XLVets | News | www.xlvets.co.uk

Study into sheep disease aims to remove shame and increase transparency

10 Nov 2020

Independent veterinary practices, who cooperate under the XLVets community banner, have banded together to carry out a nationwide study on sheep scab. Caused by the mite Psoroptes ovis, sheep scab, was notifiable in the UK until 1992 and was only made notifiable again in Scotland in 2010.

XLVets members kick back at COVID with online Festival and extend offer of free Yoga session to the profession

2 Nov 2020

On Monday 2^nd November, XLVets members can tune in to the XLVets Festival, which runs online for the next two weeks. The event comes on the back of recent BVA survey* that showed 45% of veterinary respondents are concerned about their own risk of stress and burnout. The Festival is inspired by the community’s ‘Thriving in Practice’ initiative and includes everything from clinical updates, to sessions on building resilience and confidence, as well as fun events such as chocolate and beer tasting and even a comedy gig.

Intrepid duo open new vet practice with the support of the XLVets community

26 Oct 2020

Vets Eve Thomas and Sarah Parker recently won their bid to take ownership of a local practice. Keen to ensure they were capturing all the help available, they asked their veterinary contacts for tips. Two of their peers independently recommended contacting XLVets, which was a bit of a surprise as both Sarah and Eve were under the impression that the community was a corporate. Now they are the newest XLVets members and were excited to open Builth Wells Vets on Monday 5^th October, offering a more comprehensive service to farm, equine and small animal clients.

Study reveals that 89% of farm fridges record temperatures outside the recommended range for vaccine storage

19 Oct 2020

A recent study suggests that the majority of farm fridges may not maintain temperatures within the 2–8^oC range recommended for the storage of most vaccines. In the study, which was supported by MSD and led by Rosie Lyle of Bishopton Veterinary Group, 18 farmers placed temperature loggers in the fridge where they normally store vaccines. Temperatures were then monitored between February and April.

Confidence Boost for Attendees of Veterinary Women in Leadership virtual event

15 Oct 2020

Leadership confidence levels were boosted in just six hours for delegates of the inaugural Veterinary Women in Leadership event. The well attended event, run jointly by XLVets and Veterinary Woman, saw high levels of engagement from delegates, including women and men from across the veterinary profession and animal health industry. Discussions on next steps to facilitate women’s leadership development highlighted several key areas where the profession can do more to support career progression. Outcomes include future events and the building a leadership support network.

Nantwich Farm Vets join the XLVets community

30 Sep 2020

Nantwich Farm Vets has announced that it has joined the XLVets community. The move allows Nantwich to establish links with a network of independent practices who are able to share resources and services, while remaining in control of its own business and client care strategy. The practice has been warmly welcomed by like-minded practices across XLVets that are already experiencing the benefits of working together while retaining their own unique perspectives.

Veterinary Women in Leadership virtual event confirms stellar speakers

16 Sep 2020

Veterinary Woman and XLVets have confirmed an impressive line-up of key figures to speak at their virtual event on 29^th September. Alongside past-presidents and representatives including Amanda Boag (RCVS), Daniella Dos Santos (BVA), Wendy Nevins (BVNA), Catriona Curtis (SPVS), and Jenny Hull (BCVA), the event features business owners, practice and referral hospital founders, clinical directors and HR directors.

Veterinary Woman and XLVets partner for Veterinary Women in Leadership virtual event

17 Aug 2020

Veterinary Woman is partnering with XLVets to run a ‘Veterinary Women in Leadership’ virtual event. The inspirational afternoon and evening will feature speakers from the veterinary world and beyond and a number of leading veterinary women will be stepping up to share their career stories. The event will take place on Tuesday 29^th September and will run from 1pm to 7pm, with recordings available to anyone who registers but can’t attend the whole six hours. Registration is now open here.

Contributions to the profession and practice by four XLVets members, results in fellowship

11 Aug 2020

In the recent announcement of RCVS Fellowships, four members of the XLVets community have been recognised for their meritorious contributions to the profession as a whole or to clinical practice. They include Andrew Davies and Jon Reader, both of Synergy Farm Health, David Black of Paragon Veterinary Group and Duncan Berkshire who heads up the pig veterinary unit at Bishopton Veterinary Group.

Call for participants as XLVets builds on women in leadership study with new focus groups

8 Jul 2020

Following on from her ground-breaking work on veterinary women and practice ownership last year, Kerrie Hedley, Chief Operating Officer at XLVets, is once again looking for female vets to share their thoughts on both ownership and the wider aspects of leadership, in a series of focus groups and interviews conducted using video conferencing. The research is scheduled to take place in early August and both business owners and non-business owners are encouraged to take part by emailing Kerrie at kerrie.hedley@xlvets.co.uk.

Vet from Prostock Vets wins international BVDZero award

1 Jul 2020

Vet, Magda Sioukiouroglou, from Prostock Vets in Carmarthen, South Wales, recently took first prize and a share in a 15,000 euros prize fund at the BVDZero Awards – an international competition open to anyone working within the cattle industry submitting a case involving Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD). The award seeks to raise awareness of BVD and its control.

New study reveals surprising findings on fluke control in sheep

8 Jun 2020

A study testing for exposure to fluke in young lambs has revealed very low levels of infection throughout the country during 2019. The collaborative study, carried out by 24 independent veterinary practices (part of the XL Vets group), involved blood testing a cohort of six lambs on 25 individual farms from 16 weeks of age, to look for evidence of antibodies to liver fluke. Kindly sponsored by Norbrook, the results show increases in antibody levels – indicating exposure to fluke – are variable between farms, generally occurring very late in the season, and with just a few lambs affected.

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