Focus Farm Vets Ltd.

07/09/2026

Did you know you can message the office on Whatsapp?

- prescription requests
- general enquiries
- call back requests

Scan the QR code below to add us to your whatsapp contacts. Message us any time and a team member will get back to you in office hours.

*** These messages are only monitored in office hours. For any urgent requests, please ring the office number. Out of hours you will be diverted to the vet on call ***

07/09/2026

***Bluetongue Meeting tomorrow***

08 September 2026, 10:00 – 12:00

Smallridge, Three Burrows, Truro, TR4 8HF

Open to All.

Get the latest updates and practical advice on bluetongue. If you're involved in livestock farming and want the latest information on bluetongue, we would be very pleased to welcome you to one of our NFU bluetongue member briefings taking place across the South West.

28/08/2026

📢📢 We are now closed for the bank holiday until Tuesday. Please ring the office number to speak to our on call vet should you have any emergencies 📢📢.

27/08/2026

Guidelines on the examination of rams for breeding – a BTV update from The Sheep Veterinary Society...

• In order to achieve conception rates in excess of 85% of ewes in the first cycle ram health and fertility must be optimal.

• Bluetongue virus (BTV) replicates in the testicles in infected rams, causing significant impact on s***m production. This is in addition to the general effects on fertility of the high temperature and blood vessel damage making animals unwell.

• Rams do eventually recover s***m production but their fertility for the coming season is expected to be very poor.

• The time taken for s***m to develop is 50 days and recovery of breeding soundness after BTV infection is considered to be up to 100 days therefore there are long lasting impacts on ram fertility for the current season.

• Ram MOTs and electro-ejaculation (EEJ) should only be carried out by those trained and competent in the techniques.

• Given the ongoing risk to fertility, unvaccinated ram assessment should happen as close to mating as possible to be useful at the time of mating but sufficiently in advance that alternative
ram power can be sought if necessary.

• However, please be aware that BTV infection after a successful ram MOT test can still impact fertility, making vigilance and vaccination essential.

• Vigilance should include checking for clinical signs in all animals daily, using raddle on rams to detect returning ewes and scanning early.

• The standard advice remains that every ram should be physically examined every year (however
note that this does not necessarily mean that EEJ should be included).

• It is not considered acceptable to perform EEJ on any ram that fails the first stage of a ram MOT and no ram should be condemned on the basis of an single unsuccessful EEJ.

This information is made available with thanks to Sheep Veterinary Society

23/08/2026

Please fill out the survey so we can better understand the disease impact 🐑🐮🐂🐏🦙

The National Sheep Association want to hear from all farmers to understand how BTV has impacted flocks and herds whether you have had confirmation of bluetongue in your livestock or not.

Read more and complete the survey here:
https://www.nadis.org.uk/news/survey-released-to-assess-the-impact-of-bluetongue-in-the-uk-in-2026/

20/08/2026

18/08/2026

Bluetongue cases are continuing to rise, with reports of more severe clinical signs than in previous years.

Join the next webinar on 19 August, 5-6pm, for the latest disease update. Hear directly from vets and industry experts on the latest disease situation and key information.

Stay informed. Stay vigilant. Don't miss this important update.

Book your place: https://bit.ly/4znuK2Y

Have a question? Submit it in advance: https://bit.ly/4fYDqFf

10/08/2026

‼️📣 Bluetongue Update (Helston, Cornwall) 📣‼️
As a practice, we have our first confirmed case of Bluetongue. We have another 3 suspect farms we are yet to have results back for.

The cases we are seeing this year are more severe than last year. Please consider vaccinating your stock. This is the best way we can help protect them.

If you suspect disease, please report it, to us or APHA. APHA want to test suspect cases to monitor the strain. SO FAR THIS YEAR, THEY HAVE ALL BEEN STRAIN 3. They also want to rule out other notifiable diseases.

🐑Sheep: Often the first sign is being a bit withdrawn. Treat these sheep early with anti-inflammatory and supportive fluids, fluids and more fluids. They may need antibiotics if they have signs of secondary infection. Encourage them to eat; if they have sore mouths they may be reluctant. Some of the sheep we have seen looked extremely hollow. Feeding soft feed e.g. soaked sugar beat/ energy drenches can help keep their strength up and support their immune system to fight this disease. 🐑

🐮🐂 Cattle: Last year the main impact we saw was on fertility; some lameness and symptoms which looked a bit like plant poisoning. This year, more abortions are being reported. The cost of a calf lost will pay for a lot of vaccine. The best treatments we have are supportive; anti-inflammatories, fluids and antibiotics if necessary. 🐂🐮

Vaccines are not licensed in breeding males, however BREEDING STUDS WORLDWIDE HAVE NOT SEEN ANY NEGATIVE IMPACT ON MALE FERTILITY, so we would strongly recommend vaccinating both males and females.

Please speak to the team if any queries. We are working hard to have more vaccine stocks available. The demand for vaccine has soared in the past 2 weeks. The sooner we know your requirements, the sooner we can let wholesalers and vaccine companies know to help them keep up with demand.

08/08/2026

A fantastic afternoon thank you very much 😊

13/05/2026

Bluetongue 8 vaccine is now in stock with our wholesalers so we can order it for next day delivery. We would strongly advise vaccinating against this strain as well as 3 to ensure your animals remain protected. Please speak to one of the team is this is something you would like to use in your stock.

SYVAZUL VACCINE FOR BTV-8

Syvazul BTV 8 for sheep and cattle is now in stock and available for immediate use across England, Scotland and Wales. Virbac has indicated that the vaccine can be used during pregnancy and lactation and carries a zero‑day withdrawal period, supporting uninterrupted farm productivity.

Bluetongue Serotype 8 was detected in the South‑West of England towards the end of last year’s vector season and has since been confirmed in the South‑East, including East Sussex. Vaccines are available for BTV-3 and are in good supply, but it is important to understand that they offer no cross-protection against BTV-8 or other serotype.

Vaccination against Bluetongue – both BTV-3 and BTV-8 – remains the most effective tool for reducing clinical signs and lowering viral load within a herd or flock.