Virbac Australia Primary Producer

02/03/2026

🍂 The Autumn Animal Health Checklist

Are your livestock "Winter Ready"? Autumn is the time for strategic interventions to ensure your sheep and cattle maintain their condition through the colder months.

Over the next few days we'll go through some important animal health tasks to tick off the Autumn animal health list ✅

24/02/2026

Maximise your reproductive success 🐑
Senior Research Scientist Gordon Refshauge shares evidence-based insights on how trace mineral status serves as the foundation for fertility and lambing percentages.

Date: Wednesday, March 11th, 2026
Time: 7:00 PM
Expert: Gordon Refshauge, Senior Research Scientist

Register via the link below! 👇

https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/8368725400151937882

23/02/2026

And the Winner Is... 🏆
Big news! We are thrilled to announce the winner of the Tridectin x Optiweigh giveaway.

A massive congratulations to Makala K from WA! 🥳 You’ve just won an Australian-made Optiweigh in-paddock weighing system valued at $17,500 (exc GST). This game-changing farm addition will help you track your sheep’s growth with ease right in the paddock.

Thank you to everyone who entered by purchasing Tridectin. We love supporting our Aussie farmers with tools that help shape the future of animal health.

Stay tuned!
Make sure you’re following us so you don't miss out on our next big promotion or product update.

19/02/2026

Don't Let the Dry Fool You – Barber’s Pole is Still on the Move 🌡️🐏
Across much of South Eastern Australia, the paddocks look dry and the heat is on—but don’t assume the worms have gone into hiding.

We are seeing recent spikes in Faecal Egg Counts (FECs) specifically from Barber’s Pole worm. This parasite is a master of survival; it only takes a tiny amount of moisture or a humid morning for larvae to become active, leading to rapid contamination even in "dry" conditions.

Your 2-Step Defense Strategy:

Test, Don't Guess: Perform a FEC now. Barber’s Pole is a silent killer that causes severe anaemia and bottle jaw before you see a single lost lamb.

The 10-Day Check: If your results show a drench is required, don't just "set and forget." Perform a follow-up FEC 10–14 days after drenching to ensure your product actually worked.

With drench resistance on the rise, confirming the "kill" is the only way to protect your flock and your future productivity.

Stay vigilant. One test now could save a mob later.

17/02/2026

Protect Your Future Profits – Why Lamb Vaccination is Non-Negotiable 💉🐏

In the sheep game, your lambs are your biggest asset. But without a proper vaccination strategy, you’re leaving your bottom line—and your flock's welfare—exposed to "The Big 5" sudden-death diseases.

Why it matters right now:

The "Silent" Killers: Clostridial diseases like Pulpy Kidney and Black Disease often show no symptoms. Usually, the first sign of a problem is a dead lamb in the paddock.

The Growth Gap: Cheesy Gland (CLA) might not always kill, but it causes chronic infection that stunts growth rates and results in carcass condemnation at the works.

Maternal Immunity Fades: By 6–8 weeks of age, the protection lambs get from their mothers (colostrum) begins to drop. This "immunity gap" is when they are most vulnerable.

A single shot isn't enough. For life-long protection, lambs need their primary course:

The Marking Primer: The first dose to "wake up" the immune system.

The Weaning Booster: The critical second dose 4–6 weeks later to "lock in" long-term immunity.

Pro-Tip: Using a high-quality 6-in-1 vaccine like Websters® ensures you aren't just protecting against death, but also preventing the sub-clinical infections that steal your weight gains.

Have you booked in your marking and weaning dates yet? Don't let a preventable disease do the culling for you.

13/02/2026

We know you’ve got a lot on your plate… but don’t forget tomorrow is Valentine’s Day! 👩‍🌾❤️

Between checking fences, monitoring water levels, and the general chaos of February in Australia, we know the "romantic" dates can sometimes slip through the cracks.

Consider this your 24-hour warning! You might spend most of your time looking after the herd, but make sure you save a little energy for the one who helps you keep the whole show running.

The Primary Producer’s Valentine’s Checklist:

Check the water? Done. ✅

Move the mob? Done. ✅

Dinner reservations/Flowers- Better get onto it! 💐

You don’t need to be fancy—sometimes just getting home before dark is a gift in itself!

Tag a mate who definitely needs this reminder before it’s too late. 👇

11/02/2026

Stop Guessing. Start Testing. 🧪🪱

Have you done a Worm Egg Count (WEC) for your herd recently?

08/02/2026

Something big is coming for your flock... 🐑👀

Australian sheep have evolved, and they are demanding MORE.

Get ready for the next evolution in trace mineral nutrition. Arriving Soon!

Watch this space.

05/02/2026

Friday Farming Fact: February Heat & Hydration 💦

Did you know that in peak February heat, an adult beef cow can drink up to 100 litres of water in a single day?

As we hit the height of the Australian summer, it’s not just about quantity; it’s about flow rate. When temperatures soar above 30°C, cattle and sheep often "slug drink"—meaning they head to the trough all at once after seeking shade. If your trough refill rate can’t keep up with the herd's demand, dominant animals stay hydrated while others miss out, leading to rapid heat stress across the mob.

Why February is Critical:

The "Slug" Effect: Sheep and cattle will do 80% of their drinking in short bursts during the morning and late evening.

Metabolic Heat: Digestion (especially in cattle) creates internal heat. If they can't access cool water to help regulate their core temperature, their appetite drops, leading to immediate production losses.

Water Temp Matters: Livestock will actually drink less if the water is too hot. Keeping pipes buried or troughs shaded can improve intake by up to 15%.

Pro-Tip: This Friday, do a "pressure test" on your furthest troughs. If it takes more than a few minutes to refill after a mock-drink, it might be time to look at a high-flow valve before the next heatwave hits!

03/02/2026

www.virbac.com.au/evolutionsheep

Multimin Evolution for Sheep contains 50% more Zinc than any other injectable trace mineral product for sheep on the market. It is a high concentration, low volume formulation containing zinc, selenium, copper, and manganese.

29/01/2026

FRIDAY FARMING FACT: Did you know internal parasites cost the Aussie sheep industry over $436 million annually? 💸 Most of this isn't from sheep 'falling over'—it’s the silent loss in weight gain, wool quality, and milk production caused by drench-resistant worms.

Don't let your profits slide. A quick Drench Check (FEC test 10-14 days after drenching) tells you if your drench is actually working or if you’re just feeding the worms. 🪱

28/01/2026

Is your drench still doing the heavy lifting? 🏋️‍♂️

Parasite resistance is a genetic game of "Survival of the Fittest." Every time we drench, we are unintentionally selecting for the strongest worms.

In Australia, single-active drenches are failing at an alarming rate, often leaving up to 40% of worms behind. 📉 This isn't just a health issue; it's a massive hit to your bottom line through lost weight gain and wasted chemical costs.

The goal for 2026? Potency and Persistence. Moving to high-potency combination drenches is the gold standard for breaking the cycle and protecting your land for the next generation.

Have you done a Faecal Egg Count this season?