News & Advice

In the context of increasing drench resistance, the adoption of more advanced diagnostic tools has become essential. You may be familiar with the Parasight Systems we have been using in clinic over the past several years; we are now in a position to share key findings from real world data collected from our client base. […]

Over recent years, CowSmart has worked alongside Vetlife clinics and their clients to deliver structured reproductive performance reviews that extend well beyond end-of-season pregnancy results. Our objective is simple: identify the biological and management bottlenecks limiting reproductive performance – and convert those insights into measurable gains the following season. What makes a CowSmart repro review […]

Salmonellosis has long been recognised as an important cause of disease in cattle. Based on information from the country’s veterinary diagnostic laboratories, MPI has observed an increase in the incidence of salmonellosis in dairy cattle since the spring of 2024. The trend of increasing salmonella cases, first observed in spring of 2024, extended into the […]

Preparing ewes for mating involves several key factors. Ewe body condition (BCS) is the major driver of ovulation and conception, while flushing and good trace element levels follow closely behind. Hind body condition score (BCS) is critical to good milk production and early conception at mating. Hind BCS should be maintained around score 3.5 (BCS […]

Clostridial diseases remain one of the most significant preventable causes of sudden death in cattle. Conditions such as tetanus, pulpy kidney (enterotoxemia), and blackleg are widely recognised, but lesser-known diseases (including malignant oedema and sudden death syndrome) can be just as devastating. Unfortunately, treatment is rarely successful, due to the rapid onset of disease and […]

The use of teat sealants has evolved through several phases in New Zealand’s dairy farming practices. In the late 1990s/very early 2000s, when the products were first brought to the New Zealand market, they were somewhat haphazardly managed, and this resulted in terrible outcomes. At that point they became regarded as generally doing more harm […]

We all know drench resistance is now widespread on New Zealand sheep properties. While drenches remain an important tool, long-term parasite control and farm profitability increasingly depend on nutrition, grazing management, and the strategic use of forage crops. When used well, forage crops not only reduce worm challenge but also significantly lift lamb growth rates […]

As farmers, we are often asked to think outside the square about product use. FerAppease®, a synthetic pheromone, is one of these products. Farmers are all aware of pheromones; we see it in our cows and bulls at mating. And we see products using pheromones to deal with stress in cats and dogs. Google AI […]

Vetlife veterinarians have been testing bulls for breeding soundness for some years now, using jump tests and/or semen analysis under the microscope following electroejaculation. To advance our capabilities at Vetlife, we have recently purchased an iSperm machine. This cutting-edge device analyses sperm motility using a computer-assisted programme. Not only can iSperm assess bulls, but it […]

Growing good fawns or weaner deer starts with decisions made the year before. When hinds calve earlier, they have more time to rear fawns that will be bigger at weaning. Earlier-born fawns have the benefit of getting off to a good start before pastures lose quality in summer. Hind body condition score (BCS) is critical […]

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the top global public health and development threats identified by the World Health Organisation. It is estimated that bacterial AMR was directly responsible for 1.27 million global deaths in 2019 and contributed to 4.95 million deaths(1). By now most farmers will be familiar with the traffic light classification of […]

Adult pets often appear healthy on the outside, but maintaining good health through their prime years requires more than just responding when something goes wrong. Nutrition, dental care, body weight, and routine health monitoring all play an important role in supporting long-term wellbeing. Regular wellness checks allow us to assess these areas early and help […]