Lamb marking is an essential part of sheep farming, but it has long presented a challenge for farmers wanting to balance efficiency, animal welfare, and practical on-farm management.
Numnuts® is helping change that.
This innovative tool combines rubber ring application with the delivery of local anaesthetic in a single, easy-to-use process, providing lambs with immediate pain relief during tail docking and castration. Designed specifically for commercial farming systems, Numnuts enables producers to incorporate pain management into routine lamb marking without slowing down the job.
Numnuts is a handheld applicator that simultaneously applies an elastrator ring and administers a measured dose of local anaesthetic. The device was developed through years of research, engineering, and field testing to ensure it is practical, safe, and effective in real-world farming conditions.
By simplifying the delivery of local anaesthetic, Numnuts makes pain relief more accessible during procedures that have traditionally relied solely on rubber rings.
Research has consistently shown that lambs treated with local anaesthetic at marking display:
Many farmers who have adopted the system report noticeable differences in lamb behaviour, with lambs settling more quickly and returning to the paddock sooner after marking.
Animal welfare expectations continue to evolve across New Zealand and international markets. Increasingly, consumers, processors, and industry stakeholders are looking for evidence that livestock are managed using best-practice welfare standards.
Using pain relief during lamb marking is one way farmers can demonstrate their commitment to high welfare outcomes while maintaining practical and efficient farm systems.
Numnuts has been designed for use at commercial scale, allowing farmers to process large numbers of lambs efficiently. Its ergonomic design and simple operation make it well suited to busy marking days, helping integrate pain relief into existing workflows.
At Vetlife, we’re committed to helping farmers improve animal health, welfare, and productivity. Our team can provide advice on Numnuts, local anaesthetic requirements, and best-practice lamb marking protocols to help you achieve the best outcomes for your flock.
Talk to your local Vetlife team to learn more about incorporating Numnuts into your lamb marking programme.
