Kaz @ Farm Vet Films

NEWSLETTER I've just starting an email newsletter (weekly max), which will provide: - Links to that week's videos (vlogs and technicals) - Anything else cool I see animal-health related Sign up here: sendfox.com/farmvetfilms

Sheep Veterinary Society presents…SHEEP MEET, 2025 sponsored by @Ceva_UK. The Badger, Ponteland, NE20 9BT Wed 5th November for 7pm start. Buffet will be provided Open to non-members and members

At this point I was fascinated by what this means for practical farmers Dick was clear - bringing in animals from a ‘clear’ tested herd of it was from a high risk area was probably a terrible idea Cattle coming north from the hot spots is a time bomb waiting to blow… 14/18

@BenDooley8 Who do you send the invoice to?!

An hourly rate of $144,000/hr. A pitty it only comes in 10 second lots, and is loss reduction, as opposed to cash income 😅.

One of our Aln Hereford bulls for SALE. Good flesh for 9 weeks of bulling and running behind sheeps.

@GeorgeBurrell97 @herdyshepherd1 @puncherton Agree w conservative sweeper numbers + sensible bull £ NS is economic choice. How does AI cost change if you up the sweeper ratio? Some good work suggests no harm to calving pattern even when 1:70. Also surprised every year by n clients spending £10k or more on a stock bull.

@FilmsVet @herdyshepherd1 @puncherton Costs from 2024 to AI 200 head. AI @ £150 per cow. Bulls @ £20 per cow based on serving 40 cows for 4 years as an average. Spending more for less fertility ?

New calf - just over 10 months since her last calf I love cows that gain time in their calving index

@GeorgeBurrell97 @herdyshepherd1 @puncherton Smells like a project.

@FilmsVet @herdyshepherd1 @puncherton I’ll dig my costs out tomorrow. Bull deprecation and cost of keep is easy for comparison any way because the cost of a sweeper is the same as main sire.

@herdyshepherd1 @GeorgeBurrell97 @puncherton A cool way of managing the same costs for a low CoP bull breeder.

@GeorgeBurrell97 @FilmsVet @puncherton Plus you can breed your own bulls and run in the herd at very low cost and sell after using for good £ I see bulls as a profit centre

@GeorgeBurrell97 @herdyshepherd1 @puncherton Difficult to generalise isn’t it. The ‘other AI’ gave £70 - 394/calf for NS vs £74-232 for FTAI. IMO they complement each other nicely where the facilities and appetite exist. Annual calves sired, cost of labour, % preg to AI, weaned calf £, straw costs seem biggest swings.

@FilmsVet @herdyshepherd1 @puncherton Aln ones have terrible depreciation because they are sooo expensive. What would you say cost of bulls are per calf or cost of AI per calf? What would you say is good conception for first 3 weeks of calving?

@GeorgeBurrell97 @herdyshepherd1 @puncherton Bull depreciation and breakdown etc does obviously not apply to Aln Angus bulls 😄

@FilmsVet @herdyshepherd1 @puncherton £160 to AI cows vs £50 per calf for bulls. Generally 10% less fertility with AI, in herds with high health and low bw bulls. Hard to argue positives of AI, especially as some bulls have appreciated so cull value was same as purchase price 8 years ago.

@croftfootfarm @herdyshepherd1 @puncherton ..Agree scale and logistics have to be in place. And it does psychologically relegate the stock bull from main character to supporting player - not for everyone.

@croftfootfarm @herdyshepherd1 @puncherton ..depreciate, stifle themselves etc. And the biggest cost is he is taking the place of a productive cow! Some excellent work showing you get up to 1:70 ish without affecting preg rate or calving pattern, with a 50% AI hold...

@croftfootfarm @herdyshepherd1 @puncherton We've found £ should be justified (using sensible semen) on just a kg of beef basis on even our most marginal farms. For our bigger farms they could prob shave 30% off their bull stud liability. No doubt there is an investment in time but seems to be rewarded at the calving end.

@FilmsVet @herdyshepherd1 @puncherton The theory is great - in practice it's difficult justifying costs and time even with synchro. I only do young heifers now and only one synchronised shot at that, as James says a bull is superior in most commercial scenarios. Time poverty is a real factor on livestock farms !

@herdyshepherd1 @puncherton I'll put you down as on the fence 😁

@FilmsVet @puncherton You’ll have a job persuading me! It takes something natural, simple and low cost - and makes it complicated, un-natural, costly, and riddled with failure

@herdyshepherd1 @puncherton Will stick my neck out on this one - IMHO FTAI is the most underutilized tool on suckler farms of scale and will save/add £. Complements natural service nicely. I’ll concede Galloways of any description don’t seem to do very well with AI (synchro response different?!).

@puncherton AI seems like a complete pain the backside to me Amazes me how many don’t hold and how much hassle it all is Give me a bull any day

What does our man in NZ say about this? Paging @BenDooley8 irishtimes.com/business/2025/…

@herdyshepherd1 Met Matt at North Sheep. Seemed like a really sound guy. Lovely sweaty day for cutting pigs. 🥵

Today was a day Baking scones Signing books Castrating pigs Moving cows

@fairleigh_ag @JohnDeere I know you’re a Pom at heart Bruce 🇬🇧

@FilmsVet @JohnDeere That John Deere looks familiar 😉

Two clients, two annual health plan appointments, 12,000 miles apart. Reassuring that farmers turn up to the vets in style - or does it just say something about @JohnDeere drivers?! 😁

Where has the last 4 years gone?! Our final AHDB meeting approaches! It would be fantastic to see as many people there as can make it! Please book onto the link ahdb.org.uk/events/real-fa…