As spring is almost upon us we focus on lambing and maximising the growth of young lambs; with practical advice for those who are lambing in the FarmSkills pull-out guide and an article from Claire Riddell from XLVets practice Alnorthumbria Vet Group which takes us through some of the common problems and diseases associated with growing lambs. As BVD eradication plans in Scotland get underway and the disease is back in the spotlight, we go back-to-basics with a feature that explains how the disease is transmitted within a herd and between farms and we discuss the extent of the problem in the UK. We also have a report from a recent study tour to Winsconsin, where a group of farm clients from Bishopton Veterinary Group had the opportunity to see first-hand several dairy herd expansion programmes on farms in the area and hear about their experiences in trying to achieve sustainable growth for the future.