VetSouth

03/03/2025

As many people have heard, or even experienced themselves, there has been a massive increase in the number of stock in the southern region affected by Salmonella. Interim data has shown there was almost 10x more cases on dairy farms in Southland in 2024 compared to the previous seven years! 📈

We recommend farmers preventatively vaccinate against Salmonella this autumn. If you haven’t yet organised your herd’s vaccinations with your KeyVet, get in touch now so we can ensure we have enough vaccines 💉

To gain an understanding of the impact Salmonella can have, take a look at how much a recent outbreak cost the farmer here:
https://www.vetsouth.co.nz/blog/post/142375/salmonella-impacts-a-case-study/

And check out an update with data from MSD Animal Health here:
https://www.vetsouth.co.nz/blog/post/142373/southern-salmonella-update/

01/03/2025

To the next generation, or as our teams' kids are often fondly known, our 'vets in training' - happy Children's Day from all of us at VetSouth 🥳

📸 of our vets in training in the parade at the 2024 and 2023 Winton Open Days!

27/02/2025

Yersiniosis is a highly infectious disease which rapidly leads to death if untreated. Recently weaned fawns in their first autumn are typical candidates for infection.

Learn more from Vet Lisa👇

Yersiniosis is a highly infectious disease which rapidly leads to death if untreated. Use the Yersiniavax vaccine as an ‘insurance policy’.

26/02/2025

Our team had a lot of fun at the Gore A&P Show earlier this month! Did anyone try out our cheeky new face-in-hole photo board? 📸

24/02/2025

A common and costly problem in the south, Johne's disease isn't always visible. Regular testing gives you a greater chance of finding affected cows and removing them.

Vet James gives a quick recap of the disease here:

Johne's disease is a common and costly problem in Southland. We recommend regularly testing for Johne’s through bulk milk testing.

24/02/2025

What's in your lame cow kit?

A well-stocked kit could include:

✔️ Hoof knife and sharpener
✔️ Hoof testers
✔️ Hoof trimmers
✔️ Hoof grater and/or paring knife
✔️ Plastic, wooden or foam blocks and glue (i.e. Cowslips)
✔️ Bandages
✔️ Antiseptic spray (i.e. Iodine)
✔️ Antibiotic spray (i.e. Tetravet blue spray)
✔️ Pain relief (i.e. Metacam, Key)
✔️ Gloves and apron
✔️ Rope
✔️ Towels
✔️ Tail paint

Pop in to our farm shops in-clinic to top up your supplies. We can also sharpen your hoof knives for you!

21/02/2025

We know farmers work hard to prevent and treat lameness, so we’ve put together this guide to help you determine what type of lame cases you might be seeing on your farm ⬇️

A guide to help you determine what type of lame cases you might be seeing on your farm.

19/02/2025

We're proud sponsors of The VetSouth Gorge Adventure Race for the third year running!

This epic race is coming up on the 15th of March in the stunning Otapiri Gorge – a new gorge to experience.

Don't miss out! Enter now at https://tinyurl.com/bryt5r8h (if you haven't already...) 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️

adventure race southland gorge multisport lora limehills orienteering mountain bike MTB

18/02/2025

Sarge has done an incredible job with weight loss! 🐶

He started at 50.7kg and is now 38.1kg - looking fabulous and has so much more energy 🤩

Sarge was really down in the dumps so he came into VetSouth Gore where he had a check-up with the team and was weighed - that's when the team realised he was overweight. Sarge then started on a diet of Hill’s Pet Nutrition Metabolic + Mobility and this led to his weight loss. His owner kept up his usual exercise routine throughout his weight loss journey and credits his weight loss to the change of nutrition.

Our favourite part of this story - Sarge's owner says "now he's much happier and more energetic!"

Your pet's weight can affect more than just their physical health, so it's important to see our skilled team if you think you need a hand to take back control of your pet's weight.

Plus, save 10%* on weight management food in February!

*T&Cs and exclusions apply, offer available until 28/02/2025 or while stocks last.

17/02/2025

Keeping stock happy, healthy and productive in summer heat requires good preparation, here are some of our tips 👇

Keeping stock happy, healthy and productive in summer heat requires good preparation, here are some of our tips.

16/02/2025

Our Gore team cooked up some delicious lamb on the BBQ last Friday as an early celebration of National Lamb Day. Did you enjoy any lamb this weekend in support of our sheep farmers? 🍽️

14/02/2025

Happy National Lamb Day 🐑 We'd like to take the opportunity to thank everyone involved in the sector, as put well by Beef + Lamb NZ , from paddock to plate - today is all about YOU. Today, we showcase the red meat sector’s success, its significant contribution to NZ’s economy and the hard work done by NZ farmers. Share this with your mates to help cement the day in NZ's calendars.

National Lamb Day dates back to a game-changing moment in history: February 15, 1882. On this day, the first shipment of frozen lamb left Port Chalmers, Otago, bound for London, marking the beginning of New Zealand’s meat export industry and putting our world-class, grass-fed lamb on the global map.

This February 15th, fire up the BBQ, gather your friends, and join us in raising a chop to history and our incredible food producers!



https://www.facebook.com/share/p/15xfMESiDf/

13/02/2025

Ahead of National Lamb Day we want to further celebrate our sheep farmers - so come on down to VetSouth Gore or Tapanui tomorrow around lunch time and grab a snack and share a yarn with the team!

👉 Friday 14th February
👉 Lunchtime
👉 VetSouth Gore or Tapanui
👉 BBQ and celebrations

12/02/2025

Last spring we saw huge numbers of Salmonella cases in both sheep and cattle across Southland and South Otago as the wet weather persisted.

There are two main forms of the disease in sheep: enteric form and abortive form 🐑

Luckily, there is a vaccine available. Vet Kate explains more here:

This spring we saw huge numbers of Salmonella cases in both sheep and cattle. In sheep, there are two main forms of the disease – luckily, there is a vaccine available.

10/02/2025

Join Beef + Lamb New Zealand and our Gore based Vet Lisa for an interactive field day this Friday 14 February (Valentine's Day) - learning how to utilise your ram team by ensuring optimal health in the lead up to tupping and the best approach to reach your flocks genetic potential.

Registration is essential: https://beeflambnz.com/events/blnz-making-most-your-rams-workshop-utilising-your-ram-team-gore Morning tea and lunch provided.

EVENT CANCELLED:

REGISTER ONLINE NOW!
Join us for an interactive field day learning how to utilise your ram team by ensuring optimal health in the lead up to tupping and the best approach to reach your flocks genetic potential.
EVENT POSTONED - Tune in to our page for a new date announcement!

Are you taking the necessary steps to ensure your rams are up to the task in the lead up to mating?
Have you considered how feeding, vaccinating, and shearing may affect their performance?
Have you considered what rams you will use to mate your hogget’s, two-tooths and ewes?
A team of animal health and genetic experts will answer your questions and demonstrate best practice through a variety of interactive activities.
Learn how to select your best performance rams using Beef + Lamb New Zealand Genetics selection tool nProve and how to guide your future ram purchase decisions.

Morning Tea and Lunch Provided! Registration is essential https://beeflambnz.com/events/blnz-making-most-your-rams-workshop-utilising-your-ram-team-gore

08/02/2025

Now is the time to identify your ewes that can be maintained through to mating 🐑

These animals need 2% of their body weight in kg of dry matter (DM) each day, i.e. a 70kg ewe needs 1.4kgDM/day.

Animals that need to gain weight will need 3-3.5% of their weight in DM. That’s 2-2.5kgDM/day for a 70kg ewe. Get them to the required condition score (3-3.5), then drop them back to maintenance.

If you’re keen to get more accurate, you would measure requirements and feed in megajoules of metabolisable energy (MJME). We are happy to help with this, just give us a call 📞

05/02/2025

Want to WIN FREE entry into The VetSouth Gorge Adventure Race?

Get your team entered before this coming Monday the 10th of February and the organising team will draw out one team to WIN their entry fee back! 🥳

Enter your team here 👉 https://tinyurl.com/4n62kxzj
Entered already? See you there - you're already in the draw!