December 4, 2025 • 9 mins
Andrew Cochrane of NS Vets looks at bull health during tupping time and flystrike season.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
The Muster's Animal health segment with ns Vets adding value
through practical advice and service, no gimmicks, no potions, total
vet care.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
And you can't current from this. Vets joins us once
again on the Muster. Cocky, good afternoon, house SAgs, good Andy, Hell,
are you you're not too bad? It's been I don't
know the weather, it's we'd like it a little bit warm.
It's like that middle bowl of porous. We're just trying
to find a heavy place at the moment we are.
Speaker 1 (00:31):
It's a real mixed bag, isn't it. And I see
there's a fever of rain forecast again someday, which which
won't go I'm need at either, So we're looking forward
to that, but we could do it a bit more heat.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
Right, So the bulls are out at the moment, well
preparation if they're not already out, especially in the B
side of things, But a couple of things to be
weary of, yeah, I mean.
Speaker 1 (00:51):
The beef one, someone will be out, someone will be
close to going out. And in the dairy space, those
that are still using bulls, they will be getting close
to going out of that sort of six week mark.
So just the mind are rarely to monitor the balls
and keep a close eye on them. Probably easier done
in the dairy space when we're seeing them at least
twice a day generally, but in the beef space they
can sort of bet out out in the hill somewhere
(01:12):
and forgotten about, and that you know, we'll see breakdowns
and big problems are scanning if they're not monitored closely.
So what I tend to recommend clients is to take
the time, probably at least twice a week, just to
watch the balls and see that they are getting the
job done. So the main one I guess is fighting
and lameness and injuries as a result of that. So
(01:34):
we can often see that with them walking and being
lame or a bit of stuff and sore, but then
taking the time to watch it they can still mount
a cow and achieve their goal is important as well,
because we'll see sometimes see breakdowns that aren't immediate immediately obvious,
but they aren't able to mount the cow and get
the job done. And if they're a dominant ball and
(01:55):
keeping the other balls away, that's when we can see
real problems, A real common issue at this time of
year that we'll see with balls is breakdown of I
guess the epparatus. So we'll see a broken penis or
see damage or trauma or infection to the sheath, and
those things will also mean that the bulls not doing
(02:16):
the job. So taking note of that. In the dairy space,
the most common problem really is lameness from feet and
that's generally the result of bulls coming out of the paddock,
onto the lane and into the concrete yard. If we
can avoid those things, then we can significantly reduce the
impact of lame feet and balls, and again that will
(02:37):
cause bulls to not be doing the job that they're
effort to.
Speaker 2 (02:41):
Do, especially with beef cattle if you've got them on
the hill, it can be easier said than done to
keep a record of how they're performing. As such, but
really relevant points I mean broken pizzle for one of
another term I suppose, and I know what you're supposed
to say around that one, like you say a broken epparatus.
As such, it's certainly something to be where though if
you get caught out something seems a bit abnormal. You
(03:04):
just got to keep on top of this without sounding
like a bun.
Speaker 1 (03:08):
Yeah, and the broken penis think isn't immediately obvious. It's
it's generally a swelling between the sheets and the testicles,
and it can be the size of a rugby ball,
but it's sort of hidden underneath there and won't be,
you know, really clear unless you are looking closely, So
worth keeping an eye on that.
Speaker 2 (03:24):
It's weaning season. It sounds as though lambs well pretty
good actually from what I'm hearing as far as weaning drafts.
Speaker 3 (03:31):
What are you hearing?
Speaker 1 (03:32):
Yeah, mixed bag. I mean, I think yous have come
through the spring having done it reasonably tough on a
lot of properties. I've heard a lot of guys that
have had lower covers than they have in the past,
and worse even than last year. So and then others
that have got reasonably good covers for various reasons. So
there will be a mixed bag. There will be a
variety of worm burdens. We are seeing more and more
(03:53):
effects come through in that sort of pre weening space,
which is great because we shouldn't just continue to do
what we've always done in that area, especially where drenches
are failing. And I heard of a result last week
where they did a pre winning drench. They did a
fequrely account before and ten days after and the triple
drench did nothing. So that's a real concern and that's
(04:14):
I think our new reality. So certainly worth monitoring in
that space. But yep, certainly guys will be gearing up
for weaning in the next couple of weeks, and so
the bigger one, I guess is that sort of weaning drench,
but you know, using a bit more science around that
seecrely counting doing a drink check to see that it's
worth all worthwhile five and one clostridial eighteen and one
(04:37):
will beginning used as well. Often for a lot of guys.
Now that's their final booster shot, which is great. They
will be protected sort of within a week after that
second shot and have reasonable protection against pulpy kidney, especially
for those lambs that are going on at high quality feed.
We're seeing more raft no being used, more clovers, which
are great. They provide a wee bit of drought protection
but are also really good in that work space.
Speaker 3 (04:58):
Realistically, windo I start to become an issue.
Speaker 1 (05:02):
The classic fly problem, which is worth bringing this up,
is between Christmas and New Year, and particularly in Tudus,
so they tend to have that right length of wall,
particularly if they've been shorn as a hogot in the spring.
So our first our first cases of flyblow are usually
between Christmas and New Year, which is a horrible time.
It's just when you thought you might get a few
(05:22):
days off and you do the final shift before you
go away and find ten flyblow and use. So we're
seeing more and more people being proactive in that space,
ensuring that the us go through the dip at waning
time and that provides you hopefully greater than ten weeks protection.
But again, as we've talked about before, that depends on
how much chemical we're getting on them, how well that
(05:45):
jeta is doing the job that it is meant to
be doing. But generally we should get at least a
couple of months to ten weeks if we're doing a
half piece of job, and that's a bit of peace
of mind over that Christmas period.
Speaker 2 (05:55):
We've talked about people changing their drenching routine Andrew, are
they starting to change your dipping routine as well.
Speaker 1 (06:01):
We're seeing more and more people being proactive in that space.
It's historically, particularly in Southland, it's been very reactive. We
see a few fly blow and sheep's typically the tip
of the iceberg, and as a result of that they'll
get to use in and get a treatment on. What
that does is it forces us to use a product
that is both a treatment and a preventative, and that
product is a lot more expensive than just the preventative.
(06:24):
So if we do get in a system where we're
doing preventive dips such as at weaning time, we can
be using a product with just soromasme in it, which
is a cheaper product, and so I think that's quite
a cost effective thing to be doing as well. So
you know, it's been commonplace in the North Island for
a long time with the fly that they get up there,
especially places at the Hawk's Bay, but it's becoming more
(06:46):
important down here in South lond.
Speaker 2 (06:48):
Because it's no longer just about the blowfly. It's the
green fly on the back that's going to be the
issue with the twodoo's right, Yeah.
Speaker 1 (06:54):
Totally yep. So historically we've just got the old brown
blowfly which likes to sort of chase a shit around
the paddock, and if we keep our use clean generally
we're okay. But this icy green and blowfly just likes
the smell of a sheep, and so it's the one
that strikes in the back and the shoulder, and you
can't really do much about that other than providing chemical and.
Speaker 3 (07:15):
The other thing.
Speaker 2 (07:15):
Before we finish up as well, we'll go back to
the cattle calf marking.
Speaker 1 (07:20):
Yeah, so that generally happens now just before the ball
goes out, or will have happened in a lot of places.
The big things there, I guess the main thing that's
happening is ringing bull calves to turn them to stairs.
And each year we get called to rigs that have
either got on the heaf, is pregnant, which is never
a good outcome, or just been noticed at weaning time
(07:42):
and we've got to go in there and remove a
testicle left behind. So just a reminder rarely to pay attention.
Make sure when you let go of the illustrators that
you have still got two testicles on the bottom side
of the ring. And we will see animals, and it's
quite reasonably common to see animals that are a rig
(08:02):
before you even put a ring on, so they've only
got one testicle or they haven't fully descended. Our recommendation
for those animals is to leave them tired don't just
remove the one testicle that's obvious, because it could be
that he's still fertile. And if you've removed the obvious testicle,
he looks like a stair and next minute you've got
pregnant hippers again. So if you can only find one testicle,
(08:24):
or they're both quite sort of short scroeded, you're best
just to leave them and we'll pick them up at
weaning time, or get the vedan sooner if you need to,
and we'll get them cut out.
Speaker 3 (08:32):
Yeah, very relevant at this time of year.
Speaker 2 (08:34):
Mate.
Speaker 3 (08:34):
Now the best way to get in touch of any vets.
Speaker 1 (08:37):
Yeah, give us a call. It's December for us now,
so we get quieter and quieter leading into Christmas, which
is which is great for us, and it means that
for our farmers we're generally available. So three two two
five six three six, and you should better get one
of us at the River Stough good.
Speaker 2 (08:50):
Only Andrew will catch out. It's Morgan a couple of weeks,
but you enjoy the holiday season.
Speaker 1 (08:54):
Catch next year, Sam you chez Andy.
Speaker 3 (08:59):
Andrew Cant could.
Speaker 2 (08:59):
Have been in his fits animal health advisors to the muster, Michelle,
what joins us next?
Speaker 3 (09:05):
And the country crossover
The Muster's Animal health segment with ns Vets adding value
through practical advice and service, no gimmicks, no potions, total
vet care.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
And you can't current from this. Vets joins us once
again on the Muster. Cocky, good afternoon, house SAgs, good Andy, Hell,
are you you're not too bad? It's been I don't
know the weather, it's we'd like it a little bit warm.
It's like that middle bowl of porous. We're just trying
to find a heavy place at the moment we are.
Speaker 1 (00:31):
It's a real mixed bag, isn't it. And I see
there's a fever of rain forecast again someday, which which
won't go I'm need at either, So we're looking forward
to that, but we could do it a bit more heat.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
Right, So the bulls are out at the moment, well
preparation if they're not already out, especially in the B
side of things, But a couple of things to be
weary of, yeah, I mean.
Speaker 1 (00:51):
The beef one, someone will be out, someone will be
close to going out. And in the dairy space, those
that are still using bulls, they will be getting close
to going out of that sort of six week mark.
So just the mind are rarely to monitor the balls
and keep a close eye on them. Probably easier done
in the dairy space when we're seeing them at least
twice a day generally, but in the beef space they
can sort of bet out out in the hill somewhere
(01:12):
and forgotten about, and that you know, we'll see breakdowns
and big problems are scanning if they're not monitored closely.
So what I tend to recommend clients is to take
the time, probably at least twice a week, just to
watch the balls and see that they are getting the
job done. So the main one I guess is fighting
and lameness and injuries as a result of that. So
(01:34):
we can often see that with them walking and being
lame or a bit of stuff and sore, but then
taking the time to watch it they can still mount
a cow and achieve their goal is important as well,
because we'll see sometimes see breakdowns that aren't immediate immediately obvious,
but they aren't able to mount the cow and get
the job done. And if they're a dominant ball and
(01:55):
keeping the other balls away, that's when we can see
real problems, A real common issue at this time of
year that we'll see with balls is breakdown of I
guess the epparatus. So we'll see a broken penis or
see damage or trauma or infection to the sheath, and
those things will also mean that the bulls not doing
(02:16):
the job. So taking note of that. In the dairy space,
the most common problem really is lameness from feet and
that's generally the result of bulls coming out of the paddock,
onto the lane and into the concrete yard. If we
can avoid those things, then we can significantly reduce the
impact of lame feet and balls, and again that will
(02:37):
cause bulls to not be doing the job that they're
effort to.
Speaker 2 (02:41):
Do, especially with beef cattle if you've got them on
the hill, it can be easier said than done to
keep a record of how they're performing. As such, but
really relevant points I mean broken pizzle for one of
another term I suppose, and I know what you're supposed
to say around that one, like you say a broken epparatus.
As such, it's certainly something to be where though if
you get caught out something seems a bit abnormal. You
(03:04):
just got to keep on top of this without sounding
like a bun.
Speaker 1 (03:08):
Yeah, and the broken penis think isn't immediately obvious. It's
it's generally a swelling between the sheets and the testicles,
and it can be the size of a rugby ball,
but it's sort of hidden underneath there and won't be,
you know, really clear unless you are looking closely, So
worth keeping an eye on that.
Speaker 2 (03:24):
It's weaning season. It sounds as though lambs well pretty
good actually from what I'm hearing as far as weaning drafts.
Speaker 3 (03:31):
What are you hearing?
Speaker 1 (03:32):
Yeah, mixed bag. I mean, I think yous have come
through the spring having done it reasonably tough on a
lot of properties. I've heard a lot of guys that
have had lower covers than they have in the past,
and worse even than last year. So and then others
that have got reasonably good covers for various reasons. So
there will be a mixed bag. There will be a
variety of worm burdens. We are seeing more and more
(03:53):
effects come through in that sort of pre weening space,
which is great because we shouldn't just continue to do
what we've always done in that area, especially where drenches
are failing. And I heard of a result last week
where they did a pre winning drench. They did a
fequrely account before and ten days after and the triple
drench did nothing. So that's a real concern and that's
(04:14):
I think our new reality. So certainly worth monitoring in
that space. But yep, certainly guys will be gearing up
for weaning in the next couple of weeks, and so
the bigger one, I guess is that sort of weaning drench,
but you know, using a bit more science around that
seecrely counting doing a drink check to see that it's
worth all worthwhile five and one clostridial eighteen and one
(04:37):
will beginning used as well. Often for a lot of guys.
Now that's their final booster shot, which is great. They
will be protected sort of within a week after that
second shot and have reasonable protection against pulpy kidney, especially
for those lambs that are going on at high quality feed.
We're seeing more raft no being used, more clovers, which
are great. They provide a wee bit of drought protection
but are also really good in that work space.
Speaker 3 (04:58):
Realistically, windo I start to become an issue.
Speaker 1 (05:02):
The classic fly problem, which is worth bringing this up,
is between Christmas and New Year, and particularly in Tudus,
so they tend to have that right length of wall,
particularly if they've been shorn as a hogot in the spring.
So our first our first cases of flyblow are usually
between Christmas and New Year, which is a horrible time.
It's just when you thought you might get a few
(05:22):
days off and you do the final shift before you
go away and find ten flyblow and use. So we're
seeing more and more people being proactive in that space,
ensuring that the us go through the dip at waning
time and that provides you hopefully greater than ten weeks protection.
But again, as we've talked about before, that depends on
how much chemical we're getting on them, how well that
(05:45):
jeta is doing the job that it is meant to
be doing. But generally we should get at least a
couple of months to ten weeks if we're doing a
half piece of job, and that's a bit of peace
of mind over that Christmas period.
Speaker 2 (05:55):
We've talked about people changing their drenching routine Andrew, are
they starting to change your dipping routine as well.
Speaker 1 (06:01):
We're seeing more and more people being proactive in that space.
It's historically, particularly in Southland, it's been very reactive. We
see a few fly blow and sheep's typically the tip
of the iceberg, and as a result of that they'll
get to use in and get a treatment on. What
that does is it forces us to use a product
that is both a treatment and a preventative, and that
product is a lot more expensive than just the preventative.
(06:24):
So if we do get in a system where we're
doing preventive dips such as at weaning time, we can
be using a product with just soromasme in it, which
is a cheaper product, and so I think that's quite
a cost effective thing to be doing as well. So
you know, it's been commonplace in the North Island for
a long time with the fly that they get up there,
especially places at the Hawk's Bay, but it's becoming more
(06:46):
important down here in South lond.
Speaker 2 (06:48):
Because it's no longer just about the blowfly. It's the
green fly on the back that's going to be the
issue with the twodoo's right, Yeah.
Speaker 1 (06:54):
Totally yep. So historically we've just got the old brown
blowfly which likes to sort of chase a shit around
the paddock, and if we keep our use clean generally
we're okay. But this icy green and blowfly just likes
the smell of a sheep, and so it's the one
that strikes in the back and the shoulder, and you
can't really do much about that other than providing chemical and.
Speaker 3 (07:15):
The other thing.
Speaker 2 (07:15):
Before we finish up as well, we'll go back to
the cattle calf marking.
Speaker 1 (07:20):
Yeah, so that generally happens now just before the ball
goes out, or will have happened in a lot of places.
The big things there, I guess the main thing that's
happening is ringing bull calves to turn them to stairs.
And each year we get called to rigs that have
either got on the heaf, is pregnant, which is never
a good outcome, or just been noticed at weaning time
(07:42):
and we've got to go in there and remove a
testicle left behind. So just a reminder rarely to pay attention.
Make sure when you let go of the illustrators that
you have still got two testicles on the bottom side
of the ring. And we will see animals, and it's
quite reasonably common to see animals that are a rig
(08:02):
before you even put a ring on, so they've only
got one testicle or they haven't fully descended. Our recommendation
for those animals is to leave them tired don't just
remove the one testicle that's obvious, because it could be
that he's still fertile. And if you've removed the obvious testicle,
he looks like a stair and next minute you've got
pregnant hippers again. So if you can only find one testicle,
(08:24):
or they're both quite sort of short scroeded, you're best
just to leave them and we'll pick them up at
weaning time, or get the vedan sooner if you need to,
and we'll get them cut out.
Speaker 3 (08:32):
Yeah, very relevant at this time of year.
Speaker 2 (08:34):
Mate.
Speaker 3 (08:34):
Now the best way to get in touch of any vets.
Speaker 1 (08:37):
Yeah, give us a call. It's December for us now,
so we get quieter and quieter leading into Christmas, which
is which is great for us, and it means that
for our farmers we're generally available. So three two two
five six three six, and you should better get one
of us at the River Stough good.
Speaker 2 (08:50):
Only Andrew will catch out. It's Morgan a couple of weeks,
but you enjoy the holiday season.
Speaker 1 (08:54):
Catch next year, Sam you chez Andy.
Speaker 3 (08:59):
Andrew Cant could.
Speaker 2 (08:59):
Have been in his fits animal health advisors to the muster, Michelle,
what joins us next?
Speaker 3 (09:05):
And the country crossover
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