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Testimonials

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.'

Kent Lummis– Waverley Downs, Gilgandra, NSW

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Patent Portfolio

Country Species Patent
Australia Sheep Granted
Australia Horses, Dogs, Lab animals Granted
Australia Cattle Granted
Australia Humans Granted
New
Zealand
Sheep,
Cattle
Granted
New
Zealand
Horses, Dogs, Lab animals Granted
EU Humans Granted
EU Pig, Sheep,
Cattle
Granted
USA Dogs, Horses, Lab animals Granted
USA Humans Granted
USA Pig, Sheep,
Cattle
Granted
Canada Horses, Dogs, Lab animals Granted
Canada Cattle,
Pig
Granted
Canada Humans Granted

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Advisory Board

Ian Page

Non-Executive Director

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.

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Horns of a Dilemma

March 19, 2014

PIP COURTNEY, PRESENTER: First today, a story on something the beef industry can be reluctant to talk about, but knows it must deal with. Dehorning calves is carried out by cattle producers in order to prevent stock harming themselves and their handlers. It’s a confronting and bloody procedure and many in the industry believe it’s a matter of time before it becomes an animal welfare flashpoint. That’s why the industry has been trying to find a painless genetic solution and it now says it’s made a breakthrough. And a warning, this report contains scenes of dehorning.

In the wild, horns served a purpose – protecting cattle from prey animals and each other. They served a purpose when cattle were used as beasts of burden too, for they prevented them from slipping out of the yoke. But in modern agriculture, horns are expensive and dangerous.

SCOTT HANSEN, FMR MLA CEO: Bumping into each other not only in transport, but in yards on properties and in yards at processing works was creating a real loss of value because that meat had to be devalued and the hides had to be devalued.

PIP COURTNEY: Horns are a danger in the workplace too.

BURNETT JOYCE, ‘GYRANDA’ QLD: Cattle with horns are aggressive because they have the artillery to be aggressive, even to one another.

JIM ROTHWELL, MLA: They certainly are more dangerous, they are more difficult to manage, they certainly can hurt farmers and operators and there’s an unquestioned occupational health and safety issue around horns, and many of us have seen animals bullying each other, there’s no doubt that horny animals are more likely to bully non-horny animals. It’s bad for social interaction. The food lots don’t want to take animals with horns….

MELINA TENSEN: There’s also a longer chronic pain response which is indicated by reduced weight gain over a period of up to six weeks, so that’s indicative of chronic pain. So there’s definitely science to support the fact that it is a painful procedure that the animal would definitely feel.

PIP COURTNEY: Trials of the analgesic Trissulfin began several years ago. Well-known cattleman the late Zander McDonald was involved and if approved for use he’d planned to introduce it to the family’s 180,000-head beef operation in far North Queensland. With plans to market the beef as ethically raised, he told ABC Radio it was time the northern cattle industry pushed its welfare credentials.

(Zander McDonald on ABC Radio – 2012)

ZANDER MCDONALD, BEEF PRODUCER: We think it probably takes anywhere from 20 to 40 minutes before the anaesthetic starts to work, but we’re quite confident that it’s then good for about 18 hours afterwards which is the work we did last year. So we’re very pleased how it’s working. We think it’s the only practical way of administering an anaesthetic in a timely and cost-effective manner for the volume of animals that we process in a single day.

PIP COURTNEY: While approved for use in the sheep industry for mulesing, Mr McDonald was frustrated Trisulfin was several years and several million dollars away from being approved for the beef industry.

While supporting industry investment into pain relief options, the RSPCA says the best long-term solution to dehorning is to phase it out.   READ MORE