News – Numnuts

Feedback From The Farm: Numnuts Makes Marking Easier, Quicker, Healthier

Jane Clothier — Wed, 08 Nov 2023 03:04:27 +0000

No weight loss and no behavioural difference between marked and unmarked lambs.

It’s one thing for us to sing the praises of Numnuts with NumOcaine, because well, we would say that, wouldn’t we? It’s a very different matter when a sheep farmer reports improvements that go beyond our expectations.

That’s what happened recently when Al Hort, sent in the following feedback after three years of using the Numnuts device on his Tasmanian farm.

Numnuts exceeds in this farmer's time and motion study

Al Hort describes himself as being “passionate about developing better soil, pasture and sheep health – naturally.” His quest to produce better-tasting, nutritious meat while improving lamb welfare soon brought him to Numnuts and this fresh approach to lamb marking.

“I just wanted to say thanks for producing such a great product. We have used the Numnuts applicator and NumOcaine for the past 3 lamb markings. It has been a significant benefit to our small meat sheep operation.

“The applicator is easily 3 times quicker to use than the standard 4 prong one. In particular I have found it is quicker and easier to find and capture the testicles and then release the ring without issue (such as losing a testicle below the ring).

“Injecting the Numocaine is literally a one second addition in time to the process and considering how much time we save using the Numnuts applicator, it’s a no brainer.

“This saves us a heap of time in marking each lamb.

“Added benefits are the ease of holding the ring open due to the clever design incorporated in the Numnuts applicator. Far less strain on the hand and better control of ring release. It is easy and safe to load the rings, needles and NumOcaine. Virtually no slowing down to do these things on the job.”

A remarkable observation: reduced weight loss

“The biggest benefit though is the lack of apparent stress on the lambs.

“Normally the boys would be rolling around on the ground in distress, far more than the girls, but with the NumOcaine they hit the ground running like nothing has happened.

“They are playing and head butting mum for a drink immediately.

“We normally see significant weight loss in the ‘boys’ after marking due to the extra stress of castration, but with the NumOcaine there is no perceivable difference between the boys and girls over the following weeks.

No behavioural difference between marked and unmarked lambs

“It’s also interesting to note that MLA advise to keep an eye on marked lambs for health issues for up to 10 days after marking. Never had an issue since using Numnuts and NumOcaine.

“MLA also advise not moving the marked lambs for a few days, but we have been able to move all lambs and mums immediately after marking as they have no issue with pain or walking.

“In fact, the lambs still had plenty of get up and go to annoy the heck out of the sheep dogs.”

It’s wonderful to hear that for this farmer, the practical benefits for the lamb marking crew match the lamb welfare benefits that prompted the development of Numnuts in the first place.

To read more about the experience of large sheep farm operations in using Numnuts, check our series of interesting case studies.

NumOcaine And The Export Slaughter Interval: The Facts

Jane Clothier — Thu, 26 Oct 2023 06:51:17 +0000

Here's the official answer to a commonly asked question.

Here at Numnuts HQ, one question we’re often asked is whether NumOcaine has an Export Slaughter Interval (ESI). We imagine that you’re already familiar with ESIs, but just to be sure, here’s a quick recap.

The Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry states that the ESI is the time period that must elapse between an animal’s last exposure to a chemical and its slaughter for meat export purposes.

This time period is set by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) in response to the maximum residue limits set by international trading partners.

The ESI is listed on the APVMA-approved label of the product concerned. If a destination country changes its requirements, then the APVMA will require a label update.

[Header image (c) AgriWebb]

Does NumOcaine have an ESI?

The aim of ESIs is to ensure that exported meat meets the residue standards of overseas markets, without unduly decreasing market opportunities for Aussie farmers. In this respect, the ESI aligns with Australia’s domestic meat withholding periods (WHPs) and international maximum reside limits (MRLs).

Medications based on lignocaine don’t have an ESI listed on their labels, as there is no APVMA requirement to do so. Under Australian regulations, when an ESI has not been defined, the withhold period becomes the default ESI.

The WHP for Lignocaine is...

NumOcaine has a meat WHP of 0 days.

Therefore, if lambs are being exported for meat within even 1-day of lamb marking with Numnuts and NumOcaine, there is currently no need to include details at the point of sale on the Vendor Declaration Form.

It’s not just us saying this – it has been well-researched as a veterinary recommendation in Australia.

Take a look at this article on Beef Central, which describes why a pain relief product’s domestic meat WHP of 90 days is applied when no ESI has been previously set.

A group of consultant veterinarians AND the APVMA recommend using the WHP in lieu of an ESI for exported meat stock.

If there are changes to the 0-day WHOP and ESI for NumOcaine, we will of course let all our customers know.

If you want to look into this further, ESIs for all sheep medications are listed and can be checked on the APVMA website.

Numnuts is Good for Business – One Sheep Producer’s Views

Jane Clothier — Fri, 08 Sep 2023 07:24:32 +0000

A Tasmanian producer of poll merinos shares his experiences

No matter how much we tell the world about Numnuts, our word can never compete with that of the people who really matter: the sheep producers who use our device to mark their lambs.

Sheep producers Rae and Lindsay Young farm 7,000 fine wool merinos between Campbell Town and Ross in the middle of Tasmania, and mark 3,000 lambs a year.

As one of Numnuts’ early adopters, Lindsay has always been vocal in his support of our device. In fact, he says that using it has helped his business gain the Responsible Wool Standard accreditation.

The difference Numnuts has made to the business

Lindsay also believes improved lamb welfare will benefit the Australian wool industry in future years.

He explains how his business has already benefited through an export deal with an elite European manufacturer.

“It’s wonderful to have that partnership and to know exactly where our wool is going, to someone who appreciates what we’re doing on the farm as much as we do,” he says.

That’s not all, for Lindsay also tells us:

Why using Numnuts means “a lot less stress for the lamb, and a lot less stress for us as well”.
How Numnuts has impacted on the lamb marking process.
The changes in lamb behaviour that he’s witnessed first hand.

We’d love to know what you think!

This video is the perfect coffee time view at 5:40.

Numnuts and New Zealand Lambs – How’s It Going So Far?

Jane Clothier — Wed, 16 Aug 2023 04:21:58 +0000

Numnuts gets the full physio and occupational health check-up

Here we are, four years since our Australian launch to market and heading into the third season since we took the plunge and introduced the Numnuts device to our neighbours across the Tasman. As you probably know, sheep production is different between our countries – so how did it go?

At the height of the last lamb marking season, Dougal Deans from Numnuts headed over to Taupō, Waikato on the North Island to take part in some demos, meet some valued partners, and generally see how everything was going.

We’re pleased to report that everyone was happy, including the lambs! If you fancy a heartwarming tale of trans-Tasman goodwill, read on.

On farm with the Pāmu group

Dougal’s first visit was to Mangamingi Station, a hill country farm that is part of the Pāmu group of 116 farms throughout New Zealand. Pāmu, a Māori word meaning ‘to farm’, is the brand name of Landcorp Farming, a state-owned enterprise with farms producing milk, beef, lamb, wool, venison, wood and more.

Importantly for Numnuts, the enterprise is committed to best farming practices and has a strong international reputation on this account.

Mangamingi Station is one of two Pāmu farms using Numnuts this year. Farm manager Todd Bolton explained how as a producer, he’s open to learning new best practice in an effort to improve welfare and influence overall survival rates.

He introduced Numnuts on two farms this year and was in the middle of marking around 8,000 lambs. The Pāmu team moves around the 3,600 ha farm, marking mobs of 300-500 per session, with one or two sessions a day.

How the team adapted to Numnuts

As Todd explained to Dougal, the farm’s management approach is to avoid rushing, as doing so only leads to issues and stress for humans and animals. That’s one reason the system worked well with the introduction of Numnuts, as everyone took the time to learn how to use the applicator correctly, before getting back up to speed. This changeover time also enabled the team to make one or two changes to their usual chute system, so they could use Numnuts at a comfortable height while maintaining an efficient workflow.

Dougal was interested to learn that the physio and occupational health representative for Pāmu had already taken a good look at the Numnuts device prior to its introduction. This comprised meetings and a full product review, as well as a demo on around 30 lambs.

Todd had also given his review on ease of usage. Full consideration was given to ergonomics during use, and also to the impact on workers using it over the long term to mark hundreds of lambs. This was another important test for Numnuts, which has many features designed with exactly this in mind. As one of the design engineers for Numnuts, Dougal was particularly interested in this aspect.

Feedback from the NZ Numnuts users

What was the verdict? We’re delighted to say that Numnuts passed this rigorous assessment with flying colours. Here’s how it went.

The team said that opening rings with the device took a little getting used to, but they soon got the hang of it.
By the end of the half-day session, users felt less physical fatigue than when using the gas-knife for tail docking.
The Numnuts design meant users didn’t have to rotate their hand during ring application, reducing torque on their wrists (read more about Numnuts ergonomics here).
The lambs seemed happier, mothering up quickly and being easier to move after marking.
The team was satisfied that with a few more adjustments (eg. the height of boards, positioning of NumOcaine bottles), they would have a very comfortable working setup.

Mangamingi Station will definitely be using Numnuts again.

Would you like to be a NZ Numnuts ambassador?

Agilis and Numnuts are looking for more farms to work with in 2023 and would like to hear from potential ‘ambassadors’. That’s people like Todd who believe that animal welfare is fundamental to the long term success of the industry in NZ, as covered in our previous post: New Zealand Exporters Can Retain Contracts With Numnuts

If this sounds like you, and you’d be happy to appear on our website and in our social media posts, please get in touch.

Buying Numnuts in NZ

Numnuts and NumOcaine are available in New Zealand through Agilis-Vet.

Please contact Ben Lee at Agilis-Vet, email info@agilis.nz or call (64) 0800 244 547

Why Only NumOcaine Can Block the Acute Pain of Ring Marking

Jane Clothier — Fri, 09 Jun 2023 06:28:24 +0000

Only a local anaesthetic can block intense pain experienced in the first 45 minutes

Numnuts has published a new factsheet explaining the science behind NumOcaine, the local anaesthetic used in the popular lamb ring-marking device.

Titled NumOcaine®: Primary Pain Medication for the Peak Pain Period, the factsheet cuts through some recent confusion about pain medications that has been visible in social media and also heard firsthand by the Numnuts team at industry events.

Manufacturer Senesino has taken this step to clarify the difference between injectable local anaesthetics and analgesics as an increasing number of pain medications reach the market.

The move coincides with the introduction of NumOcaine to rural stores, where farmers are now increasingly buying their supplies over the counter.

Only NumOcaine® provides relief where it’s most needed, when it’s most needed

The key message being communicated is simple.

NumOcaine uses a formulation of 2% lignocaine, the same medication that dentists use before extracting or drilling into a patient’s teeth.

In lambs, a 1.5 mL injection of this powerful local anaesthetic addresses the immediate acute pain that occurs in the first 45 minutes after ring marking.

This is when lambs are showing the highest level of pain-related behaviours, such as lying down with stiff legs, standing hunched, and repeatedly rolling.

CSIRO studies have shown that these behaviours peak at 15 minutes post-marking, when the rubber ring initially restricts blood circulation (‘ischemia’).

How NumOcaine acts to block the pain signals

A local anaesthetic such as NumOcaine (2% lignocaine) is very different to an analgesic, as we explained in an earlier article.

That’s because it blocks nerve transmission from the affected area to pain centres in the central nervous system.

This obstructs the movement of nerve impulses near the site of injection – ie. the tail or scrotum – without any changes in the lamb’s awareness or sensation in other parts of the body. In other words, it numbs the area.

Studies have shown that this effect in ring marked lambs reduces pain related behaviours by a significant 68%.

NumOcaine vs. NSAIDs

On the other hand, an analgesic (or Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug / NSAID) such as Metacam works by reducing inflammation at the site.

Unlike a local anaesthestic, an analgesic does not switch off nerve signals.

It first starts working around 15 minutes after ring application, taking effect only when the body’s inflammatory response to the tissue damage starts.

This happens about 60 minutes after the ring’s application. This is when the acute pain is diminishing, to be replaced by the chronic, inflammatory pain, which is lower than at the 15-minute peak.

The gold standard: local anaesthetic followed by analgesic

NumOcaine can, however, be administered in a combined approach with an analgesic, thereby meeting industry best practice guidelines for pain relief during lamb marking.

NumOcaine is effective for primary, acute pain in the first hour after ring application, backed up with an analgesic for the inflammatory pain that sets in after 60 minutes and lasts up to 24 hours.

Important notes:

Topical medications containing lignocaine are suitable for open wounds, and not ring marking.

Not even injected analgesics will block acute nerve pain, as they work on the inflammatory phase of the body’s response.

Numnuts: a Cool Tool with Great Ergonomics That’s Better For Your Hands

Jane Clothier — Wed, 17 May 2023 04:45:14 +0000

This device is designed by engineers to reduce user pain and fatigue

Do you know that using a hand tool can activate up to 42 different hand muscles? That’s what we learned when researching and developing the Numnuts device. We had lengthy discussions and detailed investigations in the design studios, where our engineers were ensuring that the Numnuts device has the best ergonomics for its users’ health and comfort. This was a major part of our R&D and we’re pleased to say that so far, user feedback has been good. .

The problems that tools can cause

When first researching our device, we learned that using pliers to apply elastrator rings can cause some users problems. Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) is a painful condition arising from repeating even minor actions over and over. In this case, squeezing the pliers against the tension of the ring may be an easy and minor action, yet it’s often accompanied by other rotational movements through the wrist and hands.

Days of repeated actions can lead to RSI in the form of pain, throbbing, tingling or numbness, not only in the hands, but in other areas of the body too. In the long term, this can lead to osteoarthritis.  

Why ergonomics matter during lamb marking

Now we know that farmers are a strong breed, but it was important that we consider this. If we didn’t get it right, sheep farmers simply wouldn’t want to use Numnuts – and with good reason. Anyone can be subject to RSI, but it’s even worse for more mature farmers whose hands may be growing weaker with age, or who are developing arthritis. Nobody likes to experience pain at the end of the day, or worse, while working. This meant we wanted to embrace good ergonomic tool design.

The features of an ergonomic tool

Muscle strains and injuries happen in every industry where ongoing tool use is a feature of the working day. Ergonomic hand tools display several features: 

All hand positions and actions are natural for the body to perform. 
Pressure is distributed evenly, so there are no hard pressure points. 
The grip needed isn’t so strong that it makes precision movements with the finger or thumb difficult. 
Spring-loaded mechanisms don’t need to be held under pressure for periods of time.
Levers are long enough to reduce the force needed to implement the tool.
The grip is comfortable within the hand, in terms of both shape and material.
The tool amplifies the effect of small hand actions.

Farmers talked, we listened

Using ergonomic, well-balanced tools reduces all the causes of RSI, making work easier, not harder. We consulted and worked with farmers to find out what worked best for them, and what didn’t. We considered how much the device weighed and how it best balanced in the hand when a full bottle of NumOcaine was added. We had to make sure that this completely manual system was equally easy for left-handed or right-handed users. Could users with small hands use it just as easily? And would its use be affected by very cold or hot environmental temperatures? It was also important to ensure that it could always be used safely.

The ergonomic design of Numnuts

How did we do?  After 15 prototypes and considerable on-farm testing, we designed the device so that operation of the three functions – ring application, needle insertion, and delivery of anaesthetic – is smooth, easy, quick and consistently accurate. Here’s how. 

1. Applying the ring

When applying the ring using the Numnuts device, the user does not need to twist their wrist. Instead, Numnuts utilises the hands’ natural ‘tennis racket squeeze’ grip, without any wrist rotation.

The handle is initially squeezed hard to open the ring. With traditional pliers (designed in the 1950s), once opened, the spring force is at its greatest. However, with Numnuts, an over-centring mechanism kicks in that vastly reduces the holding pressure needed to keep the ring open. This is a lot easier for the user, no matter their hand size or strength.

There’s no hard gripping or wrist twisting at the stage that requires most dexterity – when the elastrator ring is being positioned over the tail or testicles. At the end, the user rolls their wrist back to release the ring, again, with no twisting involved. 

2. Injecting the local anaesthetic

The NumOcaine bottle is placed centrally, improving the user’s line of sight to the injection point.

Once the needle is in position, the user pushes the thumb or palm-operated plunger button, which has a wide rounded top to make it comfortable, to inject and deliver NumOcaine. 

The user must have two hands on the device to operate the plunger, meaning there is no risk of needle-stick injury. The needle fully retracts after the injection, to further reduce this risk.

3. Holding the device

The device is ‘ambidextrous’ in that it works in the same way for both right- and left- handed people.  The handles are contoured to comfortably fit both larger and smaller sized hands.

There are no palm pressure points from hard rubber or plastic – the materials are soft-feel and comfortable to hold in all weathers. 

It’s lightweight, meaning users of all sizes and strengths can operate it easily, all day long.

Simple! We hope you enjoyed this insight into why working with your Numnuts device feels so comfortable!

Why Lambs Would Prefer You To Use Numnuts for Tail Docking

Jane Clothier — Wed, 08 Feb 2023 05:29:03 +0000

Team Numnuts answers 10 frequently asked questions

Visiting agricultural events and shows, Team Numnuts has plenty of discussions with sheep producers keen to know more. Some people are surprised to learn that Numnuts is designed for tail docking as well as castration.

We’d like to take this opportunity to clear up some points about how Numnuts compares with other tail docking methods by answering some frequently asked questions.

1: How does Numnuts tail dock?

The Numnuts device uses rubber Elastrator rings for tail docking lambs. Our tool is easier to use than traditional pliers, both when applying the ring and removing it from the tool. With a quick press of the button, the device provides a shot of NumOcaine local anesthetic that is scientifically proven to alleviate the majority of pain associated with ring application.

2: How fast is Numnuts to use for tail docking?

Producers find that after a couple of practices, they can really pick up speed using the device for lamb marking. That’s no accident, as our engineers refined the design to ensure injecting NumOcaine and applying ring is a quick, clean and accurate process.

3: How quickly does the local anaesthetic work?

There’s no need to wait for it to start working. NumOcaine creates a safe anesthetic effect within 1 minute of being injected into the tail joint. This is before the lamb’s pain starts, which happens about 5 minutes after the ring is applied. By that time, the lamb is out of the cradle and back in the pen.

4: Which method is more reliable?

Numnuts delivers a consistent 1.5ml dose of NumOcaine into the base of the tail. Our engineers created a design that makes it easier to be accurate than inaccurate when injecting the tail.

By comparison, hot irons come with variable temperatures, meaning tail removal and cauterization may be completed inaccurately, causing more pain. Incomplete cauterization by hot knives on windy days can lead to bleeding, infection, and in some cases death.

5: Which tail docking method is least painful for lambs?

Numnuts with NumOcaine is definitely the method that minimises pain and is best for animal welfare and ethical farming. With rings, the lamb feels most pain within the first 30 minutes, and that’s when NumOcaine is doing its job. On the other hand, the hot knife creates more pain in the cradle (which is why lambs vocalise more). The nerve endings are briefly numbed by the cut, until the pain of cauterization, which is actually a serious burn, begins.

6: Is using Numnuts more humane than the knife?

Absolutely! Searing the wound with a hot knife may stop the wound bleeding, but it also gives the lamb a third degree burn that is incredibly painful. If you’ve even so much as burned your forearm before, you’ll know how that pain goes on.

7: How reliable are the rings themselves?

We recommend only buying quality rings. You can purchase these at the same time as NumOcaine, whether you’re buying via your vet, our website or your rural store. Always avoid cheap unbranded rings that are of poorer quality.

8: Does the tail docked with Numnuts look good?

It looks good when removed correctly at the third palpable joint, in line with AWI guidelines. We know that some producers use the knife to produce a shorter tail for the show ring, but NZ researchers have found this increases the risk of carcinoma of the vulva.

9: Is ring marking healthy for the lambs?

It’s definitely healthier than other approaches. With ring marking, constriction stops the tail’s circulation within the first hour. After that, there’s no blood flow to carry bacteria into the body. On the other hand, if a knife’s not hot enough or is used incorrectly, it can leave an unprotected wound that’s definitely an infection risk.

10: What happens to the lambs’ tails in the paddock?

Tails fall away within about 2-3weeks. By this time, there’s little left but fleece. The quality brand rings that we recommend are made of a very small volume of biodegradable rubber that quickly breaks down into the soil.

We hope this answers your questions about tail docking with Numnuts and NumOcaine.

When Will We See The First Breed of Short Tail, Fine Wool Sheep?

Jane Clothier — Tue, 01 Nov 2022 03:41:20 +0000

Worldwide research is under way to develop this valuable feature.

Do you know that there’s a global quest to develop a breed of short-tailed wool sheep? Here at Team Numnuts, we’re keeping an interested eye on the new developments, including recent developments in genetic research in China and Germany. A short-tailed fine wool breed that needs neither tail docking or mulesing would bring huge economic benefits to the industry, with potential to improve animal welfare at the same time.

Now, a group of researchers claim to have bred the world’s first such sheep through a process of gene editing. It’s a fascinating story and, if a new breed can be established, one that could change the face of Australian merino farming.

Reducing tail length in sheep

As you’ll already know, sheep are unusual amongst mammals, because rather than using their tails for balance, communication or swat flies, they use their tails and rumps to store energy as fat stores. Domestication has led to sheep breeds with different tail lengths and types to develop, including the thin or fat long tail, and thin or fat short tail.

It’s believed that primitive sheep originally had thin short tails, but when farmed in harsher territory, their tails became fatter in order to survive. Amongst these is the North European short-tailed sheep, a group of traditional breeds found in the British isles, Scandinavia, Greenland the Baltic region. For thousands of years the only sheep in these territories, they are hardy but small. There are 34 breeds in this group with a tapered short tail, a wide range of colours, and dual coated wool. These include the Finn sheep.

The Australian Finn-Merino development

Let’s look at a venture taking place right here in Australia. A decade ago, the late sheep geneticist Dr Jim Watts, The SRS Merino Company, Bowral NSW, and Merino stud breeder Don Mudford, Parkdale SRS® Merino Stud in Dubbo NSW have been using genetic selection to breed naturally short tail animals. As short tail genes don’t exist in Merinos, they have been introducing the Finnish Landrace (Finn sheep). Their aim has been a bare underside, a pencil-like shape, and sufficient muscularity for raising when urinating or defecating. [1]

Have they succeeded? In February 2021, Sheep Central reported on the first public offering of 3365 ewes and 41 rams from Parkdale SRS.

The sheep were described as having bare breeches, legs and bellies, and tails measuring a quarter to a half of the usual Merino length, eliminating the need for mulesing, tail docking and fly treatments.

Additionally, they produced a 19/20 micron fleece, and are said to have inherited the amazing fecundity of the Finn sheep. [2]

The Finn sheep has been exported around the world and crossbred with local sheep to create new, synthetic breeds. However, these are generally meat sheep, so this adapted Merino represents something of a breakthrough.

The Chinese research into short tails

In research published earlier in 2022, Chinese scientists analysed the genomics of Pamir argali, Tibetan sheep and their hybrids.

The Pamir argali breed of Mongolia became known as the Marco Polo sheep, after the famous explorer was the first to write about it in the 13th century.

It is the largest living wild sheep, with mature rams standing at up to 1.25m at the shoulder and weighing over 140 kg. Their horns can be an astounding 1.8 metres long.

Today, the breed is found in Uzbekistan, Siberia, Mongolia, the Tibetan Plateau, northern China, India and Pakistan.

The Chinese scientists announced that they had produced the short-tailed fine-wool sheep, the first of its kind globally, through gene editing. Their findings were published in an article in the journal Genome Research. At present, there are no photos of the new sheep, or news on how the short-tailed trait is passed on through reproduction. [3]

The German short tail research

Since the Chinese announcement, a group of scientists from Germany have also reported on their research for the tail-length gene. Their goal is to use targeted breeding to create short-tailed versions of normally long-tailed breeds, such as the Merino. They compared the genomes of Merinolandschaf lambs, which have a variable tail length, with those of various long and short-tailed sheep breeds and wild sheep subspecies. [4]

Where to next?

When it comes to new breeds, it’s still a long way and many years from early findings in the genetics lab to the farm. The proof will be in the paddock, so to speak. This goes beyond whether the trait can be consistently reproduced, to the questions of what might come with it in terms of health and resilience. Australia’s differing terrains and current variable weather patterns only serve to highlight this point.

Until then, our recommendation is to continue using Numnuts with NumOcaine when tail docking your lambs!

References

[1] https://www.moffittsfarm.com.au/2013/05/05/making-short-tail-merinos-a-genetic-option/

[2] https://www.sheepcentral.com/short-tailed-merino-ewes-were-the-buy-of-the-day-at-parkdale/

[3] Xin et al. Genomic analyses of Pamir argali, Tibetan sheep, and their hybrids provide insights into chromosome evolution, phenotypic variation, and germplasm innovation. Genome Res. Published in Advance. Aug 10,2022. doi:10.1101/gr.276769.122

[4] Lagler et al. Fine-mapping and identification of candidate causal genes for tail length in the Merinolandschaf breed. Commun Biol. 2022;5(1):918.

[5] Kalds et al. Genetics of the phenotypic evolution in sheep: a molecular look at diversity-driving genes. Genet Sel Evol. 2022;54;61.

Majority of Sheep Producers Don’t Use Pain Relief: Numnuts Responds

Jane Clothier — Thu, 20 Oct 2022 02:01:26 +0000

Survey results confirm the conversations we all need to be having.

The Australian sheep industry was recently presented with startling news, with the findings of the newly released Sheep Sustainability Framework report: On-Farm Insights from the National Producer Survey. The shocking news was that a large percentage of sheep producers – the majority, in fact – don’t use pain relief during castration and tail docking.

Yes, you read that correctly. And of those that do, quite a few are using the wrong pain relief for the procedure in question, in that it’s not the right one for the type of marking, or it takes too long to have an effect. The results were so startling that we decided to take a closer look at the report ourselves.

The pain relief statistics

Let’s start by clarifying those widely reported statistics that got us all talking. Choosing to focus on those who are doing the right thing, we’re giving the results in a positive frame. Here goes.

Out of the total 2,003 producers surveyed, only 25% provide pain relief for castration and 44% for tail docking.

When it comes to the 1,203 Merino producers within this number, 29% provide pain relief for castration, and 60% for tail docking.

And amongst the 800 non-Merino producers, a mere 19% provide pain relief for castration, with 24% for tail docking.

The most disturbing results

This is where we get concerned. Of the 2,003 producers surveyed:

45% said pain relief isn’t necessary for castration.
50% said it isn’t necessary for tail docking. 
Around 25% have not considered using pain relief.
20% believe administering pain relief to be impractical during a quick procedure.
9% said that using pain management would add stress and time.
Cost was a preventative factor for 9%, and availability for 6-8%.

This is troubling, because it shows that the message about the importance of pain relief during lamb marking for animal welfare on the farm and consumer expectations at point of sale is not reaching enough producers. The old ideas that lambs don’t feel pain aren’t being updated.

Why ideas take a long time to change

It’s easy to recognise that the longer we have held ideas, the more time it takes to change them. There are some interesting thoughts about why this happens. Psychologist Dr. James Prochaska has studied why and how people make changes in their lives.[1] This research has found that people who have successfully made a positive change go through five specific stages:

Precontemplation (not ready) – No intention to change their behaviour, may be unaware of the problem or may be demoralized about their ability to make a change.
Contemplation (getting ready) – Aware that a problem exists, but with no commitment to action in the near future.
Preparation (ready) – Gathering information and planning as they are intent upon taking action.
Action – Actively modifying behavior to overcome the problem.
Maintenance – Sustained change, when the new behavior replaces the old.

Now, reading those survey results again, which stage do you think the majority who don’t think pain relief is necessary are at? In our view, it’s clearly Precontemplation. And that’s not their fault. Animal science findings into pain are relatively recent, with local anaesthetic and pain relief products for lamb marking even more recent.

Looking at it this way, we can also identify the kind of support we should provide. Pushing someone to progress faster toward action than they are ready to, eg. expecting producers to move straight from Precontemplation to Action, can lead to the listener walking away.

Our most effective conversations happen with producers who are at Contemplation and Preparation, as they are ready to learn about pain relief methods and products.

Our 'grass roots' solution

Our own experience at Numnuts is telling. When we compared our figures for the total doses of NumOcaine administered in 2021 against the total number of lambs marked by state and territory, the results showed the highest level of uptake occurred in the regions near our base.

Why? It’s quite simple really. This is where we are best able to get out to the shows and ag events, presenting information to farmers and having one-on-one conversations at our stands. It’s labour intensive, which is why many organisations don’t do it.

The important message needs to be expressed in the right language for the people the information is aimed at. That’s something else we work really hard at, as Robin Smith explains.

“Talking to individual farmers at demos and shows, our message is simple. Numnuts was invented with the aim of improving lamb welfare, yet that was just the start.
“Consumers want to see farm animals being treated humanely, and are increasingly choosing meat and wool products where they can be certain this is happening. We’re already seeing warning signs that those who don’t take up pain relief will be losing out in the market place.
“That’s why pain relief is becoming an essential part of lamb marking – what’s better for animal welfare is also better for business.”

We also understand that we may have to deliver a message not once, but many times. Changing ideas when people are unaware that a problem even exists is hard work, but in the cause of lamb welfare, it needs to happen. In responding to consumer expectations, producers need it to happen too.

It’s also critical for the future of the Australian sheep production industry. The peak bodies recognise the need for outreach in the conversations taking place. Read the statements of WoolProducers Australia and Sheep Producers of Australia in response to the survey results here, in Sheep Central.