News & Advice

After collapsing at home on the couch after a vigorous velveting session down in Ward, Dr Nick Hansby noticed some little insects crawling around his arms. He was immediately evicted from the house. Over the last thirty years, many places have changed, from seeing a tick as being a rare occurrence to having significant outbreaks […]

The number of newborn lambs that survive to weaning is the single biggest driver of profitability on most sheep farms in NZ (fine wool farms being the obvious exception). Yet, so often, we leave the outcome to chance, and we fail to protect our investment by neglecting to use the very good available sheep performance […]

We often focus strongly on getting the best growth out of our young calves by implementing staff calf-rearing training, FPT testing and thorough health and feed plans, but once this stage is complete, it is easy to forget the importance of growing our weaned calves well through to mating. Now that those same calves are […]

What non-return rates can tell us, phantom cows and what to do next As mating rolls on, your herd’s data can tell you a lot about how things are tracking — from heat detection right through to conception. One key number to watch is the Non-Return Rate (NRR). NRR is the percentage of inseminations where […]

Managing Beef Cows Before and After Mating Getting cows in calf early and in good numbers is one of the strongest drivers of profitability in a beef herd. Two key performance goals are high pregnancy rates and a tight calving spread, both of which depend on how cows are managed in the weeks before and […]

Itchy dogs are a common sight in any vet clinic. From the occasional scratch to the all-night nibbling sessions, itchiness can drive dogs (and their owners) a little bit crazy. But did you know that “itch” is not a diagnosis in itself? It’s a symptom — and it can have many different causes.  Understanding why […]

If you are a dog parent dealing with a pup with skin allergies, you’ve probably scrolled through endless advice and product recommendations. From cod liver oil to fancy probiotics, the world of supplements can be overwhelming – and, unfortunately, full of hype and misconceptions.  Let’s break down what really matters when it comes to supplements […]

If your dog suffers from allergies, you will know how frustrating it can be to keep their skin healthy and itch-free. While medication and other treatments are important, one of the most effective — and often overlooked — tools for managing allergic skin disease is regular, targeted bathing. The right shampoo, used in the right […]

Minty is a 25-year-old gelded miniature horse enjoying retirement after a successful show career. Living on a sheep and cropping farm, he had battled bouts of founder in recent years, and his owners worked hard to manage this, largely by keeping him off pasture, utilising Founderguard and phenylbutazone as required. In February this year, another […]

Pain relief in sheep has been front of mind this year, with a focus on treating both shearing cuts and lambs at tailing. Reducing pain is great for welfare, but it also makes economic sense when it allows animals to return to normal behaviour in less time. Each season we are getting more information about […]

A targeted performance boost for high-demand periods and, hopefully, an opportunity for some more deer data! Even with a good trace element programme in place, there are times when stock need a targeted boost to perform at their best. This is where MULTIMIN® comes in. It is an injectable trace mineral supplement, providing a rapid […]

TeamMates specialist During colder temperatures our farm working dogs require more calories than normal to maintain their bodyweight, especially inland and in high-country regions. Ideally, choose high-quality, balanced working-dog foods which are formulated with higher fat and protein levels to maintain heat production, provide sustained energy and promote optimal tissue repair. Of the 628 dogs […]