Tech Services

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TECH SERVICES
Performed by both vets and technicians:
  • Weighing
    • We have multiple sets of electronic weigh scales including a NAIT scanner which we can bring to farm for weighing all types of stock. We recommend scheduled regular weighing of young stock to manage feed and meet growth targets. We offer comprehensive anaylsis of weight data and the use of MindaWeights.
  • Disbudding
    • We recommend disbudding calves from the age of 4 days to two weeks old. Calves recover quicker, with less of a growth check if disbudding is performed when they are younger. Our practice protocol is the most humane and pain free method of permanently removing horn buds and preventing horn growth. We use a sedative (veterinary use only) to sedate all the calves, followed by an injection of local anaesthetic to numb the area. The horn buds are burnt off using hot iron cautery while the calves are asleep and numb, and an antibiotic spray is then applied to prevent infection. It is also now our standard practice to give a long-acting pain relief injection after disbudding. We also check for and remove any extra teats from replacement heifers, inspect umbilical cords for infection and treat as necessary, castrate by elastration any bull calves wanted for steers, and vaccinate for the 5 clostridial diseases. All for a VERY reasonable price – please phone the clinic for a quote. Calves usually wake up and go back to their normal routine within 45 minutes to an hour. Please do not feed your calves within 2 hours prior or following disbudding.
  • Pregnancy Testing
    • We have several competent scanning vets/technicians and meaning we can accommodate a high volume of farms and large herd sizes. We also have two full sets of herringbone platforms and two mobile trolleys suitable for in the pit which we will bring to you. We offer a range of services including full herd aging, simple yes/no and late identification. For full herd aging an early scan is required (12-14 weeks after start of mating or 6 weeks after end of AI) as well as the late scan which is typically 6 weeks after the bull is removed.
    • We have tablets and mobile phones for recording so that results can be uploaded directly to MINDA.
    • We offer lepto vaccination at the same time for a discounted price.
  • Teat Sealant Insertion
    • Teat sealant use is becoming extremely popular as a method for mastitis prevention during the dry period. While we advocate the use of teat sealant in heifers and strategic use in cows at dry off, we recommend supervision due to the consequences if not performed appropriately/hygienically. If you would like our staff to come and teat seal your heifers or cows please call us at the clinic to make a booking early. If you would like to use teat sealant in your cows we offer 30mins free veterinary demonstration on farm and staff training, followed by a technician rate.
  • Lifestyle Block Services
    • Here at the Veterinary Health Centre, we can give you single doses of vaccine, drench, flystrike treatment and more to suit the number of animals you have! Not only that, but we can ALSO offer you a personalised animal health plan complete with routine visits, reminders, and advice from our lifestyle block expert Tai! We provide tiered assistance to keep your animals fit and healthy, from general advice and reminders for those DIY’ers to full support, complete with regular visits.
    • Our On-Farm Services Include:
      • Drenching and drench programmes for all species
      • Vaccinating for all species 
      • Lamb tail ringing and ring castrates
      • Hoof trimming for sheep, goats and alpaca
      • Facial eczema bolusing
      • Flystrike prevention and treatment
      • Ram breeding soundness checks
      • Body condition scoring and weighing for sheep and cattle
      • Disbudding for calves and goat kids