Rangiora Vet Centre - Lifestyle Block

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Rangiora Vet Centre - Lifestyle Block

Offering veterinary care, guidance and experience to Lifestyle Farmers in North Canterbury assisting them to make the right decisions at the right time.

Enquire about our Animal Health Plan. The RVC farm team is available 24/7.

07/12/2024

🌤Reduced rainfall can cause issues with pasture cover, feed supply and the body condition of your animals. The amount of feed your animals require depends on factors like growth, pregnancy, lactation and weather conditions.
During dry times and drought, pasture quality is often poor and limited. You may need to bring in supplementary feed or relocate your animals. Always prioritise animal welfare when making these decisions.

💡Make a feed plan
Ensure your animals have enough feed in the coming months by creating a feed plan early to avoid potential shortages. You can find feed budget templates and resources online:
• Beef+LambNewZealand: beeflambnz.com/knowledge-hub/feed-budgeting
• DairyNZ: dairynz.co.nz/feed

📞Consult your local veterinarian
Your local veterinarian can provide essential information for planning – especially pregnancy scanning and body condition scoring.
They can offer nutritional advice, guidance on animal health and welfare, and assistance with humane culling if necessary.

🟨 Buy extra feed
Order supplementary feed like hay or grain as soon as your feed plan indicates the need. Introduce supplementary feeds gradually to prevent digestive issues. Seek advice from your veterinarian or feed supplier for the best options.
Consider sourcing feed through online communities for farmers/ lifestyle block owners e.g. web forums or social media.

Be prepared this summer to ensure your animals are safe and happy. Follow the link to read the full article about summer precautions to consider for your stock - https://www.rangioravetcentre.co.nz/fah-prepare-for-a-dry-summer?rq=summer

06/12/2024

We are having a lot of hot sunny weather – if you have guys like this on your property make sure they have shade and plenty of water available.

Make sure you subscribe to our LifeStyle Block Enews Letter! 📧 email: [email protected] they can add your name to the list.

04/12/2024

Consider animal numbers 🐴🐮🐷🐑🪿🐐🐓

The number of animals you have on your property needs to be low enough that there is enough pasture to feed them (i.e. appropriate stocking rate). Overstocking (having too many animals) means animals might not get enough food which can lead to welfare problems. Consult a rural professional or your veterinarian to calculate your stocking rate.

Selling excess stock is often more economical than buying feed. During periods of drought, processing plant wait times may be longer, so early bookings are crucial.

Regular monitoring and pasture management
Monitor your animals’ condition through body condition scoring and assess pasture levels and quality. Act promptly to secure more feed or reduce animal numbers if weight loss occurs.
If sharing water sources or grazing areas, use biosecurity measures and separate stock where possible.

Be prepared this summer to ensure your animals are safe and happy. Follow the link to read the full article about summer precautions to consider for your stock - https://www.rangioravetcentre.co.nz/fah-prepare-for-a-dry-summer?rq=summer

02/12/2024

Ensure animals have access to shade. If your property does not have natural shade 🌳(like trees), create shade using buildings or shade sails. In addition, for animals with light or bare skin, consider using summer covers or animal-specific sunblock. Ask your veterinarian for recommendations.

Shearing
Plan to shear your animals before the summer heat to keep them naturally cooler.

Be prepared this summer to ensure your animals are safe and happy. 📲 Follow the link to read the full article about summer precautions to consider for your stock - https://www.rangioravetcentre.co.nz/fah-prepare-for-a-dry-summer?rq=summer

28/11/2024

Animals must have access to enough clean 💧 water daily. In hot and dry conditions your animals might drink three times more water than usual, especially if they are eating dry feed like hay or pellets. They also need more water if they are working, pregnant or lactating. 🥵

Having a reticulated water supply offers the most control over providing water to your animals. Plan for an alternative water supply if you start to run low, or if the water for your animals becomes contaminated.

Low dams or ponds may become surrounded by mud or sludge. Fence off the muddy areas to prevent animals from getting into waterways.

⚠️Monitor water supply
During extreme dry conditions the ground can harden and damage water systems, leading to leaks and water wastage.

Watch for signs of problems with the stock water set up, such as animals congregating around a trough, or wet spots on dry ground. Green patches of grass growing in a brown paddock could be a sign of a leaking water pipe.

⚠️Check water quality
Dry and drought conditions can affect water quality. When water levels are low, water temperatures rise, and flow reduces, creating an ideal environment for bacteria and algae to grow. Coastal areas have the added risk of saltwater contaminating groundwater.

Animals don’t like the taste of contaminated water, so it increases the risk of dehydration, toxicity, and illness. Test water quality through your local council.

Be prepared this summer to ensure your animals are safe and happy. 📲 Follow the link to read the full article about summer precautions to consider for your stock - https://www.rangioravetcentre.co.nz/fah-prepare-for-a-dry-summer?rq=summer

25/11/2024

Prepare your lifestyle or small block for a hot, dry summer. ☀️

This summer there is likely to be low rainfall for a long time, and the prolonged dry spells may cause a drought, heat stress in animals and an increased risk of wildfires.

You can prepare by making a dry-weather plan for your animals. Remember you are responsible for their welfare under the Animal Welfare Act.

✅Pre-Summer Checklist
• Check water supply and quality
• Provide shade for animals
• Shear animals
• Make a feed plan
• Buy extra feed if needed
• Consider animal numbers
• Create a fire evacuation plan

📲Be prepared this summer to ensure your animals are safe and happy. Follow the link to read the full article about summer precautions to consider for your stock
- https://www.rangioravetcentre.co.nz/fah-prepare-for-a-dry-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 any of your animals 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!

30/10/2024

The cooler bags and work socks have arrived, get yours free with every 20 L of MATRIX® Hi-Mineral.

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 🐑🐑🐑

*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!
Our team is taking a break for the long weekend. We close for routine vet care at 5pm today and re-open Tuesday 8am.

If you experience an emergency with any of your animals over the long weekend, do not hesitate to call the clinic for the details of the after hours emergency vet on call. Phone: 03 313 7438

24/10/2024

🎆Horses are particularly vulnerable to bolting when exposed to fireworks. A recent study in New Zealand found that a large number of owned horses escape in response to fireworks. ⚠Some horses come back with lacerations, strains and broken limbs.

In preparation for a known fireworks event nearby:

🐴Horses should be securely stabled or temporarily moved to a location away from the fireworks display, to minimise the risk of them physically harming themselves.
🐴Any sharp objects that might injure a panicking horse should be removed
🐴Stable windows should be covered to hide the sight of the fireworks, and food and water should be available for the horse
🐴For stabled horses, have a radio playing to help with noise.
🐴For horses that can't be stabled, it might help to leave some lights on around the property also.

21/10/2024

If you have a pig or piglet, we strongly encourage you to provide them with engaging activities to alleviate boredom (and therefore hopefully reduce the amount of rooting occurring without the need for a nose ring or clip).

Here are some great ideas for enrichment:
💦Mud bath or paddling pool to wallow in
⚽️Swiss ball or football
🪢 Hanging ropes
🔶 Road cones
🛖Hay/straw bedding in their hut to allow nesting behaviour
🐽Providing them with access to an area that they can root up
🌾 Ad lib access to hay/roughage in a slow feeder or hay net
🐷🐷 Companionship (pigs are generally very social animals, and will often thrive with a friend)

For more information follow the link to read the full article or download the full Spring Lifestyle Farming newsletter

https://www.rangioravetcentre.co.nz/services

📬To get our seasonal lifestyle farming newsletters direct to your inbox email: [email protected] they can add your name to the list.

17/10/2024

☀️ Now the days are warming up, be mindful of sunburn. Just like humans, skin becomes burnt and the affected skin peels off leaving the area raw and open for infection.

Follow the link to LEARN MORE https://www.rangioravetcentre.co.nz/es-skin

14/10/2024

Spring is a good time to re-evaluate your 🪱 worm-control regime, here are some things to consider. The aim here is to keep the worm burden low. It is not possible to eliminate exposure to worms, as they are present within the environment, and it is okay for horses to be exposed to low numbers of non-resistant worms.

For more information, treatment, and management advice follow the link to read the full article or download the full Spring Lifestyle Farming newsletter

https://www.rangioravetcentre.co.nz/services

📬To get our seasonal lifestyle farming newsletters direct to your inbox email: [email protected] they can add your name to the list.

12/10/2024

Lice infestations are very often seen in spring, when your horse generally has a longer coat coming out of winter. A typical lice affected horse will be seen trying to profusely itch their tail and mane. There are two types of lice that affect horses.

Follow the link to LEARN MORE https://www.rangioravetcentre.co.nz/es-skin

09/10/2024

🐮If you’d rather your calves didn’t grow to be adult cows with horns, then we recommend debudding when they are calves. Debudding is best done when calves are 3-8 weeks old. By doing it at this age, there is a higher chance that all the horn bud tissue will be removed and so there is a much lower chance that regrowth will occur. The older the animals at the time of debudding (i.e., 8 weeks plus), the higher the chance of regrowth occurring.

For more information and considerations for calf debudding follow the link to read the full article or download the full Spring Lifestyle Farming newsletter Lifestyle

https://www.rangioravetcentre.co.nz/services

📬To get our seasonal lifestyle farming newsletters direct to your inbox email: [email protected] they can add your name to the list.

04/10/2024

🐑 Most owners prefer to remove the tails of lambs when they are young to reduce the chance of poo (faeces) becoming stuck to the wool on the underside of the tail and on the bum (dags). Preventing the build up of poo also prevents the establishment of flystrike (flies laying eggs in the skin).

Vaccinations are often done at the same time as tailing, as it is convenient and helps protect lambs from infections due to tailing or docking wounds.

For more information, tailing advice, and vaccination protocols follow the link to read the full article or download the full Spring Lifestyle Farming newsletter
https://www.rangioravetcentre.co.nz/services

To get our seasonal lifestyle farming newsletters direct to your inbox 📬email: [email protected] they can add your name to the list.

01/10/2024

Do you, or anyone you know, have cute lambs this spring? 🐑🐑

Check out our lamb rearing guide for tips and advice on keeping your lambs happy, healthy, and bouncing around just like Ruby and Rio 🤍🖤

https://www.rangioravetcentre.co.nz/basic-lambing-and-rearing-guide?rq=lamb

To get our seasonal lifestyle farming newsletters direct to your inbox email: [email protected] they can add your name to the list.

27/09/2024

Our Lifestyle Farming newsletter spring edition is OUT NOW! 📬

Head to our website to download the full PDF, or if you prefer a hard copy, pick one up next time you’re at the Rangiora RVC clinic or get in touch with Matt and he will sort you out.

https://www.rangioravetcentre.co.nz/farm-lifestyle

Inside this edition:
❤️‍🩹How to know when your lamb is sick
🐑Tailing and vaccinating lambs
💡How to treat scouring lambs
🐮Calf debudding
🐴Parasite control in horses
🐷Should you put a ring on it?

To get our seasonal lifestyle farming newsletters direct to your inbox email: [email protected] and they can add your name to the list.

Address

181 Lehmans Road, Fernside
Rangiora
7471

Telephone

03 313 7438

Website

http://www.rangioravetcentre.co.nz/

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Videos

If you have a pig or piglet, we strongly encourage you to provide them with engaging activities to alleviate boredom (and therefore hopefully reduce the amount of rooting occurring without the need for a nose ring or clip). Here are some great ideas for enrichment: 💦Mud bath or paddling pool to wallow in ⚽️Swiss ball or football 🪢 Hanging ropes 🔶 Road cones 🛖Hay/straw bedding in their hut to allow nesting behaviour 🐽Providing them with access to an area that they can root up 🌾 Ad lib access to hay/roughage in a slow feeder or hay net 🐷🐷 Companionship (pigs are generally very social animals, and will often thrive with a friend) For more information follow the link to read the full article or download the full Spring Lifestyle Farming newsletter https://www.rangioravetcentre.co.nz/services 📬To get our seasonal lifestyle farming newsletters direct to your inbox email: [email protected] they can add your name to the list. #rangioravetcentre #KiwiLife #waimakariri #northcanterbury #lifestylefarming

🐑 Most owners prefer to remove the tails of lambs when they are young to reduce the chance of poo (faeces) becoming stuck to the wool on the underside of the tail and on the bum (dags). Preventing the build up of poo also prevents the establishment of flystrike (flies laying eggs in the skin). Vaccinations are often done at the same time as tailing, as it is convenient and helps protect lambs from infections due to tailing or docking wounds. For more information, tailing advice, and vaccination protocols follow the link to read the full article or download the full Spring Lifestyle Farming newsletter https://www.rangioravetcentre.co.nz/services To get our seasonal lifestyle farming newsletters direct to your inbox 📬email: [email protected] they can add your name to the list. #rangioravetcentre #KiwiLife #waimakariri #northcanterbury #lifestylefarming

Do you, or anyone you know, have cute lambs this spring? 🐑🐑 Check out our lamb rearing guide for tips and advice on keeping your lambs happy, healthy, and bouncing around just like Ruby and Rio 🤍🖤 https://www.rangioravetcentre.co.nz/basic-lambing-and-rearing-guide?rq=lamb To get our seasonal lifestyle farming newsletters direct to your inbox email: [email protected] they can add your name to the list. #rangioravetcentre #KiwiLife #waimakariri #northcanterbury #lifestylefarming

How to: Tube feeding your lamb

Lambing season is just around the corner! We have put together a comprehensive video on how to tube feed your lamb. Be prepared for lambing season with these helpful tubing tips and techniques.🐑🐑 ➡️Share this video with anyone who have lambs due this season. ___________ #rangioravetcentre #rvc #nzfarming #ruralnz #lambing #lambhealth #largeanimalvet #northcanterbury #canterburynz

The weird and wonderful: A case of a calf born with extra legs

A case of a calf born with extra legs!🐮 Follow Spider's story, an Angus calf born with three additional limbs, and see the exceptional care provided by our dedicated large animal team, which even involved a CT scan!🩺 Watch this video to delve deeper into Spider's story. Find more information about spider condition here: https://www.rangioravetcentre.co.nz/fah-the-weird-and-wonderful-a-case-of-a-calf-born-with-extra-legs

Today is love your pet day! What is your favourite way to indulge your poultry friends? These hens are loving a bale of straw bought for them to rip apart and scratch through.🥰🥰 #LoveYourPetDay