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.
DAVID Foote says there’s one overwhelming reason why producers should be using pain relief on their cattle.
“It works,” the Australian Country Choice Group director said. “We’re using Tri-Solfen and meloxicam as pain relief on all of our calves across all of our properties because they mother up faster and that reduces the chances of mismothering,” Mr Foote said.
“From a management point of view they’re back on mum and back in the paddock faster, which is all about increased weight gain over time. “We’ve done it because it is good for our calves and it makes our cattle business more productive in addition to helping meet our responsibilities in terms of animal welfare.”
Mr Foote said he strongly believed the use of pain relief in cattle husbandry operations was essential to sustain community support for the beef industry.
“At around $1.30 per or so per treatment when we’re talking about what the value of an animal is today, particularly when there is a commercial gain to be made by using pain relief , it’s not even a consideration,” he said. “Animal welfare continues to be our community licence to operate. “If we don’t meet society’s expectations, we will struggle at the domestic counter, the export counter and the political counter. “Pain relief products has given the beef industry the opportunity and easy tools to overcome most of society’s problems about how we deal with our animals at branding/marking time and at dehorning. “They are products that’s are simple to use and easily available.”
Mr Foote said all of the about 50,000 calves produced on the ACC properties were treated with pain relief agents. With close to 2 million hectares of country and up to 300,000 cattle, ACC Group has grown to become the world’s largest family-owned, vertically integrated cattle and beef supply chain organisation. Its whole-of-chain operations include cattle breeding, backgrounding, seedstock production, farming and lot-feeding to beef primary processing and multi-species further processing, value-adding, retail packing and distribution. The jewel in the crown of the Cannon Hill processing plant, which is capable of handling 350,000 head a year.
ACC is also on a path to making the business carbon neutral by the red meat industry’s target date of 2030. “With COP26, Australia as a nation has drawn the line in the sand,” said Mr Foote, commenting on the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference held in Glasgow in November. “Up until COP26 the figures were rubbery. Now Australia has an obligation and a responsibility to achieve carbon neutrality.”
He said ACC was in the process of “understanding, identifying and then managing the targets” needed to make the business carbon neutral, or preferably, carbon positive.
“We will need to become a carbon factory to create the offsets for 300,000 cattle, three feedlots and a meat processing plant,” he said. “Our land resource is likely our greatest asset in achieving that but it also involves using improved genetics and nutrition that will enable us to produce and process cattle at the required specifications at an earlier age with less emissions.”
One challenge for the northern cattle industry is the weights of weaners can be up to 40kg less than cattle of the same age best in the more climatically favourable southern region.
“That also means we have the greatest potential for gains in terms of reducing emissions,” Mr Foote said.
The consequences of not becoming carbon neutral would likely be seen in key markets in the form of technical tariff barriers, particularly in Europe, he said. “But I think by 2030 being carbon neutral is unlikely to be unique,” Mr Foote said. “It will likely be the entry ticket to many of our higher value markets.”
Mr Foote said there were plenty of challenges in any business becoming carbon neutral.
“Landowners should be wary of selling their offset credits at today’s prices in the event they may have to buy them back at the future prices,” Mr Foote said.
“I suggest secure your own commitment first, establish your own baseline, bank those offsets or credits and only then trade any surplus. “At some point, be it through political or industrial change, industry may be called on to show it is carbon neutral. “Particularly if you have sold your offsets overseas they actually won’t count in Australia as offsets.”
