Vet Services

Sheep Services

A successful farming system requires efficient production of meat or fibre per stock unit

Our veterinary service for the Sheep, Beef and Deer systems has long been aimed at sustainable, progressive production. We recognise the driving factors underpinning production and with ever-evolving science, advise preventative animal health measures to optimise efficiency and value.

With a comprehensive Animal Health Plan programme our vets can ensure your animal needs are anticipated and met. An annual meeting with us to up-date your Animal Health Plan establishes the understanding needed for us to provide you with the best advice.  

We also contact our farming clients at several key times of the year to ensure their requirements are met. Communication includes both email and on-line order indication forms followed up by telephone calls. This contact is vital when products such as vaccines made to order are involved.

Regular old-fashioned newsletters are often our voice keeping you abreast of developments and relevant seasonal information. Information evenings are also a key event we aim to regularly host; these occasions provide a social opportunity for us all to enjoy.

Parasite Management 

An integral part of sheep farming is managing parasites and Aorangi Vets has an experienced team to help you understand your farm’s parasite status and put systems in place to manage it sustainably and productively.

The faecal egg count (FEC) test often forms the technical basis of our Parasite Management service. From Aorangi Vets’ Fairlie clinic, our experienced Lab Technician Helen Graham uses the Modified McMaster FEC test method, validated regularly with our external laboratory Gribbles Veterinary Pathology.

However, the FEC test on its own is meaningless without the discussion you have with your vet about the stock and the situation they are in. Our vets have a passion for understanding your farm as a whole and the long-term goals you have.

Sometimes our advice includes the need to identify individual parasite species. In this case, samples are sent to Gribble Veterinary Pathology where a Larval Culture is completed.

Tests which are regularly advised include:

  1. The need to drench – parasite burden
  2. Diagnosis of poor performance or scouring
  3. Drench Check – before and after FEC sometimes with Larval Cultures
  4. Faecal Egg Count Reduction Tests (FECRT) – assessment of overall parasite resistance status

Continued Professional Development (CPD) in parasitology ensures our team remain up to date with latest knowledge.

Further Services

Animal Health Plans

Most farms combine different animal species and we recognize the value in constructing a 12-month plan to cover the animal health needs of the entire system.
When putting together an Animal Health Plan for your livestock system we first identify your goals and only then create a plan to best meet those goals. An annual consultation to review your Animal Health Plan is a valuable opportunity to look again at your system, reflect on how the previous year went and establish the right steps for the next year.
Your laminated wall planner is accompanied by timely email reminders and together these have proved to be an effective way of keeping often complicated farm systems on track.

Body Condition Score Training

Possibly the most important monitoring tool a farmer has for indicating how his sheep flock production is tracking, body condition scoring is a skill that our vets can train you and your staff in.

Sheep AI and Embryo Transfer

With 15 years’ experience including international work, Glenda Kellahan enjoys the time on farm and teamwork needed to ensure successful sheep AI and multiple ovulation embryo transfer in sheep. With Helen Graham and Heather Hellmrich there to keep everything running smoothly we aim to provide a competitive and top-quality service.

Pregnancy scanning

We have up-to-date ultrasound scanning equipment and rigorous training to ensure our vets’ pregnancy scanning service is efficient and accurate.

Mycoplasma bovis testing

We can complete both tasked and voluntary M. bovis testing with our expert team of vets and technicians.
Other testing such as trace element and Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD) testing can also be carried out on the samples collected.