News

GIVEAWAY

WIN A COPY OF Wild Horses of the World!

WE HAVE A copy of the book Wild Horses of the World to give away. The book is a stunning pictorial and written record of author Kelly Wilson’s experiences with the world’s wildest herds from Australia, the US and beyond.

All you have to do is send us a poem about an animal or some aspect of veterinary practice. Everything from haikus to sonnets is welcome! Please send all entries to vetscript@vets.org.nz by 23 November. The winner will be drawn from the entries. We’ll publish the winning poem, along with some of our favourites, in the February issue of VetScript. n

PROBA-BEE-LITY

BEES USE THE probability of reward to improve their foraging success, according to a study published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B – Biological Sciences. The research tested bees using a slot-machine-style experiment, in which they were presented with different-coloured dispensers that delivered either rewards (nectar) or punishments (bitter drinks) on different schedules. Dispensers in some colours might deliver rewards two out of every three times, while those in other colours might dispense rewards only a third of the time.

Bees learned to identify the dispensers that were more likely to deliver the sweet or bitter drinks and used this information to guide their foraging activities. That is, a bee’s likelihood of choosing a colour matched their history of reinforcement with each colour.

The authors of the paper state that this ability might explain how bees harvest nectar from different flowers so successfully, with each offering a unique amount of nectar. n

REFERENCE:

MaBouDi H, Marshall JAR, Barron AB. Honeybees solve a multi-comparison ranking task by probability matching. Proceedings of the Royal Society B 287, 20201525, 2020

DRENCH RESISTANCE GROWING

DRAWING ON DATA collected from sheep farms throughout New Zealand in the past 15 years, animal parasite diagnostic company Techion has concluded that the incidence of resistance to triple-combination drenches could increase to 40% of farms if practices don’t change.

Results from the company’s DrenchSmart tests (faecal egg count reduction tests) showed a substantial increase in the incidence of drench resistance between 2005 and July 2020. According to the data, double-com bination drenches are failing on 20–43% of New Zealand farms and triple-combination drenches on 15% of farms. In comparison, “resistance to combination drenches was low to non-existent” in 2005.

A summary of the data can be found atwww.techion.com/media/1441/ drenchsmart-resistance.pdf. n

3D SURGICAL MODELS ON THEIR WAY

A US-BASED COMPANY that specialises in three-dimensional printing is planning to offer accurate anatomical models of animal physiological structures for veterinary students and practising veterinarians.

M3Dimensions (pronounced meddimensions) says the models will be useful both for teaching purposes and as guides for surgeons undertaking complicated surgery. They will be detailed to 100 microns, and are planned for launch in 2021.

M3Dimensions’ CEO Sean Bellefeuille, formerly a biomedical engineer and now a first-year student at the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, set up the company after being approached for help by a local emergency veterinary hospital.

The veterinary hospital had a difficult orthopaedic case – a patient with a rare femoral deformity that needed surgical intervention – and the surgeon was looking for a three-dimensional printed model of the femur to examine. Sean and his colleagues printed the model using a CT scan provided by the veterinarians, and after being studied by the surgeon it was used for reference when making cuts during surgery.

That case also inspired Sean to pursue a career in veterinary medicine alongside his startup venture. n

ECO INITIATIVE

WASTE NOT

VETCARE TAURANGA’S

BETHLEHEM practice and Holistic Vets have been participating in the Tauranga City Council’s Resource Wise Business Programme, which aims to create awareness of waste and inspire businesses to step up and reduce theirs.

The programme requires a commitment of at least four years. A consultant is provided to help businesses both minimise and consider how they divert waste.

Where similar veterinary products have similar efficacy rates, the practices choose those that have the least impact on the environment, for example because they’re reusable, are recyclable, use less packaging or have lower carbon footprints.

Other ways the two practices are reducing waste include: » diverting food scraps and fur from grooms to compost or worm farms » using compostable wipes instead of swabs for initial surgical scrubs and other procedures » using compostable cat litter » sending used intravenous fluid bags to Baxter for recycling » encouraging suppliers to reuse polystyrene chilly bins and, ideally, change to more environmentally friendly options » recycling cardboard boxes and using packaging material from orders as cage linings for messy patients. Having a motivated team who are mindful about waste is an important first step, says Holistic Vets’ Director Liza Schneider. “It’s amazing what can be achieved when some thought is given to waste and simple things are put into action, like bringing lunch in reusable containers,” she says. Choosing suppliers that are like-minded helps too.

VetCare Bethlehem’s Director, Nick Sygrove, says his staff were on board right from the start. “There seems to be so much more awareness of waste and our impacts locally and internationally. When we heard from Holistic Vets about the positive impacts of the programme, we wanted to join and play our part too.”

VetCare Bethlehem has recently started the process of accreditation for the Resource Wise Business Programme and is on its way to achieving reductions. Holistic Vets has been part of the programme since 2018 and was the first business to be awarded Gold status, reflecting its accomplishment of diverting 70% of its waste from landfill. Tauranga City Council has commended these clinics on their positive impacts on the environment and their dedication to reducing waste. Clients of both clinics are also impressed. n

SHOWCASE YOUR ORGANISATION AT THE MASSEY CAREER EXPO!

Massey University is once again offering the Veterinary Career Expo to final-year BVSc students in December.

THE CAREER EXPO will provide an opportunity for veterinary practices and organisations to promote their graduate support programmes and recruitment opportunities with the final-year veterinary students as well as an opportunity to simply showcase their organisation.

Each exhibitor will be allocated a table to give the feel of trade stands at a veterinary conference. Displays may be set up using banners, audio-visual displays, promotional pamphlets or giveaways. Massey University will provide tables and chairs but businesses will need to bring along any other materials they wish to use.

Last year exhibitors came from all over New Zealand, Australia and the US. Exhibitors commented on how engaged the students were and how the expo provided good exposure for their business.

This career expo will be part of the career-themed day of the veterinary professionalism training week, where students will also take part in simulated job interviews.

The event will be held at the Massey University Manawatū campus on Wednesday 2 December from 1:45pm to 5:00pm.

If you are interested in participating in the Veterinary Career Expo please contact Stuart Gordon at s.j.g.gordon@massey.ac.nz or 027 480 4040. n

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To report suspected exotic land, freshwater and marine pests, or exotic diseases in plants or animals, call: 0800 80 99 66

TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS

THIS AUGUST SAW the conclusion of the inaugural Royal Canin Young Vet Entrepreneur 2020 competition, run by the Student Veterinary Business Society at Massey University. The participating teams presented their business concepts – the result of four months’ work – at a special event on 26 August, with Team Halo Vets winning the $500 prize for their mobile practice concept with individualised geriatric care.

The competition aimed to introduce the participating veterinary students to the ins and outs of business and the financial preparations required to set up a veterinary practice. According to event organisers the event was a “resounding success”, with more than 85 people attending in person and a further 230 viewing it online.

Each of the seven competing teams was required to develop a unique veterinary business idea under the guidance of their team mentor. They presented their concepts to a panel of judges ranging from practice managers to financial and business experts, in the hope of securing up to $70,000 for their businesses (not in real money).

Team Halo Vets’ winning concept focused on end-of-life care for pets. It responded to the growing niche business of pet hospice care (similar to that of human hospice care), through providing clients with the option of having their beloved pets die peacefully at home.

The first runner-up was Team Blokes in Business, whose Uber-style app was designed to connect clients concerned about their pets’ health to trained and experienced veterinary nurses. Second runner-up Team Pelion developed a plan to move veterinary businesses online, with a shop, blog and free online consultation service. The runners-up won Prezzy Cards valued at $160 and $80 respectively, thanks to Royal Canin.

“We spent 80 to 100 hours on this project and we feel awesome!” said Kathleen Agustin, Team Halo Vets’ team leader. “It was really rewarding going from not knowing a thing about business to actually knowing what goes on. It helped us learn how to manage finance, staff and logistics and gave us a more rounded view of veterinary business.”

The win was hard fought, with the judges commenting on the high calibre of presentations and the outstanding concepts. “It was exciting to see the creative and excellent proposals,” says Tim Montgomery, President of the NZVA’s Veterinary Business Branch and one of the judges at the event.

Adele Rae Seow, a Student Veterinary Business Society committee member, says the competitors enjoyed learning about serious business topics in a fun way with friends. She also says that having experienced mentors and judges guide them was invaluable.

“Teams came in knowing little about what it takes to run a business and came away with real-world knowledge and business connections they can use in the future.” n

Top left: Jono Allen from Westpac and Charles Allen from Shelley Naylor Realty pose questions to the competitors. Top right: Team Halo Vets (left to right): Emma Middlemass, Holly Hender, Josiah Koh, Kathleen Agustin, Chantelle Wallbridge.

DAYS OF NOTE

1–7 NOVEMBER NATIONAL ANIMAL SHELTER AND RESCUE APPRECIATION WEEK (US)

3 NOVEMBER WORLD JELLYFISH DAY

10 NOVEMBER WORLD SCIENCE DAY FOR PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT

VetScript

Deadlines for February 2021 issue

EDITORIAL COPY 18 November 2020

DISPLAY AND CLASSIFIED

ADVERTISING 6 January 2021

LATE CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING

15 January 2021

Contact the editor at: vetscript@vets.org.nz

ALL WORK AND ALL PLAY

ACCORDING TO A study published in Biology Letters, playing with humans may have accelerated domestication in particular dog breeds.

The researchers compared observational data on human-directed play behaviour from the Swedish Working Dog Association’s Dog

Mentality Assessment project with breed categorisations from the American Kennel Club. They found that herding and sporting dog breeds were more playful than non-sporting and toy breeds.

The researchers also reconstructed the likely behaviour of ancestral dogs using a phylogeny function in the programme R, and noted that they probably had intermediate levels of human-directed play.

The authors conclude that play was important in early dog domestication and the breeding of working dogs, encouraging a strong bond between the dogs and their handlers. n

REFERENCE:

Kolm N, Temrin H, Miklósi Á, Kubinyi E, Garamszegi LZ. The link between selection for function and human directed play behaviour in dogs. Biology Letters, 20200366, 2020

NEW ANIMAL SCIENCE DEGREE ON OFFER

THIS YEAR MASSEY University has introduced a new, three-year Bachelor of Animal Science degree offering four majors: animal genetics and breeding, animal nutrition and growth, animal welfare, and equine science.

Students are benefiting from research conducted at the university’s animal-based research centres, which include the Animal Welfare Science and Bioethics Centre, the International Sheep Research Centre and the Working Dog Centre.

Graduates will be qualified for technical, advocacy and management roles in the production animal, equine and companion animal science industries – most notably in consultancy, sales, feed manufacturing, biosecurity and equine sport and racing.

According to the university, the degree is a good option for students keen to work in animal-based industries in New Zealand and around the world. n