Dear Clients,
With varying weather patterns across the country – we’ve had reports of extreme heat in the west, extreme dry in Tasmania, fires in Victoria, and even ‘this is the wettest drought we’ve experienced’ has been a common comment heard around the traps over the last couple of months!
For most of us in the east, the predicted extended dry spell (drought) hasn’t happened, and current feed conditions are very strong with a strong rebound in stock prices. To me, this brings home the importance of having a strategic animal health program and sticking to it, with maybe a slight ‘tinkering around the edges’ to accommodate local short term change in conditions, albeit climate or economic.
Livestock managers who decided to drop regular strategic treatments (whether for worms, lice, ticks, fluke vaccinations, etc.), or radically depart from regular stocking rates may have put their grazing enterprise under
unnecessary strain. Staying the course during predicted ‘drought conditions’ and modifying slightly as conditions unfold is more beneficial for strategic parasite management. So, when conditions pick up you are not left on the back foot.
Overpage, the team have put together some great advice and specials that fit into most strategic animal health programs over the next few months and going into the winter.
Another observation is that in a livestock grazing enterprise, there is no substitute for sensible stocking rates and good nutrition. We have experienced wet summer conditions for the 3rd year in a row in many places, as such one could expect some heavy parasite burdens typical of such a season. Whilst this is certainly the case in some instances, there
are others where parasite loads are surprisingly stable or even low! I put this down to adequate or abundant, high quality feed brought about by the favourable season. The saying ‘happy host unhappy parasite’ rings very true.
Best wishes for conditions through the Autumn and into the winter – looking forward to catching up at BEEF 24!
Murray
PS Some news with the ‘changing of the guard’ on the back page
Cattle News
Surviving Winter with VETMEC LA
One of the best uses for Vetmec LA in southern winter rainfall regions is for
weaner cattle, used in late autumn as an insurance policy against winter worms. Treating in May/June protects the cattle against the most important parasites during the harsh winter months. Including, Brown Stomach Worms (Ostertagia) for 3.5 months, Lungworm & Black Scour Worms for 4 months, and sucking lice for 4.5 months. Not only does it keep the cattle free of worms, but it also has the added advantage of ‘vacuuming’ larvae off pastures – because while the Vetmec LA is working, all worm larvae ingested by the cattle will be cleaned up and killed off. Without the stress of fighting worms and associated production losses, growth rates in weaner cattle treated with Vetmec LA are able to be maintained and even improved.
Many of you may have been using this control strategy with comparable products like Cydectin LA™ . If that’s the case, save money this year with Vetmec LA! If you haven’t tried this strategy before and would like to learn more – give us a call on 1800 243 683.
- Save bogging up the yards in wet conditions!
- Protect cattle from parasites during winter!
- Reap the benefits of up to an addition 16kg of weight gain per head!
- Call for a quote today – 1800 243 683.
Autumn Special!
-
Vetmec LA Long-Acting Cattle Injection$690.00 + GST
Buy 3+ Packs for a BONUS 5mL Injector and Packet of Needles
VETMEC F Autumn Special
Vetmec F Broad Spectrum Cattle Injection 500mL
Was $165, NOW $160 + GST
5+ Packs – $155 + GST
Plus BONUS Needles
10+ Packs – $150 + GST
Plus BONUS 12.5mL Injector & Needles
*Valid until 30th April 2024*
It’s that time of year again – time for the first liver fluke treatment with Vetmec F Injection. Fluke that were picked up over the late spring/summer period will be in the adult stage of their life cycle at this time of year, making them the perfect candidates for controlling with Vetmec F Broad Spectrum Injection!
We also often get asked about the best quarantine drench for cattle arriving to a property that doesn’t have Liver Fluke present. There are a couple of different answers to this question:
- If cattle arrived from a ‘flukey’ area, or if you are unsure where they are from, then the best drench is Vetmec F Injection + LEV Pour-On.
- If the cattle definitely haven’t come from an area with fluke, then the best quarantine drench option is regular Vetmec Injection + LEV Pour-On.
The Final Tick Clean Up
Coming to the end of another northern Cattle Tick season, tick numbers might feel like they’re under control and you’ve done your last treatment. While you might not be seeing many ticks on the cattle, this is the perfect time for a strategic medium to long acting treatment to break the cycle and reduce the number of ticks that go dormant in the environment over winter. This will ultimately result in fewer ticks emerging in the first generation of next season.
The best products to use are:
- Vetmec LA Long-Acting Injection – see price above (will control worms as well)
- Vetmec Tickmaster Pour-On (Fluazuron 25g/L) – ON SALE!!
- Or both can be used for a double active strategy, just inject Vetmec LA and then do Tickmaster.
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Vetmec LA Long-Acting Cattle Injection$690.00 + GST
-
Vetmec Tickmaster Pour-OnSale!$220.00 – $930.00 + GST
Sheep News
Moxiguard
Since the launch of Vetmec Moxiguard Long Acting Injection for Sheep almost 3 years ago (how time flies!), it has aided us phenomenally in being able to provide the best products alongside our advice for strategic management of parasites in your sheep. Below are the three best ways to use Moxiguard in your flocks:
1.Pre-Lambing
Use Moxiguard after priming with Vetmec LV & Vetmec Dual in your pre-lambing drench regime to reduce overall parasite burden on your paddocks during lambing. Under Moxiguard’s protection period, the ewes will be killing off any larvae they eat off the pasture. This means that when lambs start grazing they are not picking up a large worm infection straight away, and reduces the need to drench ewes or lambs at lamb marking.
2.Looking after your Replacement Weaners
After classing up your weaners and knowing which ones will be staying on property for a while, there is less concern for withholding periods which opens up another strategic use for Moxiguard. Using a long acting drench with primer drench in your replacement weaners is especially beneficial when going into winter, or when managing them through Barber’s Pole season (see below). During the protection period, it is safe to graze them where the best feed is without the need to worry about worms. Similar to the ewes, they will also ‘mop up’ larvae off heavily contaminated pastures and reduce the overall worm population on that paddock.
3.Barber’s Pole
In areas where resistance is minimal, Moxiguard is a very effective tool for treating and controlling Barber’s Pole worms. Timing varies depending on location, but generally this worm likes warm and moist conditions typically arising in spring and autumn, as well as summer in more southern areas. Using it before the Barber’s Pole season strikes serves as a very important insurance policy for your most susceptible and most valuable stock.
MOXIGUARD AUTUMN SPECIAL
Vetmec Moxiguard Long Acting Injection for Sheep
Was $200 + GST – NOW $190 + GST
Buy 6+ Packs – $180 + GST
Plus BONUS Needles
Buy 10+ Packs – Get a BONUS 5mL Injector & Needles
*Until 31st May 2024*
Electronic Tag Transition
Because we have so many customers in all different states, we’ve decided to compile an index of information for each state’s eID tagging transition over the next few years. Effective immediately, SA and WA have automatic price reductions of 95c and 75c per tag, respectively, which will be reflected when you order electronic BLACK TagFaster or FET tags.
Starting on 1st July 2024, TAS will have rebate of $1 per tag as well as up to 100% of the cost of Stick Readers. NSW also has had rebate applications open for a while and will continue until funding allocations are exhausted.
To make it easier for you, we have made a page on the website that has all the information for the different states and their transition dates and rebates available.
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Tru-Test XRS2 Stick Reader$2,250.00 + GST -
Tru-Test SRS2 Stick Reader$1,620.00 + GST -
TagFaster Multi-Shot Sheep Tags$0.34 – $1.93 + GST -
FET NLIS Sheep Tags$0.34 – $1.88 + GST
Paraboss Certified
Since our last newsletter was published, both Josh and Antoinette have completed their Paraboss Certificates in Sheep Parasite Management. In addition to their bachelor’s degrees and own on-farm experience, this ensures that they continue to answer your questions promptly, provide great advice and direct you to helpful industry resources.
Autumn Tag Promotions
CATTLE Z TAGS KITS
With qualifying Cattle Tag orders from 1st March until 31st May 2024, or until stocks last. Get one of the 3 cattle kits for free when you order the corresponding tag quantities.
Kit 1: Tagger + Toolbox + Cattle Drencher 60mL
- 350 x Z Tag NLIS Cattle Tags, plus
- 350 x Matching Management Tags (1PC or 2PC)
Kit 2: Tagger + Toolbox
- 150 x Z Tag NLIS Cattle Tags, plus
- 150 x Matching Management Tags (1PC or 2PC)
Kit 3: Tagger Only
- 75 x Z Tag NLIS Cattle Tags, plus
- 75 x Matching Management Tags (1PC or 2PC)
SHEEP Z TAGS KITS
With qualifying Cattle Tag orders from 1st March until 31st May 2024, or until stocks last. Get one of the 3 sheep kits for free when you order the corresponding tag quantities.
Kit 1: Applicator/Tagger + Toolbox + Lamb Drencher 8mL
Kit 2: Applicator/Tagger + Toolbox
Kit 3: Applicator/Tagger Only
Staff News
New Face – Jess
Jess Ellis is the newest member to the Chemvet office! Jess is in the midst of finishing up her Agriculture degree. Her love is for Corriedale
sheep and her border collie, Parker. Jess’ riendly demeanor will be in the office a few days a week to answer the phones and pack your orders.
Happy Retirement, Geoff
At the end of 2023, after almost 7 years and millions of miles travelled, Geoff hung up his boots with Chemvet. We thank him for his skill and dedication over the years and wish him all the best in his next chapter.
Congratulations Josh!
In December, Josh graduated from the University of Melbourne with a Bachelor of Agriculture majoring in Production Animal Science. He has been a friendly face around Chemvet for the last couple of years, and we’re very excited about now having him as a full-time member of the team! Josh will be covering sales and advisory duties, while travelling around the country visiting our lovely customers and manning the stand
at field days.
WE’RE EXHIBITING AT BEEF 2024 – ROCKHAMPTON, AUSTRALIA
MAY 5-11
Robert Schwarten Pavilion – Site R58
Come see us at BEEF week this year. Murray, Ruth & Tash can’t wait to see all your faces over the world class 5 day event! Chances are that you’ll even pick up a deal or two….
You can buy your tickets for BEEF by Clicking Here
2024 Field Day Calendar
The team is ready to hit the road again this year, so far we have these field
days and shows booked in. If you’re popping in to any of these events, look out for the Vetmec flags and don’t be a stranger!
April 5th & 6th: East Gippsland Field Days, Bairnsdale VIC
May 2nd – 4th: AGFEST, Carrick TAS (Site M98)
May 5th – 11th: BEEF, Rockhampton QLD (Site R58)
May 31st & June 1st: Campbell Town Show, TAS
July 19th – 21st: Australian Sheep & Wool Show, Bendigo VIC
August 4th & 5th: Sheepvention, Hamilton VIC
September 17th – 19th: Henty Machinery Field Days, NSW