Flock Health Checklist - Introduction
Flock Health Checklist
An introduction
The Flock Health Checklist was developed to help you work more closely with your vet to improve flock performance and health.
The checklist focuses on key processes and time periods, combined with the flock health advisers’ expertise to create a practical action plan for improved flock health and productivity on your farm.
Improved flock health leads to healthier ewes, rams and lambs and reduced losses which in turn can improve overall farm profitability, time management and job satisfaction.
The Flock Health Checklist is divided into five sections:
- The Breeding Period and Early Pregnancy
- Late Pregnancy and Lambing
- Growth, Weaning and Sale
- Disease and Biosecurity
- Monitoring Flock Performance
By completing all five sections with your vet, the checklist will enable you to identify strengths and weaknesses of your flock management and lamb rearing processes.
This will then allow you to create an action plan with your veterinary advisor, with the aim to make improvements based on your score.
Who developed the Flock Health Checklist?
This checklist was developed by experienced sheep vets Jonathan Hobbs, Giselle Brown, Claire Jones, JP Crilly and John Hemingway in association with MSD Animal Health.
Meet our veterinary contributors below, and visit each section of the Flock Health Checklist for an introduction of what is included.
Jonathan Hobbs BVetMed (Hons) DBR MRCVS
Jonathan graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in 2012 and is a director at North Park Veterinary Group, Devon.
His work includes a mixture of dairy, beef and sheep. He founded one of the first flock health clubs in the UK and established the sheep-vet group SWISH – the South West Initiative for Sheep Health.
John Hemingway BVSc CertAVP (Sheep) MRCVS
John graduated from Bristol Vet School in 2012.
Following four years working in farm animal practice in Wiltshire, he moved to Shrewsbury where he launched the Shropshire Farm Vets ‘Flock Health Scheme’ in 2016. John also holds an RCVS Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Practice.
Claire Jones BVetMed MRCVS
Claire graduated from the RVC in 2011 and has been working as a large animal vet in a busy mixed practice (Dolgellau Vets) in north Wales since.
Claire works with Welsh hill flocks and a few pedigree breeders. She also works for Hybu Cig Cymru (HCC) as a vet ambassador on the Stock+ project, providing specialist flock and herd health action plans for farmers.
Giselle Brown BVM&S MRCVS
Giselle graduated from the R(D)SVS in 2013 and has been working in Kirkcudbright, Dumfries & Galloway, ever since.
Her main sheep work comprises lowland and hill breeds, although she treats a small number of pedigree flocks too. She also runs a popular flock club for local farmers at Galloway Vet Practice.
JP Crilly MA VetMB Cert AVP Dip ECSRHM MRCVS
JP graduated from Cambridge in 2010. After working in a mixed practice in the Scottish Highlands, he undertook a residency in farm animal medicine at the R(D)SVS, University of Edinburgh.
He currently divides his time between first opinion large animal practice at Larkmead Veterinary Group in Oxfordshire and his role as lecturer in small ruminant health and flock management at the Royal Veterinary College.
Contact your vet to book your checklist consultation today!
