Rangiora Vet Centre - Farming

29/12/2024

We are open for routine vet care on Monday and Tuesday this week from 8:00am - 5:00pm. The team is then taking a break to celebrate the New Year from 5:00pm on New Years Eve, re-opening for routine services and back to business as usual on Friday 3rd January from 8:00am. Over the New Year period and the weekend, you can contact the Rangiora branch at any time on 03 313 8387 for the contact details of the on call emergency vet 24/7.

Do not hesitate to call us if you have an emergency with your herd at any time.

For more detailed information, including branches and small animal vet care over this period, check out the information on our website: www.rangioravetcentre.co.nz

24/12/2024

Merry Christmas from the RVC Team 🎅

It wasn't just our customers that loved getting photos taken with Santa this year...

The big question is, can you guess WHO Santa is?🤫

23/12/2024

Once Zoe got her head gear on the right way she was ready to go!! We think she's just a bit excited to be in the drivers seat this Christmas Eve 🥰😜

22/12/2024

Our vet care team is taking a break for Christmas from 5:00pm on Christmas Eve, re-opening for routine services on Friday 27th from 8:00am - 5:00pm. On Christmas Day, Boxing Day and over the weekend, you can contact the Rangiora branch at any time on 03 313 8387 for the contact details of the on call emergency vet available 24/7.

Do not hesitate to call us if you have an emergency with your herd at any time.

For more detailed information, including branches and small animal vet care over this period, check out the information on our website: www.rangioravetcentre.co.nz

16/12/2024

Whilst the idea of a sprinkler system in the dairy yards sounds like a good idea to combat heat stress experienced by cows during yarding, some research suggests that these could have a negative impact on the animals, with an increase in avoidance behaviours such a shoving/pushing and lowering heads. Cattle appear to prefer to seek shelter (shade) in an effort to avoid adverse weather conditions. Therefore, providing shade on the yards may be a preferred approach.

Taking steps to prevent heat stress and providing animals with the adequate requirements to optimise their welfare (and so level of production) is the best approach to have on farm this summer.

Our suggestions:
• Provide adequate shelter for your herd to allow all animals to seek shade from the sun; reducing their body temperature, and reducing the level of frustration and aggression experienced by individuals
• Provide adequate access to a clean trough(s) and fresh water supply
• Where possible, limit yarding/management practices to the cooler periods of the day
• Consider decreasing the frequency of milking when summer hits (consider 16 hourly milking intervals)
• Provide adequate shelter for your herd to allow all animals to seek shade from the sun; reducing their body temperature, and reducing the level of frustration and aggression experienced by individuals.

Follow the link to read the full article and be prepared for your herd this summer
https://www.rangioravetcentre.co.nz/feels-like-summer?rq=summer

13/12/2024

What a great evening! The sun was shining and the BBQ didn't stop ☀️ We enjoyed catching up with everyone and their families.
Merry Christmas 🎄

12/12/2024

Increased levels of competition for shade access can result in aggression between animals, and frustration of individual animals. Frustration is considered as ‘an emotional state experienced when an individual fails to achieve expected gratification’. Some hypothesize that the feeling of frustration can be seen as aggression of an individual animal to another, when competition is high for a desired variable (such as shade) and water.

Physiological changes:
• Reduced milk production
• Reduced reproductive performance
• Increased respiration rate
• Sweating

Reduced milk production is one of the first indicators that we see in the shed, that suggests a cow isn’t doing too well. Milk yield is an easy change to measure and has a direct link to farm profitability. However, there is generally a lag of 24-48 hours between an elevation in environmental temperatures and reduced milk production. So, whilst it is important to note a change in milk production it is more an indicator that the cow has experienced heat stress.

Follow the link to read the full article and be prepared for your herd this summer
https://www.rangioravetcentre.co.nz/feels-like-summer?rq=summer

11/12/2024

The big fella in the red suit was in the clinic yesterday meeting some of our smaller customers. We're not sure if he'll make an appearance today ........... but just incase he gets a spare moment to swoop in on his sleigh - he did some reading to ensure he can hold a conversation with you all!

10/12/2024

Coccidia is a protozoa that can infect the intestinal tract of young calves; the lifecycle is similar to that of internal parasites where oocysts reside in the pasture and are picked up by calves as they graze, they then mature and pass through the intestinal tract. More oocysts are then produced within the calf’s gut and shed in the faeces, further contaminating the pasture. This cycle continues, and animals (particularly young, recently weaned calves) are susceptible to picking up the oocysts whilst grazing and becoming infected.



Follow the link to read the full article that includes signs to look for, prevention, and treatment advice: https://www.rangioravetcentre.co.nz/coccidia

09/12/2024

⚠️Water intake can increase by 1.2kg/degree C above minimum ambient temperature (cows prefer temperatures under 20 degrees). Water accessibility is considered to be the most important resource for a heat-stressed dairy cow, and the provision of an adequate and fresh water supply should not be overlooked!

When a cow becomes heat stressed, she reduces her DMI which lowers metabolism and results in fewer nutrients and energy available for milk synthesis, resulting in less milk production. Data suggests that lactating cows have an increased sensitivity to heat stress (when compared to non-lactating cows) due to the high metabolism required for milk production.

An increase in standing time is considered to be one of the major risk factors for lameness occurring. Therefore, heat stress is also considered to be a risk factor for lameness, as animals seek shade and decrease their level of activity.

Follow the link to read the full article and be prepared for your herd this summer https://www.rangioravetcentre.co.nz/feels-like-summer?rq=summer

06/12/2024

Incase you missed it in the latest edition of RVC Dairy News the results of the 2024 Calving Cup were announced. To be completely transparent, it needs to be known that Jevan announced these winners to make the newsletter deadline. Read into that what you will.

🥇 First place: Jevan - 163 points
🥈 Second place: Tristan - 144 points
🥉 Third place: John 122 points
Fourth place: Paul 118 points
Fifth place: Andrew 87 points
Sixth place: Rico 13 points
Seventh place & honourable mention: Equine team on 3 points

Disappointingly, there were no points lost for weak stomachs this year 🤢 but we can still hold on to hope for a laugh at our vets’ expense next season. Congratulation to this years winners! Well played team 👏👏👏

We look forward to catching up with you all soon 🎅

06/12/2024

☀️With a long and hot summer predicted this season, heat stress in our dairy cattle is something that we may see occurring. Whilst most of the research surrounding heat stress in cattle has been done in the Northern Hemisphere, we’ve reviewed the literature and highlighted some of the main points of interest, including what to look out for (physiologically and behavioural changes), and how we can prevent heat stress from occurring here in North Canterbury.

What is it:
Heat stress can be defined as ‘the sum of external factors acting on an animal that causes an increase in body temperature and results in a physiological response and changes in behaviour’.

Behavioural changes:
• Increased water intake
• Reduced feed intake (and shifting feeding times to cooler periods of the day)
• Shade-seeking
• Decreased activity and movement (i.e. increased standing time)
• Aggression

Follow the link to read the full article and be prepared for your herd this summer https://www.rangioravetcentre.co.nz/feels-like-summer?rq=summer

14/11/2024

Our team is taking a break for the long weekend. We close for routine vet care at 5pm today and re-open Monday 8am. If you experience an emergency with your herd this long weekend, do not hesitate to call the clinic for the details of the after hours emergency vet on call.
📞Phone: 03 313 7438

Wishing you all a happy Canterbury Anniversary Day!

13/11/2024

DON"T MISS OUT on these deals for the sensitive little ones on your farm 🐾 🐶 🐱 😉

Give the clinic a call to get a 1+1 free put aside for you. Phone: 03 313 7438.
These deals continue only while stocks last.

30/10/2024

If you got a couple of 🐑🐑🐑 on your farm, check out this cool gift with purchase.

MATRIX Hi-Mineral is a triple active drench to control internal parasites in sheep; trusted by generations of producers throughout NZ. We encourage you to talk to our vet team about how MATRIX fits into your parasite management plan on your farm.

*Terms and conditions apply. Offer ends 31st December 2024. While stocks last. See product label for full claim details and directions for use. ACVM No. A009390.

25/10/2024

Happy long weekend!

We hope you get a chance to take a break with friends and family. If you experience an emergency with your herd over the long weekend, do not hesitate to call the clinic on 03 313 7438 for the details of the large animal vet on call.
We are here if you need us.

30/09/2024

🪰Flystrike occurs when flies lay eggs on dirty and dagged areas of the sheep’s fleece. Blowflies are particularly attracted to the dirty areas of fleece; the areas that are urine stained or dagged.

These eggs hatch into maggots. As they eat at the sheep, they erode skin, muscle and tissue and release toxins which can then spread around the body. As this process progresses more flies are attracted to the damaged area, which only makes the problem worse.

⚠️ Sheep may appear irritated, restless and may not be eating properly in the early stages of the disease. Some animals may not show any signs until a large amount of damage has been done. The wool will only fall out later in the process, and then skin blackening and sores with a foul odour may become visible. Maggots can be physically seen with the human eye on the animals.

Appropriate preventative flystrike products can also be used before the risk period to help prevent flystrike. We recommend Cyrex as a preventative treatment to use just before the risk period (December).

An appropriate drenching program is also part of a good control program. Keeping worms down reduces diarrhoea in your flock and leads to less daggy animals.

If you have any questions or to discuss a preventative treatment plan get in touch on 03 313 7438.

For more information, treatment, and prevention advice follow the link to read the full article on our website: https://www.rangioravetcentre.co.nz/fah-sheep-flystrike?rq=fly

27/09/2024

HOW TO – Drench your sheep and goats 🐑🐐

We encourage you to watch this video 🎥 so you can be prepared for when the time comes.

https://vimeo.com/855198627

For more information on sheep drenching follow the link to read the full article on our website: https://www.rangioravetcentre.co.nz/fah-sheep-drenching?rq=drench

For more information about drenching your goats follow the link to read the full article on our website: https://www.rangioravetcentre.co.nz/fah-goat-drenching?rq=drench

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