Octavoscene Pty Ltd

18/08/2024

Sometimes as vets when we hear the word students we go ‘Urgh, I don’t have the time!’. Yes, I was exactly like that and sometimes still do that but…

We need to realise that they are the next us. So stop, slow down and breathe. They are the next you. They are the legacy, the name, you leave behind.

And Dr Morris is the person who teaches all of us this. He always has a kid, teenager, vet student, another vet in his car with him. He is an amazing mentor and teacher! He has taught all of us to take the time and teach. You don’t even have to teach just involve.

Just stop and look at the smile on the other persons face, that moment you stopped means so much to them. So just breathe and take the stop. Also good for your mental health.

Thank you to Octavoscene for allowing us to create these environments and Dr Morris for being the example and mentor.

Thank you to everyone who took that stop and taught all of us.

15/08/2024

Dr Liezel Wasserman
(Sparta Veterinarian)

As a veterinarian, you have the unique opportunity to make a positive impact in ensuring food security. You’ll have the chance to work in various settings, such as private practice, small and production animals, government agencies, research, feedlots and abattoirs.

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) awareness and biosecurity measures are critical aspects in preventing livestock diseases from entering your farm or feedlot.

Biosecurity measures include the following:
• Buy cattle directly from the farmer and ensure a closed herd setup, with no newly introduced animals in the last 28 days.
• Restrict the movement of people and animals on and off farms.
• Vaccination programmes, surveillance, and monitoring of animal health are also essential components of a comprehensive FMD biosecurity plan.
• Ensure good hygiene practices, such as thorough washing and disinfection of trucks, equipment and clothing between cattle loads.

05/08/2024

05/08/2024

So this is slightly off species for our page but I have had quite a few questions regarding this, so here we go...

African horse sickness is a serious often fatal disease of equids (horses, mules, donkeys and zebras). The virus is spread by infected insects that causes fever, heart and lung problems in affected animals. The virus is seasonal and weather-related. The virus occurs in summer and autumn after heavy rain. Although, AHS has been known to overwinter. Yes, it is possible! As long as the adult biting insect can survive - they are able to transmit the virus. The virus is spread primarily by biting midges but it is possible that mosquitoes, ticks and biting flies may also transmit the virus. Blood-contaminated equipment may also transmit the virus. African horse sickness is not contagious through direct contact. The biting midges transmit the virus from one animal to another. Death is common and can occur suddenly. In some cases the death rates can be as high as up to 95%.

African horse sickness has four clinical forms AHS fever, heart(cardiac) form, lung(pulmonary) form and the mixed form. The cardiac form of the disease is the most common form causing fever with swelling around the eyes, lips, cheeks, tongue and neck and ultimately heart failure. The pulmonary form occurs rapidly (death occurs within a few hours) causing fever, difficulty in breathing, coughing, sweating and frothy discharge from the nostrils. Some horses can get a combination of both these forms. The last form is the AHS fever, animals with this form typically recover. This form occurs in donkeys and vaccinated animals. AHS is a cyclic fever(high in the morning and gone in the afternoon) with slight depression and decreased appetite. The treatment for AHS includes rest and supportive care to alleviate clinical signs.

The best way to protect animals from African Horse Sickness through annual vaccination. However, this has proven to be difficult in the last few years due to vaccine shortages. Your frustration is our frustration. Urgh... we as vets want to pull our hair out just as much as you do! The vaccine is given in two doses under the skin each three weeks apart. In naive horses - horses who have never been vaccinated - it is safer to give dose 2 before dose 1.

So in the interim, the best way to protect your horse is to limit possible exposure to the biting insects during high risk periods. High risk periods are at dawn and dusk especially in summer and autumn after periods of heavy rain. Review your insect repellants and insecticide program on the farm. Monitor your horse's temperature. Movement restriction during an outbreak is great importance. This should not be taken lightly. The viremia usually lasts 4-8 days but can extend up to 21 days. In zebras, the viremia may last up to 40 days and up to 28 days in donkeys.

So for now we do the best we can - we rely on us. So focus on vector control and movement restrictions.

Please do not hestitate to ask any questions. If you thinking it, so is someone else.

01/08/2024

Kunsmatige intelligensie en die gebruik van data gaan toeneem in landbou. Loffie Brandt het tydens Aartappels SA se kongres hieroor gesels.

20/07/2024

17/07/2024

We were invited to talk and host a practical course at the Cape Metropole District Farmer's information day @ Dassenberg farm.

Thank you Western Cape Government for the opportunity and our lovely Octavoscene vets and animal health technicians for the day.

17/07/2024

Today we had a sheep show and tell with Green School South Africa, educating some of our future veterinarians. Between the green grass and excited children it was difficult to say who enjoyed the day the most - possibly Shaun the Sheep.

15/07/2024

Rescue - Rehabilitation - Lessons - Outrides - Skills Development Programme

15/07/2024

Dr Carla Pont has joined our veterinary practice in Malmesbury. She has a passion for working with the big creatures and we can't wait to see what her future holds!

13/07/2024

Introducing the newest member to the Octavoscene team - Dr Marnus Smith. He loves doing wildlife veterinary work and will join us in our herd health consulting specialist field.

26/06/2024

When they all gang up to look at you, to shame you for having the audacity to interrupt their mid morning snack to draw blood.

21/06/2024

Today is your last chance. Do not miss out on this incredible day!

Please RVSP to Jurene on [email protected].

04/06/2024

FEEDLOT INFORMATION DAY | 19 JULY 2024 - https://mailchi.mp/306aa09c5928/atypical-interstitial-pneumonia-fog-fever-17768980

04/06/2024

🐂𝑶𝙘𝒕𝙖𝒗𝙤𝒔𝙘𝒆𝙣𝒆 𝑭𝙚𝒆𝙙𝒍𝙤𝒕 𝑰𝙣𝒇𝙤𝒓𝙢𝒂𝙩𝒊𝙤𝒏 𝑫𝙖𝒚 𝟏𝟗 𝐉𝐮𝐥𝐲 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒🐄

𝐂𝐒𝐈𝐑 𝐋𝐘𝐍𝐍𝐖𝐎𝐎𝐃, 𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐈𝐀, 𝐄𝐗𝐇𝐈𝐁𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐇𝐀𝐋𝐋

We are very excited to announce the guest speakers who will participate in this annual event with Octavoscene on the 19th of July 2024.

We are also looking forward to sharing the day with some of our suppliers who are part of this day which we hope to make it a success.

𝙂𝙪𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙎𝙥𝙚𝙖𝙠𝙚𝙧𝙨
🐮Professor Christopher Chase
🐮Professor Daniel Thompson
🐮Dr Chris Reinhardt
🐮Professor Tony Shakespeare
🐮Dr Johan van Rensburg
🐮Henning Vermaak
🐮Professor Leon Prozesky
🐮Dr Johan Marais
🐮Xander Thornhill
🐮Dr Angela Buys

𝑺𝒖𝒑𝒑𝒍𝒊𝒆𝒓𝒔
📢Design Biologix
📢Antrovet
📢ABEBiotech
📢Companhia Industrial da Matola
📢Chemunique
📢Huvepharma, Inc.

💥Please take note that there are still seats available if you are interested in the event and didn’t book yet. Please contact 𝐉𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞́ 𝐁𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐚 𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐫 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭, 𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝟏𝟒 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒 to secure your seat.💥

☎️𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒄𝒕 𝑵𝒖𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓: 087 237 9995
📳𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕𝒔𝑨𝒑𝒑: 082-059 8214
📨𝑬𝒎𝒂𝒊𝒍: 𝒐𝒓𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒔@𝒐𝒄𝒕𝒂𝒗𝒐𝒔𝒄𝒆𝒏𝒆.𝒄𝒐.𝒛𝒂

04/06/2024

Want in on the most informative feedlot day around. Give us a shout to secure your seat!

This is one for the books and you definitely do not want to miss out.

04/05/2024

01/05/2024

Today we celebrating and honoring our Farmers & Clients who support us at Octavoscene Pty Ltd. Happy Workers' Day. Thank you!!

https://www.octavoscene.co.za/
Octavoscene Pty Ltd

28/04/2024

Sheep Feedlots | Dr Jarred Morris -

Sheep feedlots represent a specialized and efficient system of raising weaner lambs for meat production in an intensive environment. Lambs are placed into feedlot pens, where they are fed a carefully formulated ration to optimize feedlot performance.  Average daily gain, average daily feed intake, ...

27/04/2024

SHEEP FEEDLOTS | DR JARRED MORRIS BVSc MSc (Agric)

Introduction Sheep feedlots represent a specialized and efficient system of raising weaner lambs for meat production in an intensive environment. Lambs are placed into feedlot pens, where they are fed a carefully formulated ration to optimize feedlot performance. Average daily gain, average daily fe...

22/04/2024

𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐬, 𝐬𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞!

FEEDLOT INFORMATION DAY

CSIR LYNNWOOD, PRETORIA, EXHIBITION HALL

19 JULY 2024

Octavoscene had several requests to host another Feedlot Information Day.

There will be several well-known guest speakers.

We are very excited about this event with all the guest speakers that will perform.

More information about the guest speakers and there topics will be announced soon.

We would like to have an indication of who will be able to attend this awesome day with us.

We will host the event this year again at the CSIR Pretoria.

Would you please be so kind as to inform us on or before Friday, 14 June 2024, if you could attend?

Jurené Botha
Contact Number: 087 237 9995
WhatsApp: 082-059 8214
Email: [email protected]

25/03/2024

After a visual assessment of the semen sample, we then place a drop of semen on a slide to look at it under the microscope to assess the motility of the semen. This a superior sample. The reason being is can you see the lovely wave and rolling effect of the waves. This is what we want when we talk about the mass motility of a semen sample.

After this assessment, the drop will be stain with a special stain and the anatomy of the s***m cell as an individual will be evaluated.

25/03/2024

Sorry boys but when it comes to bull testing it isn’t always about the volume produced.

When we test bulls we are looking at the quality produced not just the quantity. We look at the consistency of the semen, the color of the semen, the motility of the semen and finally the individual anatomy of s***m cells produced. Following this post I will put up video of a superior semen sample. An ideal sample is about 3-5ml of a thick creamy ivory coloured sample with a lovely wave like motion of the mass of the sample. Following this the sample gets stained and the individual anatomy is looked at. Ideally here you need 85% or more of the individual s***m cells to have a normal anatomical structure (straight with no bends or fold and a good head attached to it).

Then finally we do a sheath scrap to test for sexually transmitted diseases that can be present in the herd such a trichomonasis ( commonly known as trich) and vibriosis. The bulls are the carriers of these diseases but are only often picked up in your herd after a low pregnancy diagnosis for the year.

If you wanted to completely thorough, it is advised to do Brucella and T.B. testing as well. Might as well if you already have them in the crush right.

And yes, it is advised that your herd bulls get tested once a year.

24/02/2024

It is a privilege to show you an unborn Nguni calf's heart beat.

02/02/2024

worm egg wonders

16/01/2024

Time to do some sheep pregnancy scanning