Flystrike
Flystrike Flystrike season is upon us now and we have seen quite a few struck sheep lately – mostly in cases whereby a preventative treatment has not been applied. While keeping an eye out for flies is useful, flystrike can occur very quickly over a couple of days, especially in ideal conditions, so we always […]
Choosing the perfect dog bed for your pooch
Choosing the perfect dog bed for your pooch Like us our dogs have their own preferences when it comes to their beds and how they sleep. If you think about how much time our dogs spend sleeping (12-14 hours a day), you’ll want to make sure they have the perfect spot to snooze! Here are […]
Annoying itch
Annoying itch Getting to the bottom of that annoying itch… Skin conditions can be frustrating for everyone involved and once they have become chronic they can take a lot of unravelling to get to the underlying cause. Year-round environmental allergies can be indistinguishable from food allergies, recurrent ear infections and skin infections can be due […]
Parasite of the month: Barbers Pole
Parasite of the month: Barbers Pole Haemonchus contortus, commonly known as barber’s pole worm, is a blood sucking parasite that can cause ill thrift and death. This parasite gets its name from their red and white ‘barber’s pole’ colouration under the microscope. This worm is a very common parasite in small ruminants such as sheep, […]
Government’s proposal on agricultural emissions
Government’s proposal on agricultural emissions In September we published the article He Waka Eke Noa – what does this have to do with animal health? This month’s announcements by Government to further consult on their changes to He Waka Eke Noa’s recommendations has stirred the farming community, some economists and those watching significant land use […]
When to call a vet
When to call a vet Spring is a very exciting season on the farm. Lambing, calvings, foalings, unpackings and much more are always something to look forward to. There are a few things to think about before the animals are born to make sure everything goes smoothly. Preparing a birthing kit, knowing when to intervene […]
He Waka Eke Noa – what does this have to do with animal health?
He Waka Eke Noa – what does this have to do with animal health? He Waka Eke Noa (HWEN), the farming sector’s climate action partnership with Government and Māori, has been established as an alternative to pricing agricultural emissions through the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme (NZ ETS). HWEN is recommending a farm-level pricing system […]
Lamb growth rate
Lamb growth rate A big influence on lamb growth rate from birth to weaning has already been set. The ewe body condition at lambing and the ewe feeding level coming into lambing for multiple ewes both impact on lactation. If there is still time to intervene the most important action is to lift the feeding […]
Pre-mating drenching and minerals
Pre-mating drenching and minerals The fact is adult cattle are still subject to damage from the worm larval stages before their immune systems have a chance to recognise and kick out the adult worms. These larval stages create damage to the mucosa of the gut lining that can cause the problems; it incites an increase […]
Taking the guesswork out of mastitis
Taking the guesswork out of mastitis As veterinarians and farmers, it is our responsibility to ensure that antibiotics are both prescribed and administered appropriately so that their efficacy against microorganisms is well-preserved in years to come. Bacterial resistance against antibiotics is a real and growing concern in both human and animal medicine. Over the […]