This week on the Head Shepherd podcast, we're joined by Steve Kelly, Commercial Identification Manager of Allflex, and Kim Kelly, Veterinary Technical Advisor of MSD Animal Health.

Allflex has been the sponsor of our podcast since its inception and it is always great to catch up with the team to hear what they're up to.

Recently, Allflex was acquired by MSD Animal Health. Steve and Kim describe the companies coming together as "A match made in Heaven”, with the number of synergies between the two companies being beneficial not only to the business but more importantly to farmers. Using the EID technology to help manage animal health and performance at an individual level being just one simple example.

Kim was a practicing vet for many years, and has been working as a Technical Advisor for MSD Animal Health for the past 12 years. Her role includes training the internal sales team, veterinary clinics and farm stores and the farming community in New Zealand about the uses and benefits of the company’s products and how they can get the most out of their animal health investment.

In this podcast, we focus on Campylobacter, an abortion causing bacteria in sheep.

Abortion storms in sheep can cause devastating effects yet it is estimated that only 60% of the maiden ewes in NZ get a Campylobacter vaccine, despite approximately 88% of NZ farms having Campylobacter present on their property.

Kim takes us through the wide-spread implications of Campylobacter and how abortions storms are really just the tip of the iceberg as Campylobacter can also cause early embryonic loss, stillbirths or the births of weak lambs that die soon after birth.

Mark makes a great point in that we put all of our efforts into breeding more lambs, why would we risk all of that, when prevention, in the form of Campyvax4®, is so cheap.

Knowing more about how Campylobacter works gives you a greater understanding of why and when you should vaccinate your animals to the greatest benefit to your sheep and your business.

If you would like to know more about any of the products mentioned in this podcast, you can visit the

MSD Animal Health website below:
www.msd-animal-health.co.nz

For Australian listeners you can visit the company’s Australian website below which includes the risk calculator mentioned in the podcast or contact the Australian team on 1800 226 511

https://www.coopersanimalhealth.com.au/products/OvilisCampyvax

We will have a Jo Holter from MSD on The Hub for a live Q&A on the 25th of March AT 12.30 NZT, if you have any more questions about abortive diseases or any MSD products.

If you are in New Zealand and would like to get in touch with Kim, or another Technical Advisor at MSD Animal Health, phone 0800 800 543 with your enquiry.

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Head Shepherd is brought to you by neXtgen Agri International Limited. We help livestock farmers get the most out of the genetics they farm with. Get in touch with us if you would like to hear more about how we can help you do what you do best: info@nextgenagri.com.

Thanks to our sponsors at MSD Animal Health and Allflex, and Heiniger Australia and New Zealand. Please consider them when making product choices, as they are instrumental in enabling us to bring you this podcast each week.

Check out Heiniger's product range HERE
Check out the MSD range HERE
Check out Allflex products HERE