http://www.vetclinicmorrinsville.co.nz/blog/ The latest Blog feeds from www.vetclinicmorrinsville.co.nz en-us Wed, 29 Jul 2026 13:18:39 +1200 Rocketspark http://www.vetclinicmorrinsville.co.nz/blog/post/167771/farm-focus-newborn-calves-day-1/ Their management, on day 1 particularly, is critical to how they perform for the rest of their lives.   ... Mon, 20 Jul 2026 16:14:21 +1200 http://www.vetclinicmorrinsville.co.nz/blog/#post167771 http://www.vetclinicmorrinsville.co.nz/blog/post/167770/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... Mon, 20 Jul 2026 16:03:30 +1200 http://www.vetclinicmorrinsville.co.nz/blog/#post167770 http://www.vetclinicmorrinsville.co.nz/blog/post/167768/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... Mon, 20 Jul 2026 15:50:26 +1200 http://www.vetclinicmorrinsville.co.nz/blog/#post167768 http://www.vetclinicmorrinsville.co.nz/blog/post/167765/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... Mon, 20 Jul 2026 15:36:32 +1200 http://www.vetclinicmorrinsville.co.nz/blog/#post167765 http://www.vetclinicmorrinsville.co.nz/blog/post/165530/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. ... Thu, 28 May 2026 09:56:55 +1200 http://www.vetclinicmorrinsville.co.nz/blog/#post165530 http://www.vetclinicmorrinsville.co.nz/blog/post/165486/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... Wed, 27 May 2026 10:17:57 +1200 http://www.vetclinicmorrinsville.co.nz/blog/#post165486 http://www.vetclinicmorrinsville.co.nz/blog/post/165483/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 ... Wed, 27 May 2026 09:46:37 +1200 http://www.vetclinicmorrinsville.co.nz/blog/#post165483 http://www.vetclinicmorrinsville.co.nz/blog/post/165303/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... Fri, 22 May 2026 16:45:24 +1200 http://www.vetclinicmorrinsville.co.nz/blog/#post165303 http://www.vetclinicmorrinsville.co.nz/blog/post/163465/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... ... Wed, 15 Apr 2026 13:41:06 +1200 http://www.vetclinicmorrinsville.co.nz/blog/#post163465 http://www.vetclinicmorrinsville.co.nz/blog/post/163464/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... Wed, 15 Apr 2026 13:35:47 +1200 http://www.vetclinicmorrinsville.co.nz/blog/#post163464