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

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

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.

Tri–Solfen^®

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.

Mulesing: a cruel dilemma

May 17, 2013

The Australian wool industry is set to once more come under fire for the controversial procedure known as mulesing. Animal rights activists are warning the industry that they are readying to relaunch their campaign against retailers who sell wool from mulesed sheep.

“We’re giving them until the 1st of January 2014,” says the Animal Justice Party’s Mark Pearson, “otherwise the campaign will be ramped up and reinvigorated.”

In 2004, graphic vision of merinos being mulesed – having wrinkled skin cut away from their backside, with the large gaping wound left to bleed – sparked a global campaign to boycott Australian wool. The industry responded with a promise to phase out the practice by 2010.

But more than 90 per cent of Australian wool sold at auction still comes from mulesed sheep. Farmers say that the alternative is even crueller.

“It is probably the most unpleasant thing you can do to a lamb,” says farmer Chick Olsson. “It’s something I know a lot of good people who are farming sheep that hate doing… but they know if they don’t do it, the consequences are just tragic.”

The problem arises due to blowflies. The flies, attracted by the scent of urine or faeces, make their nest in the wrinkly merino posterior – or “breech”. As their eggs hatch, the larvae eat the sheep alive. This is known as flystrike, and can kill a sheep from shock and blood loss within three or four days.

To avoid that, farmers have traditionally cut off the breech – common practice in Australia since the 1950s. The scarred skin of a mulesed merino has no folds or wrinkles to hold moisture and faeces, and so is less attractive to blowflies.