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Comments on the dilemma in the April issue: ‘The mating game’
Author(s) -
Mullan Siobhan
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
in practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.211
H-Index - 25
eISSN - 2042-7689
pISSN - 0263-841X
DOI - 10.1136/inp.h2317
Subject(s) - dilemma , notice , medicine , agricultural science , business , law , political science , biology , philosophy , epistemology
The dilemma in the April issue dealt with a valuable Suffolk tup, which was jointly owned by three farmers. Having already served the first two flocks, the tup appeared a bit off colour when it came to the last farm. The provisional diagnosis was acute bronchopneumonia with fever, for which the vet advised rest, antibiotics, anti‐inflammatories, as well as good hay and plenty of water. However, because his ewes had been synchronised, the farmer agreed to follow all the advice except resting the tup ( IP , April 2015, vol 37, pp 206‐207). Gwen Rees empathised with the farmer's difficult predicament but suggested that the best option for the ram (as well as the ewes and the farm) was to find a different tup for the season. Although this would mean either using a substandard ram or paying a high price at such short notice, the two other owners might help with the cost or search. She added that if veterinary advice had been ignored an insurance company might not pay out in the event of the ram's death or infertility. It might also be necessary to remind the farmer of the Animal Welfare Act and perhaps even report the farmer for neglect if the ram died.