April 2015 Worm Watch Dave Robertson BVSc, BSc Be aware consistent rain and mild weather will be perfect conditions INFECTIVE LARVAL LEVEL ON PASTURE for a spike in larval hatch and worm OVERWINTERED 5 challenge. LARVAE FROM 3 PREVIOUS SEASON 4 There is a defi nite benefi t to be gained by exit drenching hoggets with a novel LARVAE 3 PERIPARTURIENT Ewes News active in order to reduce resistance RISE pressure on your worm population and 2 extend the life of existing drenches. X 10 LARVAE/HERBAGE Current month Current Comment LARGE AUTUMN 1 This month’s Ewesnews has a good look at beef. Even with recent PEAK FROM LAMBS A pre- tup drench to 2 tooths and drought pressure prices for buying young stock and returns on lighter ewes will also be benefi cial. AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APRIL MAY JUNE JULY AUG killing are strong. This has also been refl ected in early calf sale prices. With many farmers looking to restore herd size to pre drought numbers we ask some of our local stud bull breeders Jeff Spillane, how they see the year ahead. At the Veterinary Centre we are Commercial Manager busy pregnancy testing cows, service testing commercial bulls Drought Breaker and sale teams, and giving advice on beef animal health and nutrition. With many Omarama fi rst time fodder beet growers out there, seeking advice on the hooks and barbs of Drenching/ Monitoring transition onto fodder beet is vital to success of the operation. The recent rains and autumn conditions have opened Station Wins Other April highlights include a review of the productivity outcomes for Dave the door for a serious rise in parasite larval challenge on Robertson’s Sheep Production Group. We also touch on important sheep productivity refreshed pastures. Young stock in particular will bear the Surpreme levers such as ewe body condition and feed management. Finally for those that have In this issue brunt of this challenge as their immune status is not fully purchased calves check out the essential post purchase animal health treatments to Sheep Production Group up to speed and growth rates can be severely compromised. ensure they reach their growth potential. – 1 year in Points to remember: Award Ewe Autumn feed Ingested developing larval stages are more pathogenic Congratulations to Richard and considerations than adult populations Annabelle Subtil of Omarama Post drought drenching Station on being named supreme 80% of the infective larvae survive in the bottom 2 inches Calf Purchase Animal Health of the sward winners in this year’s Canterbury New resident vet in Ranfurly Dougall McLachlan Faecal egg counts are retrospective. They are only an Ballance farm environment awards. BVSc indicator of adult (egg laying) populations in the animal The judges described Omarama Twisted stomachs in The time from ingestion to egg-laying (pre-patent period) is 21 days Station as a proven farm business Huntaways Pasture larval challenge is very diffi cult to measure practically demonstrating excellence in Wormwatch Drenching intervals may have to be reassessed from those applied during the fi nancial, environmental and Insert - Bull Breeder Outlook dry period where challenge was relatively low. The drench resistance selection social sustainability. Richard pressure is higher when larval challenge is low (i.e Australia where it is hot and and Annabelle’s operation is an In a strong beef market we discuss bull sales, weaner sales and animal health essentials for bought stock. dry) as environmental dilution of resistant larvae is reduced. outstandingly positive example of To this end, strongly consider the use of a novel active drench (Startect or Zolvix) what is possible in sheep and beef to wipeout resistant survivors. This is best given as the last drench for the season farming even on the back drop of “the leading light in in replacement lambs. the tough summer we’ve had. And Monitoring growth rates is a great indicator of performance of any animal. A set of better still it’s happening in our scales is a great investment and will show up reduced performance long before the district! animal health” naked eye, especially in woolly sheep. Regular weighing is required to get a good historical picture. Parasitism is insidious and slowly nips away at performance. Veterinary Centre Oamaru Ph 03-434 5666 Check out our website Finally don’t forget if and when animals return from grazing that they should be Veterinary Centre Waimate Ph 03-689 7213 given a quarantine drench at arrival. Talk to one of our vets to make a drought- www.vet111.co.nz Veterinary Centre Palmerston Ph 03-465 1291 breaker plan. Veterinary Centre Glenavy Ph 03-689 8118 Veterinary Centre Kurow Ph 03-436 0567 Keep an eye out for next month’s Fodder Beet feature Veterinary Centre Omarama Ph 03-438 9868 Veterinary Centre Ranfurly Ph 03-444 1020 Sheep Production Weaner Beef Twisted stomachs in Huntaways (GDV Gastric dilatation and Animal Health Volvulus) Sheep Production Group 1 year in Unfortunately, this is an Last month up condition on lighter ewes prior to between a $5 and a $6 schedule. Lifting extremely common cause of the SPG met mating were all compared. condition of the bottom 20% of capital Requirements Covexin 10 in 1 is strongly recommended loss of working dogs, especially to discuss The surprise for me was how well stock could still out perform dairy cow (2 shots) prior to going onto winter Huntaways. Warning signs a dog opportunities lamb fi nishing stood up against other wintering based on a $13 differential crops is developing a twisted stomach for maximising trading and grazing systems. However, between a light ewe and a BCS 3+ ewe. Worm Drench: a combination Oral are discomfort, panting, Dave Robertson BVSc, BSc winter crop there is a big difference in profi tability drench is best. But pour-on and bloating, and reluctance to work and converting it into income. We injectable Eclipse are still valid and or even walk around. also reviewed the fi rst season of data convenient options. Dogs with a twisted stomach collection and compared production Minerals: require emergency surgery to system returns. Selovin LA is a great product to ensure untwist the stomach and ‘fi x’ it Comparisons between dairy cow selenium levels are taken care off for 12 back in the correct location to wintering, lamb fi nishing and building months prevent re-occurrence. Copper supplementation is best The faster you get a dog with In April key areas for sheep achieved with a 20g copper bullet, a twisted gut to the vets, the breeding units are obviously alternatively a less physical method is more likely it can be saved! ewe condition going to the ram 2mL of Coppermax injection to keep The chance of survival reduces dramatically as hours pass. The prognosis for and building pasture covers for levels up over the winter. younger dogs that survive a twisted gut is really good for getting back into a winter rotation. In terms of work. setting up for a winter rotation Look out for May Ewesnews for our Reducing the Risk! the key areas to focus on are feature on beef fi nishing on Fodder Feed dogs smaller meals, twice daily. Big meals and engorgements are risk stocking rate and pasture growth beet. factors. rate. It is easy to set stock a bit longer Just a reminder of our Avoid working dogs too soon after feeding. Morning feeding may not be and passively carry a few more practical if dogs are working early. lambs through the autumn that free delivery service Avoid stress during feeding – feed dogs separately. consume the feed that could be Orders made before 10am Do not use an elevated feed bowl. included in the winter feed budget - delivery that day. Avoid breeding from dogs with a fi rst degree relative that has a history of for ewes, then suddenly realise the condition Orders phoned winter is going to be a bit tight in after 10am – For high risk huntaways, surgery to “fi x” the stomach in place can be unless body condition is lost and/ delivery the considered as a preventative measure. Contact the Veterinary Centre if you or extra feed is brought in… Dr Clive Bingham attends a Sheep Production Group field day. following day. wish to discuss this option further. Sheep Production Group Top performance One of the SPG top performers this year achieved 58 kg of lambs weaned per ewe mated. The romney fl ock averaged BCS 3.5 in autumn 2014, scanned 183% and with less than 10% wastage at lambing. The decision to wean early (Nov 30) and New Resident Vet in Ranfurly sell everything store was made. Lambs averaged 28kg. Veterinary Centre is excited to announce Weaning weight was adjusted for 100 days. A good result that Dr Michael Lilley will be joining the might be 45 kg lambs weaned/ewes mated. team this April as the resident veterinarian What were the key drivers of this result? in Ranfurly. Michael, an experienced rural Ewe BCS optimal going to the ram. Scanning in the practice veterinarian, brings his young family 180 percentages was not the highest in the group, but had from Murchison and is keen to integrate into more twins and less triplets than others. the local community as soon as possible. His Accurate winter feed budgeting allowed BCS to be passion for farm productivity fi ts very well with maintained through until lambing. Veterinary Centre philosophy of knowing our Ewes lambing in good order meant they had strong lambs success is underpinned by that of our clients. and milked well in the fi rst 5 weeks.