, The good thing is – we are not alone and talking
we can find pregnancy in about our experiences makes it easier on us all. I’m sharing
practice, maternity leave, mine here now because I am working with my fellow BCVA
and returning to work a Officers on creating some useful resources and practical
more delicate challenge. guidelines for new parents and their professional team. The
Kat Hart shares her hope is, you find my story helpful and then share your own
experience to encourage with us.
other farm vets to stay
engaged with their Baby on Board
employer and team
It starts with ‘the announcement’ – when you choose to
decide to tell your boss, your colleagues, and your clients.
I’ve had two babies since I started working in farm practice.
With my first pregnancy I told work after the first scan, as I
felt that was the ‘normal thing’ to do.

Prior to making the announcement I’d had a few
difficult times trying to squirm out of calls, like lambing, that
I couldn’t manage. There was also the issue of being sick
on farm – “I’ve just got to go and get something from my
car” was a regular excuse, whilst parking further away in a
tucked away place. With hindsight, I think if I had been
brave enough to tell work earlier it would have been so
much easier.

With my second pregnancy I told my line manager at
6 weeks and he was great, very subtle. I guess I was older
and wiser and had told myself that even if something did go
wrong before the 12 week stage I would have shared that
experience with my colleagues anyway, so what did I have
to lose?

8 CATTLE QUARTERLY

IN FOCUS

"I would advise handing over gloved to PD, mainly for hygiene, but also I was planning
farms early in the process, ahead, to lower the risk if I ever got pregnant.
rather than trying to be a
martyr and keep going until I completely stopped doing the odd PD in cubicles
you go pop on farm!" and after about seven months I found doing PD in locking
head yolks awkward (which was a shame as it would have
Most farmers were so happy for me, and suddenly been my biggest fertility session). We tried a few different
become proper gentlemen, offering to carry everything and options but eventually handed over the sessions to the vet
opening gates. I think a few were a bit wary at the first few that was going to be my cover, so he would do the visit, but
sessions, but I later learned it was because they were I’d support him from the office and the farmer could ring if
concerned about me getting hurt on their farm, and nothing they needed me. I went on to do other things for that
to do with the pregnancy itself. month, and it actually worked out the best for all parties. I
would advise handing over farms early in the process,
What will work at work? rather than trying to be a martyr and keep going until you
go pop on farm!
What kind of work is undertaken, or avoided, during
pregnancy will vary for individuals and between practices. On-Call of Duty

For me, that obviously meant avoiding the sheep work and
the PG injecting on-farm. Although right from when I started Being on-call is clearly an essential part of the job, and
in practice I always triple something to be considered when you’re pregnant and in
practice. Once your employer is made aware of your
pregnancy, they have a responsibility to make provisions to
minimise any risks to your pregnancy and this might mean
temporarily adjusting your working conditions – this may
include on-call duties.

CATTLE QUARTERLY 9











BCVA IN ACTION

New Tools to Tackle TB

In May CHECS introduced a UK-wide TB Entry Level Membership, focusing on biosecurity ‘basics’ to help farmers
reduce the risk of TB breakdowns in their herds. BCVA has released a new Policy Statement and is rolling out BATVA -
the associated BCVA Accredited TB Veterinary Advisor course

As cattle vets we understand all too well the emotional How it works
and economic devastation that comes with Bovine
TB. It is the UK’s most challenging animal health CHECS TB Entry Level Membership is a baseline
and welfare issue, costing farms around £18,600 per biosecurity standard comprising a range of achievable
breakdown and in some cases more. However, as measures recognised by BCVA, Defra and the Welsh
overwhelming as it can be, it is also ‘just another infectious Government to reduce risk of a TB breakdown. CHECS
disease’, with risk pathways that can be managed. sets the standards for TB Entry Level Membership but, as
with all other disease programmes, it is administered
This is the approach taken with the new CHECS TB through participating cattle health schemes and licensed
Entry Level Membership and the associated BCVA BATVA and quality controlled by CHECS. In this case, the BCVA
course. Both present a ‘no regrets’ approach to biosecurity, BATVA programme.
that requires no large financial investment, or huge time
commitment; just looking at the opportunities to engage Farmers and cattle owners who wish to become
where you can, manage the controllable and accept there CHECS TB Entry Level Members must comply with at least
may be things that you can’t control all the time. one biosecurity option from each of six different biosecurity
Risk Factors. A BCVA-Accredited TB Veterinary Advisor is
TB Entry Level Membership required to complete a declaration alongside the cattle
owner and submit the form to their cattle health scheme
CHECS launched its TB Herd Accreditation in 2016 to help before Membership can be granted.
farmers protect their herds against the disease, but the
tough requirements have limited take-up. As a result, As well as being a standalone standard, CHECS TB
following Defra’s response to the Bovine TB Strategy Entry Level Membership forms the biosecurity basis of
(Godfray) Review in March 2020, CHECS and the British CHECS TB Herd Accreditation, and from 1 August 2021,
Cattle Veterinary Association set about developing the new anyone wishing to become Herd Accredited will need to
TB Entry Level Membership. The aim is that cattle farmers have first completed Entry Level Membership. Vets who
can adopt a baseline standard of ‘no regrets’ biosecurity currently deliver CHECS TB Herd Accreditation for clients
measures without some of the more challenging measures will need to take part in the short training course to be able
included in full TB Herd Accreditation. to sign off on the new Entry Level Membership section.

BCVA Board member Sarah Tomlinson helped to What are the six Risk Factors?
develop the Entry Level approach. She explains, “A key
take-home message from the Godfray review that applies • Risk Factor 1: Minimise TB risk from purchased cattle
to our experience, was that there needs to be a step • Risk Factor 2: Minimise TB risk from contact with cattle
change in industry behaviour. It was recognised that TB
Herd Accreditation doesn’t suit all farms and businesses, so in other herds
TB Entry Level Membership bridges this gap and makes an • Risk Factor 3: Minimise TB risk from your own animals
accessible scheme that anyone can approach, at their own • Risk Factor 4: Minimise the spread of TB through
level. The Government recognises the important role
private vets can play in TB eradication and the need to muck or slurry
increase engagement in TB biosecurity. The TB Entry Level • Risk Factor 5: Reduce TB risk to and from badgers
membership promotes all of these elements on farm.” • Risk Factor 6: Have a TB failure contingency plan

CATTLE QUARTERLY 15

BCVA IN ACTION About BATVA

What is the role of the vet? Vets who sign off the TB Entry Level Membership
declaration will first need to undergo a half-day’s online
The vet needs to sign off the farmer’s commitments to BCVA Accredited TB Veterinary Adviser (BATVA)
improving biosecurity. To do this, they need to have training course, available to any qualified vet (£10 for
undertaken the short (4-hour total) BATVA training course, members, £55 for non-members). There are 6 sections
which can be completed over several sessions if required. to work through:
The training includes a range of modules delivering the
latest information on risk factors in TB spread, Module 1 – Introduction - 45 minutes
epidemiology of the disease in badgers and cattle, as well Module 2 – Control Cattle to Cattle Risk - 25 minutes
as communications and engagement skills. While many Module 3 – Control Cattle to Cattle Risk
vets deal with TB on a daily basis, scientific and technical
understanding of the disease is developing rapidly, and (part 2) - 35 minutes
vets should find the information very helpful. Module 4 – Badger Ecology and the Role of Wildlife

Why is training required? in TB - 50 minutes
Module 5 – Practical Measures to Reduce Disease
Knowledge about bovine TB is evolving rapidly. As CHECS
TB Entry Level Membership is about starting a Risk on Farm – 35 minutes
conversation about risk pathways between veterinary Module 6 – TB Test Contingency Plan – 15 minutes
surgeon and farmer, the BATVA
course will equip veterinary surgeons with the latest BCVA headquarters will be alerted to your completed
information they need to advise their clients with even more training and quiz, and our office staff will email your
confidence. Unlike other disease control programmes or CPD certificate. This course accounts for four hours of
CHECS TB Herd Accreditation, there is no confirmatory CPD.
testing associated with Entry Level Membership, so training
also helps to give the veterinary surgeon the right support To find out more visit the CPD section of the new BCVA
about the chosen interventions. website – www.bcva.org.uk or if you have any questions
email offi[email protected] and a member of the team
Key Points of CHECS TB will help.
Entry Level Membership

• TB is an infectious cattle disease like any
others and so risk can be reduced using the right
biosecurity measures.
• CHECS TB Entry Level Membership starts the
process of regaining control by initiating
biosecurity and disease pathway discussions
between farmer and vet.
• CHECS TB Entry Level Membership is flexible
and simple, its measures are achievable; there
really are ‘no regrets’.

16 CATTLE QUARTERLY

BCVA IN ACTION

Policy Prioritises Private Vets

The creation of the CHECS Entry Level Membership Godfray Report in 2018, which in turn resulted in Defra’s
and BATVA course followed Defra’s 2020 five-year five-year plan published in 2020. BCVA’s latest policy
plan, and BCVA’s latest policy review was also review was conceived in response to that Defra 2020
conceived in response to that document. document and has been in development during the
inevitable disruption of the Covid pandemic. With
Members were sent early access to the new policy expanding research, ongoing trials, and continued
statement in May, and you can download it online at our government reviews, BCVA has sought to create a
website, or request a digital copy by emailing substantial groundwork that is able to accommodate new
offi[email protected]. In the interest of brevity, here is the evidence and guidelines in subsequent updates.
executive summary which outlines the basis of the BCVA
policy that we will take forward in any future consultation or Seven Policy Pillars

government initiative. BCVA’s updated position outlines seven key policy areas
that demonstrate a comprehensive, holistic approach to the
Executive summary
management and control of bTB: The role of Private
Veterinary Surgeons, Governance and Regulatory Reform,
The farming industry and veterinary profession share a Cattle Vaccination, Surveillance and Testing, Delivery of
unique experience in battling Bovine tuberculosis (bTB), Testing, Biosecurity, Cattle Movement, and Training.
working alongside one another on disease control,
management, and effective prevention. The role of the These policy points bring together strategies and
private farm vet is crucial, and in updating its bTB policy, stakeholders, with the assertion that it is only by combining
Board members of the British Cattle Veterinary Association our tools, resources, and skills that we can hope to gain
have drawn on their experience and expertise, seeking to control of the disease and ease the economic and
establish a balanced, evidence-based foundation on which emotional burden that accompanies bTB infection.
to build. Emphasis on the role of the private veterinary
surgeon (PVS) forms the foundation and basis of this Hope and Actions

review. This document contains actions and proposals, including
BCVA accreditation for specially trained PVS to advise on
Policy Development
standards, lobbying for an independent regulator for
In 2014 the UK government outlined a 25-year eradication farming and land management, and a call for governance
strategy that set the ambition to secure officially bTB free of the disease to take place at a local level.
status for England by 2038. This was refocused after the
The association will continue to press for the role of
the PVS to move away from solely testing for disease to
that of testing alongside active involvement in the delivery
of on-farm advice for TB control. We will continue to work
with government on improving communication between
APHA, the PVS and farmers.

We will also call for recognition that engagement
obstacles exist for both farmers and the veterinary

CATTLE QUARTERLY 17