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09 May 2008
     
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Events and Topics

What's New?

XLVets Glasgow Meeting with BCVA November 2007


The six-monthly XLVets Meeting was held in Glasgow on 21st November to coincide with BCVA. The meeting was very well attended, with our highest turnout so far. We used the familiar format of a business meeting in the moring with an opportunity for Andrew, Dewi and The Board to update members on progress over the past 6 months and to highlight upcoming events and initiatives. There were also opportunities for open discussion on a variety of topics which generated some lively and enthusiastic debate.

In the afternoon, there was an opportunity for two of the meeting's sponsors - Schering Plough and NVS - to present to the XLVet group some initiatives; including leptospirosis vaccination initiatives and net net pricing software (with a practice based demonstration by Richard Craw) respectively.


Then following a very strenuous teambuilding event in Exeter in the summer, the more genteel sport of curling was chosen as the teambuilding event. The XLVet members and our meeting sponsors attended Braehead Ice rink, where after 40 minutes of instruction with "The Stanes" an extremely competitive "round robin" competition ensued - see images below.

Thanks to our meeting sponsors; Schering Plough, NVS and Novartis

 

Farmers Weekly Livestock Adviser of The Year
First and second in the Farmers Weekly Awards 2007!

Congratulations to Keith Cutler from The Endell Veterinary Group, Salisbury on winning The Farmers Weekly Livestock Adviser of The Year 2007 and to David Black from The Paragon Veterinary Group who was one of the two runner up finalists. The judges particulary noted Keith's "proactive approach...respected by peers...and providing inspiration and support for younger colleagues". The judges commended David for "Promoting co-operation between vet practices and innovative business solutions."

Photo Courtesy of Farmers Weekly www.fwi.co.uk

Farm Vet Solutions – Beef Health Planning

Basil Lowman provided considerable food for thought to a packed meeting hosted by Farm Vet Solutions for their beef farmers from Rutland and the surrounding area. He was presenting as a part of the Beef Herd Health Planning project supported by Defra and being carried out by seven XLVet members. Basil reviewed many of the key issues facing beef production and he provided examples of where beef producers are working together to improve returns.


XLVets Directors Complete 284 Munros

On 1st September Donald McMillan and John Macfarlane, both founder directors of XLVets, and from the Minster and Alnorthumbria Practices respectively, completed their final Munros. The Munros are the highest of Scotland's mountains, 284 mountain tops named after the man who first catalogued them, Sir Hugh Munro, and are among the finest mountains in Scotland. Don and John coordinated their final climbs for the same weekend, to be on two neighbouring Munros and over 70 supporters climbed the final summits, celebrated there and then with Champagne and Whisky in the driving rain (it IS Scotland after all) and then later with many more family and friends joined for a fine ceilidh in Killin in the evening. Well done to both!!.


Kingfisher and Dairy Group Workshop 2007

Kingfisher Veterinary Practice and The Dairy Group recently teamed up to provide a Technical workshop for dairy farmers in North Somerset. Both organisations provide specialist healthcare and management advice to dairy farmers in Somerset, Dorset and Devon.