Show Notes
In this episode, host Ellen Eyre sits down with Dr Anne Ridler (Massey University) to explore her recently published study of ewe culling and mortality across 34 commercial sheep flocks in New Zealand. During this chat, Anne highlights the various reasons why, on average, nearly 11 percent of ewes put to the ram never make it to docking—and why another 4 percent present wet-dry. Possibly one of the most eye‑opening observations is the variation between farms, indicating that flock-specific insights and interventions are required in order to reduce ewe culling and mortality. Drawing on first‑hand interviews with farmers and on‑farm culling observations, Anne shares practical advice on culling and who should be making these decisions. You’ll learn why consistent body condition scoring (even by eye after shearing), drafting light ewes early and focusing on nutrition can reduce mortality and improve your flock's efficiency. Whether you’re a vet passionate about productivity or a sheep farmer keen to lift efficiency, this episode gives you the tools to answer one big question: where do all the ewes go?
Udder palpation video mentioned during the episode: https://beeflambnz.com/knowledge-hub/video/examining-ewes-udders-identify-possible-problems
More from The Vet Chat NZ
To mark International Rural Women’s Day, host Ellen Eyre sits down with 2025 Fonterra Dairy Woman of the Year Jo Sheridan to explore leadership and the future of New Zealand agriculture. The conversation focuses on how strong leadership can inspire, attract, and retain the next generation in the primary sector. Jo highlights how opening the farm gate enables the wider community and future talent to fall in love with the ruminant, building public trust and genuine passion for farming. From Kellogg Leadership insights to supporting young professionals, tune in for an empowering chat about growing great people.
In this episode of The VetChat NZ, host Ellen Eyre sits down with registered veterinary dental specialist Dr. Crystal Loh to talk all things small animal dentistry. From her origins as a dairy cattle vet to becoming a board-certified specialist, Crystal shares her journey and offers practical wisdom for every member of the veterinary team. The episode explores how clinics can shift from reactive "Grade 4" rescue missions toward proactive, preventative oral care. Crystal tackles common general practice challenges, discusses how we can maximise vet-nurse collaboration, and chats about realistic home care plans for pet owners. Whether you’re a vet, nurse, or practice manager, there is something for everyone in this episode! To get in touch with Crystal and her team, visit https://www.nzvetdentistry.com/.
Mary van Andel, Chief Veterinary Officer at MPI, joins Matt to discuss the implications for vets of the recent arrival of HPAI in New Zealand. They cover the likely effects on birds ranging from poultry to native wildlife, and the spillover into mammals such as seals, cats and dairy cattle that has been seen in other countries. There are also some recommendations on what to do if members of the public bring sick wild or domestic birds to vet clinics. Below are links to further information that are mentioned in this episode: NZVA resources: https://nzva.org.nz/clinical-resources/general/hpai Vet Council Guidelines: https://hub.vetcouncil.org.nz/veterinary-guidance-for-managing-public-presentations-of-sick-or-dead-wild-birds-during-an-hpai-outbreak MPI Information for Veterinarians: https://www.mpi.govt.nz/biosecurity/pest-and-disease-threats-to-new-zealand/animal-disease-threats-to-new-zealand/bird-flu/information-for-veterinarians MPI video for backyard poultry owners: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaQAfwwN9VU
In this episode, Kristina Mueller, Associate Professor in Dairy Cattle Health and Production at Massey University, joins Matt to discuss how to do a caesarean in cattle. They work through the procedure from start to finish, covering patient selection (8:12), equipment and suture material (24:26), anaesthesia and pre-op medications (37:20), incision and calf removal (49:12), closure (1:01:30), and calf revival (1:13:10). Additional Resources: Paravertebral Nerve Block Video 1 Paravertebral Nerve Block Video 2 Paper 1: Karvountzis, S. Factors affecting outcomes of bovine cesarean sections, with a focus on maternal survival to 14 d after surgery. Paper 2: Clinical Tips: C-section. Paper 3: Mueller, K. C-section Technique and Abdominal Surgery.
In this episode, Matt and Katrina discuss how vets are ideally placed to be consultants/advisors, in a world where farms have more information and data than ever. They talk about what a consultant really does and how rewarding it can be, and give tips on how to get started and develop your skills - below are details of a new course to help vets with this. Katrina also shares some insights from her Kellogg Project on farmer-vet advisory relationships as part of her 2024 Fonterra Dairy Woman of the Year prize, including how much farmers really value their vet relationships. Katrina's email: [email protected] Rural Partnership Flier Kellogg Partnership Report