Since Tri-Solfen® was commercially launched, over 150 million lambs have been treated and over 80% of Australian wool growers are now using Tri-Solfen for their sheep. Here’s what some of them have to say…
‘We have used pain relief for two years now and seen real production gains. We are concerned for the welfare of our animals and will continue to use pain relief to ensure they get the best care.’
Clinton Wise– Wililoo Merino Stud, Woodanilling, W.A.
'It easy to see the difference pain relief makes. Before, lambs would walk away hunched up, even taking a couple of hours to walk back to the paddock. Now they run straight back to Mum and start suckling,” says Rod. “My wool is now sold under the Better Choices brand. I see this as a definite advantage. I think it will be an advantage in the long run, to both me and the industry as a whole.'
Rod Miller– Glenpaen Merino Stud, Horsham, Vic
'After being treated with pain relief my lambs were more content and less stressed. As farmers we are sincere in looking after the welfare of our animals and using pain relief demonstrates this.'
Richard Coole– Frankland, W.A.
'We have been using pain relief for the past three years. We’re impressed by reduced bleeding in the mulesing wound immediately after application. Lambs run straight back to find the ewe, which has dramatically reduced our mortality rates. Flock management, post lamb marking is easier due to the effect of pain relief and the scab healing faster.'
Ryan & Malcom O’Dea– Peepingee Merino Stud, Narrogin, W.A.
'Using pain relief eases the stress and allows lambs to mother up and move back to the paddock easier with faster weight gains.'
Ian is Chief Executive Officer of Dechra Pharmaceuticals, which has a 33% shareholder in Medical Ethics. He joined National Veterinary Services, Dechra’s former services business in 1989 and joined the Board of Dechra in 1997. In October 2010, Ian was appointed as Non-Executive Chairman of Sanford DeLand Asset Management.
Dr Chris Roberts
Human Wound and Regulatory Advisor
Chris has over 20 years’ line management experience of heading clinical research teams. He was previously global head of Smith & Nephew clinical support and market development, where he managed global clinical Phase II and III programmes in the management of venous and pressure ulcers.
Lieutenant Colonel Professor Steven Jeffery
Medical Specialist Advisor
Steve has over 15 years’ experience in military plastic surgery. In 2011 he was awarded the Military Civilian Partnership Award for ‘Regular of the Year’, as well as receiving the Wounds UK ‘Key Contribution’ award and the Smith and Nephew ‘Customer Pioneer of the Year’ award. He has also been awarded Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons of England ad eundum. He is an expert adviser to NICE Medical Technologies Evaluation Programme. Steve co-founded the Woundcare 4 Heroes charity, which is already making a big difference to the wound care of both serving and veteran personnel.
Dr Matthew Bayfield
Medical Specialist Scientific Director
Dr Matthew Bayfield, Head of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Strathfield Private Hospital and VMO Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.
Professor Peter Windsor
Veterinarian Research Advisor
Peter is a registered specialist veterinary surgeon in New South Wales and an emeritus Professor at Sydney University. He holds a BVSc (Hons), PhD, DVSc and diploma from the European College of Small Ruminant Health Management.
Dr Julian Braidwood
Global Regulatory Affairs Advisor
Julian has held leadership roles and managed international clinical projects with Grampian. He was previously Regulatory Affairs Manager at Novartis Animal Health. He is the Founder and Managing Director of Triveritas, where he is responsible for a team of 40 animal health specialists across the EU and the US.
Tri-Solfen® is a local anaesthetic and antiseptic gel spray that adheres well to wounds and acts as a barrier to environmental stimuli, promotes haemostasis and improves wound healing. Tri-Solfen® contains two proven topical local anaesthetics; fast-acting Lignocaine for immediate pain relief and long-acting bupivacaine for prolonged post-operative pain relief. Adrenaline is included for its ability to reduce the shock and stress of blood loss, whilst prolonging the anaesthetic action. Tri-Solfen® also contains Cetrimide; an antiseptic widely used to cleanse skin and wounds and provides protection from bacterial contamination.
Original article by SIMONE SMITH, The Weekly Times
AUSTRALIA’S peak cattle lobby group has encouraged all beef producers to consider the use of a pain relief product recently approved for dehorning and disbudding.
Cattle Council president Howard Smith said the gel called Tri-Solfen, available from rural resellers and previously used for castration as well as mulesing, was something “the industry had been looking for a long time”.
“We need to keep lifting our industry standards because of what the public is demanding and what is acceptable now,” he said. “This is an opportunity, a product that can really help.”
Mr Smith had already used it for dehorning and disbudding, and was positive about the benefits of the product, which also included a wound healing formulation, short and long-term analgesia, and antiseptics, while reducing blood loss and coating the wound.
“There’s less bleeding. It acts like a clotting agent,” he said. “The animals aren’t stressed and mother-up well, it’s noticeable, the benefits.”
Meat and Livestock Australia said the cost was $1-$1.50 to treat each animal, with it best suited for calves six to eight weeks old. Mr Smith said the cost was irrelevant, with benefits outweighing the outlay.
University of Melbourne, Melbourne Veterinary School senior lecturer in cattle David Beggs said the extension of Tri-Solfen use meant beef producers could more easily use pain relief for dehorning and disbudding.
“It is too soon to tell (what the approval of Tri-Solfen for dehorning means), but with other pain relief products there’s been lots of research that shows good long-term pain relief. After a painful procedure the cattle eat better in the days following,” he said.
“So there’s a benefit there with welfare and productivity.”
Dr Beggs said the previous “gold standard” for dehorning or disbudding included administering local anaesthetic and other pain relief, but the local anaesthetic “doesn’t do anything for the throbbing pain after” and it required a vet for administration.
Until the approval of Tri-Solfen for dehorning, there were two other pain management products, which provided relief for up two-to-three days.
Herefords Australia general manager Andrew Donoghue said he had not spoken to members about using Tri-Solfen since it was approved last month for dehorning pain relief, but said animal welfare was important for producers.
“I’m pretty sure our members would take it on,” he said.
“Anything to help calves get through the dehorning process.”
The Australian dairy industry has an industry framework to encourage disbudding of calves at six to eight weeks, rather than dehorning. It comes under the Australian Animal Welfare Guidelines.
The industry has no legislation on dehorning, but some milk processors require suppliers to administer “appropriate pain relief” when dehorning or disbudding.
