Back to Blog

Udder Oedema/Swelling

Udder oedema can be a problem in first calvers, high-producing cows and over-conditioned cows. Genetic and environmental factors influence the occurrence of it, and while it generally self-cures within a week, we can reduce the severity and discomfort it causes. ...

Bird Flu - how might it affect you?

Bird flu is a topic of conversation, with a few birds found infected in NZ with the current strain of interest, Avian influenzas, H5:N1.It is a topic for all of us, as wild birds are not separate from our lives and businesses. We have pets - cats and hunting dogs- that catch wild birds, free-range chickens, and cows who often have birds competing for scraps in feed bins....

Nursing the Down Cow

Any cow that is down and unable to rise requires nursing care. All down cows should be assessed to identify the underlying causes, which can include metabolic disease, mastitis, paralysis, injury or other serious illness. If the cause is unclear, contact your vet for advice. Caring for a down cow takes time and attention – if these cannot be committed to (in the busy calving time) then euthanasia should be considered. ...

Dirty cow problem: Why should we metricheck?

When it comes to what is the biggest cost for any dairy farmer, the answer will always be feed (most of the time). But here we focus on post-calving infection (and its ramifications) that silently affects next season’s in-calf rates. Uterine infection/endometritis is a major player in pulling the in-calf rate down. It is estimated that the cost to lift the in-calf rate to more than 70% for the dairy sector is about $110 million annually.&n...

Farm focus: Newborn calves - day 1

Their management, on day 1 particularly, is critical to how they perform for the rest of their lives.   ...

Navel Ill

Often these are still in the early stages, but some will progress to more severe cases.Risk factors for developing navel infections areInadequate colostrum antibody uptake by the calfCalving in pugged paddocksDirty pick-up trailersDelayed picking up of calves when in muddy conditionsDirty bedding in calf shedsCalves sucking each other's navelsWhile it is easy to just think about navels discharging pus and later on abscesses at the navel, in reality, the bacteria introduced at the navel can be sp...

Spring Calving Herds

The transition period is generally regarded as the period ranging from 3 weeks prior to calving to 3 weeks after calving for a heifer or cow.All ‘springing’ cows need magnesium from somewhere prior to calving and all cows and heifers are low in calcium when they calve and need calcium asap. For any calving cow or heifer (and for farm productivity and profitability) this is an important time as it is critical to the ongoing health and productivity of both cow and calf and it influences the se...

Calf Chronicles Takeaways

LeAnne spent time with local calf rearers, sharing her expertise and practical tips on calf management and the key ingredients for a successful calving season. For those who were unable to make Leanne’s presentation below are some of our key takeawaysColostrum, Colostrum, Colostrum2-4L, within the first 12 hours of life of high-quality colostrum are necessary to provide the calf with an adequate lifelong immune systemAn estimated 33% of calves experience failure of passive transfer (fpt) due t...

Transition cow management

This period runs from three weeks before calving to 3–5 weeks after calving, when cows undergo major changes as they grow a calf, calve and begin producing milk, requiring double the energy intake. ...

Magnesium supplementation - not just for dairy cows

When we lack it in our diet, we can feel fatigued and get muscle cramps. Our cows need it too, and over the late dry period into next season’s milking is as important as ever.  While I have seen more cases of grass staggers in beef cows on lifestyle blocks than in dairy cows, I have still seen it in dairy cows when supplementation of magnesium is irregular, or dusted magnesium oxide has been washed away by rain.&nb...

Clinical facial eczema

Facial eczema has been a heavily discussed topic over recent months, with spore counts remaining elevated much longer than usual. This has meant cumulative spore ingestion by stock has been greater this season, and more cases of clinical facial eczema have been identified in the last few weeks.  In New Zealand, facial eczema is caused by ingestion of spores from the fungus Pithomyces chartarum, which grows on dead pasture litter during warm, humid conditions, particularly in ...

Mooving Day

Ensuring that everything is in place will be at the forefront – making lists and checking boxes will help with this. Some things to remember are:Staff changes – this can be a stressful time and the welfare of new and old staff is vital.Housing – moving out and moving in.Helping people who have located from other areas to get to know the local community and what it offers.Job expectations.Farm information is supplied including farm maps, water maps, powered fences.Caring for animals du...

Leading large animal care: Oscar Porras

He is passionate about proactive animal health and is also a great resource for Filipino staff on farm, able to speak both major languages and help bridge any communication gaps. Fellow production animal vet Jackie caught up with Oscar to dig a little deeper into his background and what he brings to the team... ...

Colostrum management

Alongside providing nourishment, it contains antibodies that act as messengers from the mother’s immune system, reflecting the diseases she has been exposed to before the calf is born. These antibodies help the calf recognise ‘foreign invaders’, allowing it to respond to disease-causing bacteria quickly - either preventing illness altogether or significantly reducing its severity. Calves that don’t receive enough good-quality colostrum so...

New Crypto vaccine for the toolbox

Cryptosporidium parvum (Crypto) is a gastrointestinal parasite that causes diarrhoea (scours) in calves, generally within the first four weeks of life. It is one of a number of pathogens that can cause diarrhoea in this age group. Others include Rotavirus, Coronavirus and Salmonella. Typically, Crypto presents as mild to severe diarrhoea lasting several days. The worst cases often die quite quickly – sometimes as fast as 12 hours after onset of obvious clinical si...

Dry Cow Therapy legislation changes

There is now new Dry Cow Therapy (DCT) legislation that will come into effect on the 1st January 2027, to further reduce New Zealand's antibiotic use in farming.This won't affect us too much until dry-off next year. However, like many things, it will probably take us that long to get our heads fully around all it entails!Ultimately, we will no longer be able to blanket-treat whole herds with DCT.For many of you, the change back to individually-selected DCT for only a portion of the herd, with te...

Seeing more with ultrasound

Ultrasound is a safe, radiation-free imaging tool that uses sound waves to create live images of your pet’s soft tissues and organs. It’s commonly used to investigate concerns such as vomiting or diarrhoea, loss of appetite, weight loss, difficulty urinating, to assess organ health, or to check trauma-related issues like internal bleeding or fluid build up in the chest or abdomen.Because ultrasound shows movement as it happens, it helps our vets understand not just w...

Clear answers with X-rays

X-rays are a fast, non-invasive way for our vets to look inside your pet’s body and understand what might be causing pain, illness, or changes in behaviour. They’re commonly used to investigate things like internal injuries, tumours, fractures, dental disease, and swallowed foreign objects - especially when time matters. Because many problems can’t be seen or felt during a physical exam alone, X-rays help us get clearer answers sooner, so we can make the right deci...

Why an in-house laboratory matters

Our in-house lab allows us to run a wide range of tests without sending samples away. This includes blood and urine testing, cytology and more. Because these tests are done in-clinic, results are often available within minutes, not days. External labs can take from 24-72 hours. That speed really matters. In emergency situations, such as toxic ingestion, sudden collapse or serious injury, fast results help our vets make informed decisions and begin targeted, potentially life-s...

A look at liver biopsies

It's a procedure performed under local anaesthetic to retrieve a small piece of liver tissue. We typically biopsy 10 random cows of variable age and production status from a herd, to get a sample that represents the farm as a whole....

Preventing facial eczema

Facial eczema is a disease associated with the fungus Pithomyces chartarum, which grows on dead grass at the bottom of short pasture.In hot, humid weather it produces spores containing the mycotoxin 'sporidesmin'. This is toxic to the liver and bile ducts in cattle and sheep. When the liver and bile ducts are damaged, phytoporphyrin (a waste product from breaking down the chlorophyl in plants that are consumed), cannot be excreted and builds up. High levels of phytoporphyrin cause hypersens...

Keep your furry friend smiling

Nothing warms your heart more than your happy, smiling dog welcoming you home at the end of the day. Just like us, to keep that happy smile, cats and dogs rely on healthy teeth and gums for their overall health and wellbeing.The build-up of dental plaque (a sticky film of bacteria that constantly forms on the teeth) can lead to oral health issues in your pet, such as gingivitis, periodontal disease and tooth loss....

Tibial Plateau Levelling Osteotomy procedure now available

We are now able to perform Tibial Plateau Levelling Osteotomy (TPLO) at our clinic! An advanced orthopaedic surgical procedure, TPLO is used to treat cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) rupture in dogs. The CCL is the main stabilising ligament in a dog's knee/stifle joint, and when it ruptures the joint becomes unstable, painful, and prone to arthritis. ...

Preparing your pet for stress-free vet visits

Getting any sort of treatment can be stressful for your pets, no matter how great our vets are!Travelling to the clinic and being exposed to a new environment can be challenging for some of our animal companions. While we work hard to ensure your pets are at ease in the clinic, there are also several things that you can do to prepare them and make vet visits a more positive experience....

A healthy guide to feeding pets

When feeding your beloved pet, whether it be a new puppy or kitten, or an older cat or dog, there is such a thing as ‘loving them too much’. Overindulging your pet can lead to health problems if they become overweight, so knowing how much, how often, and what to feed them is important.Also, spayed or neutered pets are more likely to feel hungry more often and gain weight more easily. This quite commonly leads to overfeeding. Pet food bags have feeding guides on the back which help you w...