Devon born Tom spent a year and two summers milking and working on dairy farms before gaining a degree in Agriculture in 2006. He then studied and qualified as a Vet from Glasgow University in 2011.
Tom returned south to work in East Devon and loved it so much he is still here now.
In 2016, Tom travelled with his wife to New Zealand working and improving his calving expertise and gaining knowledge in grass based dairy systems during the spring calving season. In 2017, he completed his Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Practice in Cattle.
Tom’s main areas of interest include cattle fertility, mastitis, youngstock rearing, lameness and beef. Tom has run numerous farmers meetings over past years including his highly successful ‘young farmers discussion group’.
There are 13 species of Mycoplasma that can affect cattle, however, some are more aggressive to their host than others. The most significant in the UK appears to be Mycoplasma bovis.
The disease was only discovered in the 1960’s and first found in the UK in the 1970’s. It is thought to be involved in a third to a quarter of all pneumonia cases in Britain. Once in a herd, it is a disease that is notoriously difficult to diagnose and control let alone eradicate.
