General Policy

The overall aim is to provide stock with an environment that promotes their good physical and mental health, which should in turn reduce the need for treatment with veterinary products. A key factor in maintaining stock health is frequent and careful observation of the stock to spot problems quickly. Stress should be minimized by providing a good natural diet, developing good stock handling techniques and facilities, and allowing the stock to live in family or other groups (whether in field or housing) such that they can exhibit their natural behaviour. The farm is certified organic with the Soil association, with all that implies for animal welfare.
Frequent resort to dosing with chemicals is the wrong approach and, for example, excess use of untargeted wormers and automatic use of antibiotics in dry cow therapy can lead to problematic drug resistance in the disease organisms. Careful monitoring of stock should aid early detection of problems allowing treatment when it is actually required. Judicious use of vaccination will still be employed for certain diseases; although this is contrary to current organic guidelines it is surely beneficial to animal welfare. The aim of controlling the use of veterinary products will not compromise the use of veterinary advice. Homeopathic treatments will be considered for future use, but to date we know little about these.
Our land is known to be deficient in certain essential trace elements. Regular soil and leaf testing will be used to monitor this and deficiencies may be partially corrected by applying calcified seaweed or other approved substances as appropriate. Currently animals are also given access to molassed mineral licks; in time this may be refined to more specific supplements in line with organic rules.
New stock housing has been designed with animal welfare in mind; one aspect is good ventilation to reduce the risk of respiratory diseases. Stock will be kept outside until weather conditions and the state of the pasture dictate the need to bring them indoors. After turnout the barns will be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected and a high level of hygiene will be maintained in birthing environments at all times.
Staff and visitors need to be aware of how disease may be spread to stock (and from stock to people). Sources include vermin, wild birds, wild mammals, dogs and dirty footware, clothing and vehicles (ours and other people's) and other stock. It is impossible to eliminate risk but it can be controlled. Farm dogs and cats are wormed; we employ a pest control company for rodent control; some of our food stores need to be better secured against vermin and birds and we are drawing up plans to improve these.

There is a vehicle disinfection point near the entrance to the farm for use when deemed necessary. Vehicles used for livestock movements are thoroughly disinfected for journeys off site and on return. Visiting vehicles should not drive into livestock areas or on to the land without permission, and cleaning and disinfecting them will be necessary at those times.
Good boundary fencing should keep out neighbouring stock; fencing was almost non-existent when we took over and a few areas remain to be fenced this year. Stock numbers are such that we can now maintain a closed herd, apart from new bulls and rams at times. New animals will undergo a quarantine period and may need veterinary examination and treatment before being allowed to join the main stock.

Click here to see a copy of our full animal health plan, which covers both the farm and wild animals