Last week was busy with Dad away on his holidays in Dingle but I can confirm the farm is still standing.  The cow's cough is improving, it will take a week to 10 days for it to settle.

Storm Agnes was a reminder of how the weather can have such an influence on both farming and vetting. Luckily, it fell on a Wednesday so it meant the extreme sport of "Storm TB testing" was avoided.

Ticks thrive in warm, humid conditions so Ireland’s climate lends itself nicely to encouraging their population to multiply

Our Indian summer has come and gone, I had forgotten the “joy” of TB testing in non-breathable waterproofs. It was such a lift for everyone’s mood and it was a great time to get jobs done on the farm without having to shelter from the rain.

Unfortunately, there is no silver bullet for pneumonia prevention.

Last week as I received an unexpected message from a farmer that I used to be their vet for many years, wishing me well on my marriage but also asking a favour.

The status quo has returned this week. I am back to my beloved cows with a busy week of TB testing in the shadows of Galtee mountains in Mitchelstown. The natural beauty of the area is remarkable.

There is so much talk about mixed species swards, it’s time to talk about mixed species grazing and the risks that need to be kept in mind

Summer scour syndrome is the disease that leaves me baffled on a regular basis in practice. Although we haven’t seen much of summer weather-wise, cross the country, calves are suffering from this complicated disease.

Milk recording is a newish venture on our farm and now we wonder how we ever managed without it. The amount of individual cow data that is made available is “farm life” changing.

Sheep farming and responsible parasite prevention go together like thunder and lightning; it’s impossible to have one without the other, writes farm vet Hazell Mullins.

After our father-daughter bonding day at the Teagasc Moorepark Open Day a few weeks ago, I left the event feeling very inspired about what can be achieved on the farm in the future.

Last Monday’s RTÉ Investigates was an extremely tough watch, as I am sure it was for all involved in the dairy industry.

Tyre wire prevention involves keeping a tidy yard as cows are very curious creatures and will eat things they are certainly not designed to digest.

Treatment is labour intensive, with multiple daily intra-muscular injections for four-five days

Lungworm could be a specialist topic on Mastermind. If you are concerned about lungworm on the farm contact your vet to discuss diagnostic, prevention and treatment options for your herd.

Spores can also enter the body from injection sites or cuts that the animal may receive and multiply rapidly to cause sudden death

Flies are not just a nuisance for cattle that can affect productivity; they can also act as vectors for a disease that can result in serious consequences for animal health, writes vet Hazell Mullins.

The longer summer evenings bring longer walks to paddocks, and after an extended spring inside, it has been a recipe for disaster for hoof health on our farm, writes farm vet Hazell Mullins.

One of the most important ratings for any bull is docility, as safety on the farm is paramount to any carcass quality, writes farm vet Hazell Mullins.

Evaluating overall uterine health is one of the most important aspects of the scan, writes farm vet Hazell Mullins.

April marks the beginning of the Nematodirus risk period, an enemy of lambs throughout Ireland that can strike extremely suddenly.

The story of little calf “Red” gripped the agri community on Instagram over the Easter holidays - my Dad even got asked about him at mass on Easter Sunday, writes farm vet Hazell Mullins.

We now have two late cows to calve before the official end of calving 2023, and I am just about back to reality after my fantastic hen weekend in Dunowen house near Clonakilty.

It's been a busy couple of week on the farm, with preparing for weaning meaning it's disbudding time for the calves on the farm. I have to admit it is one of those essential job that I dread and will happily find any excuse to delay.

If you find a cow with the 'staggers', time is of the essence in treating this serious disease, writes Hazell Mullins

This March is certainly living up to the saying “March of many weathers”, and I am hoping at some point we eventually meet the lamb from the old Almanac saying “in like a lion out like a lamb”.

In both the farmer's and farm vet’s calendars, St Patrick's day is always a milestone date to reach every spring.

Sometimes life likes to throw a curve ball just when you think things are aligning into place, this took the form of a tragic accident in which I lost my darling dog, Betty.

Bottlejaw is one of the tell-tale signs of a bad dose of liver fluke, writes large animal vet Hazell Mullins.

Things don't always go to plan on the farm at calving time, so it's crucial to know how to take early intervention. Farm vet Hazell Mullins shares her tips for emergency calf survival.

Valentine’s Day is an extremely important day in our house, as it’s my wonderful Dad’s birthday. Every year, the house is decked in love heart balloons, and for a day Dad is made the centre of attention.

Farm vet Hazell Mullins explains the 'knee test', checking ventilation and the other tools in her box to assess your calf house.

Ketones are associated with numerous disease processes in livestock - the ketone diet is one to give a miss for your cows and sheep, writes vet Hazell Mullin.

I remember vividly in my days in vet school in Nottingham, in which milk fever/Hypocalcaemia based lectures always contained an image of an iceberg floating ominously in the ocean.

Calf scour is one issue we can work on during this pre-calving period, writes vet Hazell Mullins as she gives her top tips for prevention.

Extensive research has shown that infections originating in the dry period can cause clinical mastitis or high SCC up to 90 days post-calving - here's farm vet Hazel Mullins' tips on how to ensure dry period bliss.