First aid in cows
First aid in cows Ability to apply first aid to your cows around the calving period is the role of the farmer or his assistant and only after attempting and failing should a veterinarian be rung. There are three stages to calving: Stage 1 (should take around 6 hours): The fluid sac around the calf is […]
First aid in calves
First aid in calves Calves, like all young animals, can deteriorate rapidly when they get sick. To have the best chance of treating sick calves successfully, rapid identification and treatment is essential. To achieve this on farm, there are some essential items you need to have available. Thermometer Electrolytes 2 x Calf tuber• one specifically […]
Dairy cow reproduction
Dairy cow reproduction Factors that affect fertility, hormones, and fresh Tararua Breeding Centre semen There are many factors that affect fertility and reproductive outcomes (such as submission rates, conception rates, 6 week in-calf rates and empty rates) in our dairy cattle and these include the following: Body condition at calving and at mating and the […]
Heavy rain, lambs, and leptospirosis
Heavy rain, lambs, and leptospirosis A warm, very wet summer and autumn certainly brings with it an abundance of feed for grazing livestock and nearly all the stock we are seeing is in excellent condition. For sheep farmers however such conditions can come with many headaches. We are hearing reports of late cases of fly […]
When copper becomes toxic
When copper becomes toxic A sheep farm was visited where copper (Cu) toxicity was suspected. Several lambs appeared lethargic and anaemic. The farmer had purchased lambs from a farm that had been feeding poultry litter (manure is usually treated with copper sulphate to reduce the bacterial level). Mature ewes of British breed origin appear to […]
Iodine deficiency in sheep
Iodine deficiency in sheep Iodine-dependent hormones produced by the thyroid gland are essential for growth and development of the foetus, and crucial for the survival of the newborn lamb. The foetus must produce his/her own thyroid hormones, and this is dependent on sufficient amounts of iodine derived from their mother’s daily intake being transported across […]
Wagyu as an option on dairy farms
Wagyu as an option on dairy farms Have you thought about the next breeding season? Having a well-planned breeding strategy is key. One of the options you may like to consider is selling your calves for beef, with price volatility really taking the shine off some years, one way to get a bit more certainty […]
The growing issue of worm resistance
The growing issue of worm resistance Most people will be well aware about the growing issues with drench resistance. While vets and many farmers have been aware of this issue and dealing with these problems for 20 years, in the last few years there appears to have been an explosion in drench resistance cases, in […]
Dry cow therapy for the coming autumn
Dry cow therapy for the coming autumn The goals set by milk processors, the ACVM (the group overseeing antibiotic use) and Vet Council are to ensure dry cow therapy (DCT) is used only when there is evidence of quarter infection. Using DCT only in quarter(s) that are infected should be the gold standard, meaning reduced […]
The dangers in your compost bin
The dangers in your compost bin Most pet owners know that chocolate, grapes, and raisins are toxic to our canine friends. Other potentially toxic foods include avocados, garlic and onions. What most dog owners don’t realize, however, is that compost can be one of the most toxic and deadly substances around. While composting your old […]