Animals

Stephen McAulay, CEO and head vet, Wellsford Vet Clinic https://wellsfordvet.com/

Footrot fixes

Footrot in ruminants is an infection of interdigital tissue between their toes. Warm wet weather is a key predisposing condition and frequently occurs in cattle after walking across metal roads. Hard stones of the right size can become stuck between the claws and result in damage of the skin. This breaks down one of the key immune defences of the body and bacteria can then infect the underlying soft tissue. The claws of ruminants are considered to be equivalent to the middle and ring fingers of people, and the dew claws being the index and little fingers. The wall of the hooves is like the nails and the sole of the foot is similar to the soft red tissue immediately under the nails joining the pad of the fingers. Ruminants have the same three joints as our fingers – the fetlock joints are the knuckles; the pastern joint is the next joint down and finally the coffin joint which is “buried” below the top level of the hoof wall. The web between ruminant claws is slightly lower down, just below the pastern or middle joint of our fingers. It is this web between the toes which becomes damaged and infected in footrot.

Footrot has a strong genetic predisposition and, hence, was more of an issue when my grandfather was a kid as opposed to currently on sheep farms within New Zealand. Good farms culled their flocks aggressively and selected animals with good leg and feet traits for their future breeding stock. Some of the more recently introduced, new or exotic breeds, which may not have had wet environmental conditions and footrot challenge in their original environments, have higher rates of infection compared to animals which have been in New Zealand for generations.

The bacteria which cause footrot are very susceptible to procaine penicillin G and milder or early cases can be managed with 10% zinc sulphate foot baths and some topical footrot sprays. The length of time required to be standing in the foot bath is considered to be from two minutes for mild infections to 30 minutes for worse infections. As a kid, my brother had a small flock of angora goats and I can remember the weekly round-up and 30 minute footbaths which I helped him with when I was at primary school. Trimming the claws of sheep and goats can also help reduce the frequency of foot infections and was another monthly chore I helped my brother with.

Online videos are a modern resource for understanding what footrot infections are and instructions on foot trimming and foot baths. Should you require additional help with “fixing” your animals feet, then talk to your local veterinarian. To be able to dispense antibiotics for footrot, your animals need to be examined on your farm and animals are under immediate care of a veterinarian.

Lego Club

The Wellsford Library Lego Club meets in the library every Friday, from 2pm to 4.30pm. The club is open to all ages; everyone welcome.

Thanks

Mahurangi College Rugby has thanked Findex for its ongoing support. For the third year, the company has supplied the 1st XV players with a personalised kit bag. The bags were presented to new 2023 players by Findex representative Alex Paul this month.

Golf

The Bream Bay Classic 54-hole gross strokeplay will be held at the Waipu Golf Club on July 8 and 9. The three divisions are Open, Masters (40+) and Ladies. Entries close at 5pm on July 3. Info: https://www.waipugolfclub.org.nz/upcoming-events?ComeFromCat=2128

Badminton – Snells Beach

A warm invitation to new players to join us where the emphasis is on fun. We meet at the Snells Beach Community Centre on Tuesday and Wednesday with a 9am start. Welcome to those who are keen to learn or improve. Spare racquets are available. Phone Barry 027 425 5612 or Lynne 021 735 767

Indoor bowls

Tomarata Indoor Bowls meet at the Tomarata Hall, Mangawhai Rd,Tomarata on Wednesdays at 7pm. New members welcome. Info: Eryl 09 431 4965

Snells Beach Indoor Bowls meet at the Mahurangi East Community Centre, Hamatana Rd, on Mondays at 12.30pm, beginners welcome. Info: Pam 425 6405

Auctions

of an Era” Clearing Sale

Students take 40 hour challenge

Mahurangi College teaching assistant

Louise Graham had four students doing 40 acts of kindness as part of the World Vision 40 Hour challenge recently. They have made pizzas for the teaching assistants in the Senco department, thank you cards for their whanau teachers, helped neighbours, made physical education bags for students who didn’t have them and goody bags for the homeless. “They enjoyed thinking up new ways of being kind to others, a valuable life lesson in itself.” Graham says. Two more of her students did the 40 hours of fasting, as per the original 40 hour challenge, which began in 1975. “I remember doing that myself, when I was at school.”

Proceeds from the 40 hour challenge this year will go towards safe water projects that improve health and create employment. Graham says it is not too late to donate by sponsoring the Mahurangi students.

“If you can spare even as little as $5, you will be helping the push to bring clean and safe water to villages around the globe. Just $18 will give a child three months of emergency safe water and $32 can get a one month purifying kit for a family.”

For more details, see https:// my.worldvision.org.nz/ and search for the Mahurangi College Students Fundraising page.