Parasite of the month: Cryptosporidium
Parasite of the month: Cryptosporidium You might not be able to see this parasite, but you won’t forget it once you’ve had it! Cryptosporidium, also known as “crypto” is a protozoal parasite responsible for causing diarrhoea in young stock and people. There are many different types of crypto, the most important type for New Zealand […]
To dock or not?
To dock or not? Lamb tail docking – do you really need to? Tail docking of sheep is covered by the “painful husbandry procedures” section of the Codes of Welfare. The minimum standards (legal requirements) include that: “Tail docking of sheep must only be undertaken where there is significant risk of faecal and urine contamination, […]
Efficiency in farming systems
Efficiency in farming systems In this edition of our newsletter, we cover three topics, one dairy and two for sheep farmers, all three of which have direct effects on farm efficiency. It is the efficiency of converting pasture and crops into milk, meat, and wool that drives profitability and contributes to decreasing a farm’s environmental […]
Making a profit in the face of increasing resistance to drenches
Making a profit in the face of increasing resistance to drenches For the last 15 plus years the sheep industry has faced the reality that resistance of internal parasites to anthelmintics was going to eventually limit the effectiveness of this tool. It started with the single active products which when they first arrived on farms […]
Maximising lamb growth
Maximising lamb growth Having our lambs grow quickly is an important pointer for lifting profitability and creating options for our farming systems. Important components to growth are feed quality, feed quantity and minimising the effects of internal parasitism as lambs progressively move from milk to a pasture/crop diet. For the last two seasons, we have […]
Research breakthrough in dairy heifer reproduction
Research breakthrough in dairy heifer reproduction Peter Aitken and the team at Totally Vets Awapuni have been working with Zoetis to test a new heifer synchrony program on Manawatu dairy farms, with a study that showed real-world improvements in heifer reproductive performance. Peter presented this information to New Zealand dairy veterinarians at a national conference […]
The ongoing challenge of worm resistance
The ongoing challenge of worm resistance This autumn as in 2023, we have seen the increasing effects of resistance of internal sheep parasites to drench. This combined with ideal weather conditions for the survival of the larval stages of these parasites on pasture, are leading to lambs being clinically affected despite their treatment. While we […]
Lepto 4-Way
Lepto 4-Way With the 2025 dairy season kicking off we are wanting to ensure that all the regular animal health vaccinations run smoothly. Earlier this year Lepto 4-Way was introduced which provided protection for you, your staff and ourselves against L Pacifica. Traditionally we have vaccinated for L Pomona and L Hardjobovis but we know […]
Flexolt another tool for controlling lice in sheep
New Product: Flexolt another tool for controlling lice in sheep This season MSD Animal Health released onto the New Zealand market a new lice control product for sheep which trades under the name Flexolt. Flexolt is a novel product, in that its contains a new active and in addition it is a new approach to […]
Nitrate poisoning
Nitrate poisoning Nitrate poisoning, is a relatively common problem in grazing livestock in our temperate climate, and often follows when livestock graze young, rapidly growing pastures and crops that haven’t converted all their nitrates into protein. The results of nitrate poisoning can be very dramatic, with animals often giving no warning and collapsing suddenly. Accumulation […]