We're loyal, not just local.

Winter & Pre-spring Planning Reminders & Updates

End of season “Post-Covid” Celebration drinks 

Come along and join us to celebrate our District successes, say hi to some local friends, and meet any community new-comers.

At Culverden community room, Thursday 25 June @ 5.30pm

Please RSVP to Kim at the clinic.

See you there!

Annual Spring Skills Staff Training Day

Where: Culverden clinic

When: Monday July 13th 

Time: Depending on numbers, either 9.00am or 1.00pm.

What: This day covers all aspects of what your team will work through in a typical spring. Calving difficulties, managing Retained membranes, dealing with metabolics and down cows, Bloat and everything in between.

Calf rearing discussion group 

Join us and fellow local calf rearers for an on-farm discussion about calf rearing and calf health. Topics that will be covered include the essentials of feeding calves, the importance of colostrum, and common calf diseases and how to avoid them just to name a few.

Industry Veterinarians will be joining us in the discussion and to top it off we will be providing lunch!

            Wednesday 15th July 10am - 12pm followed by lunch.

RSVP to the Culverden clinic by 8th July.

Reserve your place soon, spaces are limited!

DM oven for DM% sampling

Just to remind you of this new in-house service. There is a 24 hr turnaround, no courier time wasted and the report is texted or emailed to you (whichever you request). Talk to Kirsten when you are next in the clinic.

Here are some notes/tips about best practise sampling below:

DRY MATTER SAMPLING

Accurate sampling is important to achieve an accurate result.  As DM percentage can vary according to paddock differences, plant types, soil conditions and harvest processes, a good representative is essential. 

Taking Pasture Samples:

⦿  Sample paddocks ‘ready for grazing’ using clean scissors or shears, taking 20 handfuls of herbage in a diagonal line across the sample area and combine into one plant sample bag.  Collect at least 500gm - 1kg of actively growing herbage from across the main grazing area.

⦿  Ensure the sample is a representative of what the animals are eating and to help avoid soil contamination, cut at the grazing height (about 5cm above the ground).

⦿  Avoid dung and urine spots, troughs, stock camps, fence lines, shelter trees and recently grazed pastures.

⦿  Traces of soil or chemicals (such as drench) on your hands will contaminate test results.

⦿  Sampling at the same time of the year, in the same way, will give better results.

⦿  If you require tests for ‘Dry Matter’ or other feed analysis, samples must be collected and placed in an airtight sealable bag (after squeezing out the air).

Taking Baleage/Silage Samples:

The aim is to sample an area representative of the forage that will be used during that week:

⦿  Using a fork, dig into the face of the silage clamp so to avoid the drier or wetter silage at the pit face. If using a probe then push this through to the depth required.

⦿  Take a fist full of silage from each sample point and put it into the bucket.

⦿  Mix the silage sample by hand so that the sample is evenly distributed.

⦿  Ideally, place into a sealable container or plastic bag and squeeze out excess air and take to the Clinic in a timely manner for testing.

Please note we can do these tests Monday to Thursday and we will have a result for you within approximately 24 hours.  Fodder beet and some silage crops may take longer to dry.

We also have a probe that you can borrow for silage & baleage.

BCS winter herds

We continue to remind you of the importance and benefits of BCS your wintering herds to ensure adequate feeding. Otherwise, a pre-calving BCS is also critical to assess your winter feed budgeting. It also helps to know where they started the season to help you track them through the productive year.

Keep in touch with any of us - we are all accredited BCS scorers.

As always, any queries just keep in touch with us.

From the Vet and Tech Team - Trish, Alistair, Rob, Ian, Keira, Mara, Sarah W, Alana, Ingrid, Sam, Justin, Julia, Nathan, Brooke, Catherine S, Sarah McP, Jamie and Ben.

We're loyal, not just local.

www.ncvets.co.nz | enquiries@ncvets.co.nz