Helping you to manage livestock on a small holding.
🐴✨ Bugsy’s Big Eye Adventure! ✨🐴
We recently went to visit Bugsy, who had a seriously swollen and sore eye. After a bit of sedation and nerve blocking, we managed to get a good look and discovered a sneaky oat husk stuck under his top eyelid! 😲
With Georgie, Sara, and Danielle’s skilled teamwork, we removed the culprit and Bugsy is now back to his happy self. Check out the video to see the operation in action!
Bugsy is now on his way to a speedy recovery! 🐎💫
Mission accomplished! Workshop #2 of our Lifestyle Block Spring Series was another great success. Thank you so much to those who attended. Your passion and thirst for knowledge was so evident through your engagement and questions. We trust it will make this season a little easier to get through. Any further questions or problems, please never hesitate to get in touch - your NCVC vets Andrew, Brooke, Georgie and Kirsty.
Worms have still been an issue this winter, with the hot cold weather and low grazing, animals have been picking up more worms and therefore putting more eggs down. How heavily contaminated are your pastures?
So you don’t get any nasty surprises, it might be worth doing some FEC and checking on animals through the spring. Be prepared for a wormy spring!
Looking after your lambing ewes.
Pregnancy toxaemia (sleepy sickness, ketosis, twin lamb disease, lambing sickness) is a disease of ewes in late pregnancy. It occurs when the ewe does not have enough glucose to continue the growth of the ewe and the lamb in the final stages of parturition.
Affected ewes will look dull and depressed, will stop eating, lie down and may show neurological signs. They may separate themselves from the flock.
Feeding the ewe is key. If she is still eating then prognosis is much better. Once the ewe is down and inappetant it can be very difficult to reverse the effects and death can occur.
Energy given in the form of oral Ketol and injectable Glucalphos can help in the early/moderate stages.
Prevention is key to dealing with sleepy sickness. Keep ewes on a rising plane of nutrition, the requirements are greatest in the last 6 weeks of pregnancy where 70% of the foetal growth occurs. Supplemental hay/baleage may need to be provided. Preferentially feed lighter ewes or those carrying more than one lamb (if you know). Minimise stressful events/time off feed leading up to lambing.
If you think your ewe has sleepy sickness, give us a call and one of our veterinarians can speak to you."
Register now for our FREE Lifestyle Block Spring Workshop next Monday evening at Amberley Clinic. Vets Georgie, Brooke, Kirsty and Andrew look forward to delivering another cracker of an evening filled with loads of good info and takeaways. Click here to register - https://forms.gle/TutRDCoUCYvVv5SK7
Lice and Mites.
Are your camelids scratching, unsettled and showing patches of hair loss? Skin conditions are relatively common and there are a range of underlying causes which can cause our furry friends to become irritated. One of the most common problems that we see on lifestyle blocks is infestation of parasites such as lice or mites. Affected animals typically rub against fences and show areas of disrupted hair/fibre. Lice are usually found in the densely fleeced areas such as the neck and flanks, and their numbers are highest in colder months. Mites are microscopic and so cannot be seen by the naked eye but can lead to intense itching, marked hair loss and reddened skin. When left untreated, parasite infestation can lead to secondary skin infections, and in severe cases, animals can become anaemic and show weight loss. These parasites spread easily between herd mates and other stock, necessitating prompt identification and treatment. If you think that your camelids may be suffering from a skin condition, please contact your local clinic today to for advice and veterinary assistance.
Register now for our next free workshop. You won't want to miss out on this opportunity to learn and ask questions of our experienced veterinarians. Scan the QR code or click this link to register
Yes, please register me for Monday 19th August 2024 - 6.30pm - 8.30pm
Feeding Orphan Lambs
With more adorable lambs starting to pop up around the district, there is no doubt that some orphans will be starting to make themselves at home with you!
In the first few days of life, it is essential that lambs are fed colostrum. Give 5 warm feeds spaced out as evenly as possible. 125ml per feed is required for an average 4kg lamb (total 15% of the lamb’s body weight). From five to seven days old, lambs can be gradually transitioned onto cold yoghutised milk, to help prevent bloat.
The table below details Anlambs' guidelines for feeding orphan lambs. If you have any questions about feeding orphan lambs, get in touch with your local NC Vet clinic.
It was all hands on deck at our recent Lifestyle Block Spring Workshop #1 at Amberley Clinic. There was a great turnout of eager farmers who came along to hear from vets Brooke, Kirsty and Andrew on helpful information and tips to reduce stress this lambing and calving season. They were also happy to get in amongst it to practice what they had been shown. Every participant went home with a free lambing kit. Congrats to our spot prize winners and also to Rochelle and Darren from Balcairn who won the draw for a bottle of Cyrex for completing their stock numbers. We in the throws of planning Workshop #2 so keep eyes out info.
Goat Disbudding
Most goats are born with horns. Whilst these can be very useful for restraint, they can also be very sharp and dangerous when your goat kid gets older and starts to bunt. These sharp horns can cause injury to you, and other animals you may have. If you don’t want the hassle of goats with horns, we are able to disbud them – just like we do with calves. However, it is important to note that the time period for disbudding goats is much more critical. Goat horn buds attach to the skull from 7 days old. This means they MUST be disbudded before 7 days of age to prevent regrowth/scurs occurring. Unlike cattle, its is not safe to dehorn goats when they are older due to the sinuses that form in the horn. Goats are also very sensitive to drugs, particularly local anaesthetic. Therefore, we recommend bringing kids to the clinic for disbudding so they can be accurately weighed, and the drugs given safely.
If you are planning on having kids (of the goat variety), make sure you call us promptly after they are born to get their disbudding booked in.
This is Bonnie (below) who was disbudded a couple of weeks ago.
Checking Your Chooks
With winter now in full swing, it’s important that you have suitable facilities for your birds to shelter in and avoid the cold. Healthy birds usually stick with the flock, have a full coat of feathers, an upright red wattle and are inquisitive. Just like us, the cold weather can place extra stress on the immune system, making our fluffy friends more prone to illness. Signs of a sickness can include lethargy, a dirty vent, discharge around the nose or eyes, snicking/coughing and open-mouth breathing.
Another issue that we sometimes see over winter when food supply is more limited, are issues of the crop. If birds are grazing longer more fibrous material such as dry grass or straw, or scavenging foreign material because they are hungry, this can become stuck in the crop and cause them to become unwell. Therefore, it is important to ensure that you have a supply of good quality poultry feed to see them through winter.
If you are concerned that your chooks are showing signs of becoming unwell, please contact us at the clinic and one of our veterinarians can discuss next steps for your bird’s care.
REGISTER TODAY FOR OUR FREE WORKSHOP - We're in the final days to receive registrations for our Lifestyle Block Spring Workshop this Wednesday evening, 17th July at Amberley Clinic. NCVC vets Georgie, Brooke, Kirsty & Andrew promise to help take the stress out of lambing and calving this season through this informative workshop. Register now by clicking the link https://forms.gle/u5FEf3sNzaJxMUzp9
Lamb Vaccine - 20ml quantities of Ultravac 5in1 are now available at Amberley Clinic. Save money and prevent waste - exclusively for lifestyle block owners.
Check out our latest newsletter for lifestyle block owners. Topics covered include The Stages of Labour, Common Lambing Problems, Lamb Vaccinations, Lice Treatment, Camelids & Vitamin D, and Case File - Winston the Wonky Donkey. Click below to catch all the news.
Welcome to the first quarterly publication of Local Lifestyler. It's the perfect read to enjoy with a cuppa! The aim of this newsletter is to discuss up-coming events relevant to the animals on your block, and to keep you informed of the latest in animal health information and products. We reall...
Get your stock numbers to us by this Friday the 12th and you'll be in the draw to win a 250ml bottle of Cyrex valued at $125. Click this link to complete your numbers on our easy on-line form - https://form.jotform.com/230527392080048
Healthy ewes make for healthy lambs
Are you wanting to give your ewes the boost they need before lambing? Sheep have high physiological demands for certain vitamins and minerals during critical reproductive periods, especially in late pregnancy. Supplemental Iodine and Vitamin E in particular are key trace elements for successful reproduction and lamb survival. Healthy Ewe RTU contains: Vitamins A,C,D,E plus the trace minerals: cobalt, selenium, iodine and zinc – everything your ewe needs to keep herself healthy, and raise a healthy lamb. Ewes can be given 5ml orally 4 weeks before lambing.
Healthy Ewe RTU is a product we readily decant in clinic to smaller amounts as part of our lifestyle dispensary. So, pop on in and grab some to help your ewes prepare for lambing!
REGISTER NOW for our free up-coming Spring Workshop on Wednesday 17th July, 6.30pm - 8pm at our Amberley Clinic. Workshop #1 promises to help take the stress out lambing and calving this session - plus you will receive a free lambing kit to take home. Phone 03 314 8612 or click this link to register now - https://forms.gle/eEzZ19JrbPVMqbuA6
Appointment slots are filling up fast! Don’t miss your chance to get a free dental check, big discount on dental procedures and free dental products, while stock last! Make a booking by emailing [email protected] or calling your local clinic to ensure you do not miss out on our Big Pet Dental Deal.
Amberley: 03 314 8612
Cheviot: 03 319 8677
Culverden: 03 315 8363
Waikari: 03 314 4102
Please use these methods for booking as online booking is not available for this offer.
Pneumonia
Increased humidity and rapid changes in weather conditions can predispose stock to developing pneumonia. Typically, an initial viral infection in the upper airways can disable the bodies’ natural defences allowing other bacteria and viruses to infect deeper into the lungs. Typical signs you may notice include nasal discharge, coughing, reduced appetite and a low and stretched-out head carriage. These animals often need a helping hand to recover well so please get in touch with your local clinic if you have any concerns.
Trace elements.
Trace elements are minerals that are essential for life. The main elements of concern in sheep and cattle are Selenium, copper, cobalt (B12) and iodine. These all play critical roles in growth and development as well as reproduction.
Copper levels are at their lowest over winter and selenium and iodine levels are critical pre-lamb/calving so now is an important time to think about supplementation.
Have a chat to one of our team to discuss how best to supplement your flock.
Feeding
After a very dry summer and autumn, we look to be in for a cold winter. For most properties, this means that pasture growth will be minimal and any available grazing which you do have is likely to be of poor quality. Feed planning is key to ensure your animals have enough feed for winter, especially for youngstock and pregnant mothers. This may mean buying in supplemental feed or making that tough decision to reduce your stocking rate so that you can adequately feed your animals with what you have available. Regular monitoring of animal body condition score is a key tool to help assess how well stock are coping in these tough conditions. There are many avenues of support available to help you with this and our team are on-hand should you wish to talk further about body condition scoring or feed planning decisions. Please get in contact with us today if we can be of any assistance.
For June and July only, get a free dental check with a free NCVC Dental Info Pack and 10% off recommended dental work PLUS free dental products with every dental procedure, while stocks last! Book now by emailing [email protected] or calling your local clinic to ensure you do not miss out.
Amberley: 03 314 8612
Cheviot: 03 319 8677
Culverden: 03 315 8363
Waikari: 03 314 4102
Please use these methods for booking as online booking is not available for this offer.
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Reminder to be vigilant about dogs visiting farms, says Ovis Management chief.
What vaccinations do my livestock require?
Vaccinations protect your animals by preparing the immune system to fight disease. There are many different products on the market for various diseases that are easily preventable via vaccination. The following table shows the most important diseases worth preventing for different species. In general, most vaccination programs require two doses of vaccine 4-6 weeks apart followed by an annual booster.
If you would like more information, please contact your veterinarian for details on which products to purchase and when to vaccinate.
Footrot
The recent moisture may be increasing the softness of your paddocks at a time when footrot could rear its ugly head. Initial breaks in the skin of the hoof allow the bacteria that thrive in these conditions to infect the structures of the foot. Some of these infections can look relatively superficial while others can cause significant damage and in severe cases, permanent lameness. Other telltale signs include a foul smell and weight loss. It is not recommended to trim these feet so if you think you have a case, please call your local vet for advice.
This June and July, it’s the Big Pet Dental Deal! Appointment slots and stock will go fast, so book now by emailing [email protected] or calling your local clinic to ensure you do not miss out.
Amberley: 03 314 8612
Cheviot: 03 319 8677
Culverden: 03 315 8363
Waikari: 03 314 4102
Please use these methods for booking as online booking is not available for this offer.
Lice.
Both cattle and sheep can be affected by lice.
Lice infestations show as a loss of hair or wool pulling. You may see animals scratching themselves on fences or wool attached to fence lines. Lice is more typically seen in the winter months. They live on the animals body and they can move to other animals through close contact. To control lice, it is important to treat all members of the flock at the same time to break the cycle. Most lice treatments are topical pour-ons but are different for cattle and sheep.
Come in and speak to the team about which treatment option is best for you and your animals. We now also have a new oral treatment for Lice in sheep that can be a great alternative to pour-on"
Happy Friday!
A great pic taken by our lovely Rosemary, clinic coordinator at our Waikari Clinic 🌈
1 Osborne Road
Amberley
| Monday | 8:30am - 5:30pm |
| Tuesday | 8:30am - 7pm |
| Wednesday | 8:30am - 5pm |
| Thursday | 8:30am - 7pm |
| Friday | 8:30am - 5:30pm |
| Saturday | 8:30am - 12:30pm |
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🐴✨ Bugsy’s Big Eye Adventure! ✨🐴 We recently went to visit Bugsy, who had a seriously swollen and sore eye. After a bit of sedation and nerve blocking, we managed to get a good look and discovered a sneaky oat husk stuck under his top eyelid! 😲 With Georgie, Sara, and Danielle’s skilled teamwork, we removed the culprit and Bugsy is now back to his happy self. Check out the video to see the operation in action! Bugsy is now on his way to a speedy recovery! 🐎💫
Each and every day, our customers see how Vets impact their pets life. But did you know that behind each and every Vet, is a team of supportive Nurses, working magic behind the scenes. Watch the video and hear from our Vets what our team of Nurses do each and every day! A BIG Thank you to all our Vet Nurses! Our vets and patients would be lost without you 💓🐾 #vnaw2022
