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The Big Tick Day Out

  • Date
    24 Apr - 24 Apr
  • Time
    12:00pm
  • Location
    Cambridge
  • Cost
    FREE

A Waikato DFA branch initiative, aimed at bringing experts and farmers together for an educational event exploring the current challenges ticks cause in the deer industry.

REGISTRATIONS ARE OPEN! 

 

We are grateful to our event sponsors: 

       

    

 

 

Ticks which are becoming more widespread in NZ can cause stock discomfort, damage to velvet/coproducts and in severe cases anaemia, weakness and death of young fawns. This event brings some the country’s best tick experts together to share their knowledge, tips and tricks.

Recently an unforeseen but significant complication has arisen from the use of some pour on treatments – positive residue levels of Flumethrin found in tissue and fat of slaughtered animals. This results in the affected farmer being put on the MPI surveillance list and prevents further processing of animals pending an investigation and subsequent clear test. Interesting given the withholding period for pour on treatments is Nil and affected farmers are strictly following the dosage instructions. Thus, the Big Tick Day Out is an ideal and timely opportunity to bring experts and farmers together to focus on how best to manage ticks without putting farmers livelihoods on hold or the industry at risk.

Kicking off with a Duncan NZ sponsored fallow and red deer venison BBQ lunch at 12 noon and facilitated by Ginny Dodunski (veterinarian, Waipa Advanced Party Facilitator and Wormwise Programme Manager), this is shaping up to be a big day out indeed.

The afternoon will include contributions from AgReseach, velvet and venison processors, Kaipara Branch, DINZ (Research Advisory Panel), head technical vets and senior representatives from the major tick treatment manufacturers and to round out the day an interactive Q & A session with a panel of tick experts.

Time

Description

12:00

Arrival

  • Registration
  • BBQ lunch (sponsored by Duncan NZ and CK Import)
  • Guess the number of ticks competition (Sponsored by Elanco)

12.15

Andrew Duncan (Executive Chairman Duncan NZ)

Venison Market Update

12:30

Welcome – Ginny Dodunski (Vet, Waipa Advanced party Facilitator, Wormwise Programme Manager)

  • Health & Safety
  • Overview

12:40

TICK 101 – Colin McKay (Elanco)

  • Lifecycle
  • Treatments – Mode of action

13:10

AgResearch – Luis Carvalho Riveron (AgResearch, Palmerston North)

  • Genetic studies
  • Tick-borne pathogens
  • Biological control
  • Further epidemiological studies.

13:25

Velvet buyer – Shaun Stevenson (CEO CK Import)

Venison Processor – Jamie Lane (Duncan NZ Assistant Plant Manager)

13:50

MPI – Awilda Baoumgren (Specialist Advisor Veterinary Medicines)

  • Regulations and Residues
  • National Sampling and Surveillance Programmes
  • On farm investigation/clearance
  • Where to from here for Flumethrin pour-on products?

14:30

Kaipara Branch

Anecdotal experience, methods, tips and tricks, Sulphate of Ammonia use

14:50

Industry Research – Richard Hilson (DINZ Research Advisory Panel)

  • Literature Review
  • Future research/next steps

15:10

Expert Panel Q & A Session

  • Colin McKay – Elanco Technical Services Manager (Bayticol®)
  • Annika Ferris – Agritrade Technical Expert (Active+Tick®)
  • Ian Scott (Python® Tick Tags)
  • Richard Hilson – DINZ Research Advisory Panel
  • Paul Addison – Nufarm Technical Specialist (Dew®, Diazinon® and other insecticidal pasture treatments)
  • Awilda Baoumgren – MPI Specialist Advisor Veterinary Medicines

15:30

Guess the Number of Ticks Competition (Sponsored by Elanco)

Wormwise Calendars

15:40

Afternoon tea (sponsored by Agritrade)

16:00

Finish

 

There are also limited numbers of the 2026 Wormwise deer parasite calendar (very big and shiny!) to giveaway and a competition to guess the number of ticks on a stick of velvet.

A big thank you to Duncan NZ and CK Import for lunch, Agritrade for afternoon tea and Elanco for a very exciting spot prize.