Have you flipped your horse's lip lately?

Winter is here and it's important that your horses are fit and healthy during these cold months. Correct nutrition and rugging are important and dental hygiene at all ages is vital to this. (see article 4 this newsletter)

With this in mind we are again offering our

Equine Winter Special for June, July and August.

What's included?

OPTION 1 (suitable for horses who have never or not had a dental procedure in the last 12 months)

physical examination, routine dentistry with sedation, tetanus/strangles booster, worming, faecal worm egg floatation, report on examination, dentistry and faecal float. $250 single, $225 two or more horses.

OPTION 2 (for horses already receiving regular dentistry)

routine dentistry with sedation, faecal float. $150 single, $125 two or more horses.

These great prices are for services provided at Orange Vet Hospital. If required we can do on farm visits and travel will be charged at normal rates. Special rates only available for Payment on the day of service. 

Please call 63618388 to make a booking. 

Cattle in a Protected Zone and/or Beef Only, are eligible to claim a J-BAS score of 7 until the 30th June 2017.

From November 2016, Cattle MAP herds have transitioned to a J-BAS score of 8, the highest assurance level, until 30th June 2017. Any MAP herds wanting to continue with the higher assurance score should resume any testing that may be required. The transitional arrangements expire on the 30th June 2017.

From the 1st July 2017, to retain scores of 7 or 8 those transitional herds must have in place a property biosecurity plan which:
• Addresses the elements of the JD checklist and
• Is endorsed by a veterinary advisor.

For ongoing retention of J-BAS score 7, the herd must undergo triennial Check testing (50 animals) with negative results. The first round of testing must be completed prior to 30th June 2018.

From 1st July 2017, herds that don’t have a vet-endorsed property bio-security plan in place can no longer claim J-BAS 7 and will lapse to J-BAS score of:
• 6, if they have a biosecurity plan that addresses JD risks but is not vet-endorsed, or
• 0, if they don’t have any biosecurity plan in place that addresses JD risks.

A herd which lapses from the transitional J-BAS 7 because they’ve failed to implement a vet-endorsed biosecurity plan can recover their score before 30th June 2018 by:
• Putting in place a vet-endorsed biosecurity plan, and
• Undertaking a Check Test (50 animals) with negative results.

Therefore, herds which want to retain J-BAS 7 should:
• Prior to 30th June 2017, put into place a vet-endorsed biosecurity plan, and
• Prior to 30th June 2018, undertake a Check test.

A great webinar on the topic can be watched here.

Drone technology has the potential to improve many aspects of farming - and make them more fun! Here's a video of a New Zealand producer herding sheep by drone, prior to the arrival of bike and dog on the scene.

For more information about Australian drone-flying rules click here. 

The short answer is: yes they do.

The importance of cow comfort and its relationship to general health is now widely accepted. Cows go through similar patterns of sleep to humans – drowsing, non-rapid eye movement and rapid eye movement (REM). Ideally, cows will lie down for approximately 14 hours per day. During that time, cows will have around 30 minutes of REM sleep. When cows are laying down, blood circulation through the udder increases by up to 30%, which increases milk output. 

There are studies currently underway where sleep is measured in cows using an EEG (a non-invasive way of measuring brain activity), to try and learn more about cows' sleep patterns, and how they impact other important bodily functions. There have been many studies in other animals looking at the effects of sleep and sleep deprivation.

Mice which are sleep deprived for 24 hours experience a reduction in lymphocyte count and function, impacting their ability to fight disease. In cows, sleep enables the immune system to function better when a disease is encountered. It is also likely that sleep impacts production, as a reduced immune function causes cows to shift resources from production to fighting disease. Cows may even prioritise lying down before feeding! We also know that laying allows the hooves to dry out and rest which is important to prevent lameness.

As more data becomes available, strategies will be developed to improve cow health, welfare and production. For the moment, let the laying cow lie.