Improving sheep performance through vaccination
Improving sheep performance through vaccination With 88% of NZ sheep farms having endemic Campy and 100% having Toxo, the vaccination of hoggets or maiden 2-tooths with Toxovax® and Campyvax4® is routine for the majority of sheep operations. The Toxo story is an easy one; one vaccination gives lifetime protection from toxoplasmosis abortion and associated lamb […]
Dangers of heat stroke
Dangers of heat stroke Summer is a fun time for all, but the heat can be lethal to our pets. We really hope that knowing how to avoid heatstroke and being more aware of the risk factors and warning signs will help prevent unnecessary deaths. The most important thing to realise is that dogs and […]
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 bed for your pooch
Choosing the perfect 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 our […]
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 […]