EDITORS COMMENT
As is my daily wont, I was reading the little gem of wisdom on the
bottom of my calendar today, to wit:  “It is better to remain silent
and be thought a fool, than to speak  and remove any doubt”.  Any
lesser fool than myself would have taken that heaven sent cue for
the shortest editorial in history, but it is not in the nature of
fools to heed the portents of the Gods, however abscure, and so this
page must be filled, as ever with foolish wisdom, if there exists such a thing.
The last time I spoke we were in the run-up to the season of flu and
silliness, and I don’t think we have been disappointed on either score.
 The notion of inappropriate amounts of any antibiotic you wish to
name being hurled across the counter to all and sundry crossed my
mind at some stage, during this madness, but I soothed myself with
the thought that maybe next year people would think about their flu
vaccine in time.  Maybe that’s wishful thinking.  Maybe its just pompous
piety, but it does occur to me that it only takes one good smack to
convert a cynic to a faithful vaccinator of ewes, cows, pigs ...........(selves?).
 Who knows. 
I suppose one of the biggest stories in our own retail end has been
the advent of generic ivermectins (branded of course).  I presume,
as with levamisole and many others, it will be just a matter of time
before people start giving it away with Calpol.  But the thought of
making just a cock or two of hay in this brief prelude of sunshine
is encouraging.  Who knows, we may even get an Indian summer out of
it.  One thing does seem fairly obvious though, winter dipping will
soon be a pastime indulged in purely, by extremely hardy traditionalists
living high in the pervian Andes (and occasional Wicklow men) their
passing will not be honoured (much).
Speaking of traditionalists, if I had a guinea (oh aye!) for every
time this year I have been asked for strychnine, an alkaloid beloved
of many a hoary old pensioner, I could begin to plan my summer holidays
already.  It is gone past a joke how many sheep (nearly all in lamb)
have been savaged by dogs or foxes in this area in the past few months.
 If anyone knows of any way to dispense a lethal dose to these marauders,
apart from high velocity lead ear drops, please drop me a line, anonymously of course, so as to ensure being accurately quoted.  The best way to end a diatribe is in mid-stream, so here it endeth. 
                                                             Ian McGirr

OP DIPS BAN IN UK

In the last Newsbulletin December ‘99 there was a report on safety
for the users of OP dips (Institute of Occupational Medicine) and
the recommendation that they would not be withdrawn.
Now Baroness Hayman, Minister of State at MAFF, said that in the light
of the latest research, the government is to implement a 4 point plan
to implement the advice of the Committee on Toxicity.

1. Withdrawal of the dips;
2. Revoke approval for the three OP compounds for which data packages
have not been submitted;
3. Implement a range of measures aimed at continuing best practices;
4. Examine incapacitated workers cases.

MAFF has stressed that it does not believe itself to be liable for
compensation since it has always advised sheep farmers on precautions.
 The OP Information Network welcomed the move - it has 870 people
on its register claiming to be unable to work due to repeated exposure
to OP’s. NOAH stressed that this was a totally disproportionate reaction as
a season will be missed before safer containers are introduced to protect farmers. The IMB have agreed to allow continued supply of OP dips with certain conditions

BOVIVAC S: 

There has been a lot of upset caused by the lack of Bovivac.
 Apart from a very small supply that came in early December there
has been none since October. The next batch is hoped to come on stream
in early February.  POM Status - In explanation Hoechst tell us that with the arrival of Lactovac, their new E coli vaccine, they removed the E coli element from the Bovivac, and launched a new Bovivac S which was only for Salmonella.  While waiting to have the Lactovac registered they held
off on registering the Bovivac S.  When they did look for the licence
the Department gave them a special licence based on the UK licence
- so it is a POM at the moment.  They intend to apply for an LM category
for it. Growvax will be a month later.

RINGWORM --- A NEW APPROACH!!!!
 

Griseofulvin is no longer available. 
The requirements of the Irish Medicines Board, that the product be
of good quality, safe and efficacious proved too high a hurdle for
griseofulvin. The reasons behind the withdrawal seem to be due to its carcinogenic properties and also due to the fact it is hazardous to the pregnant women. With this product gone, it is important people are made aware of the alternatives.

MYCOPHYT           Legal Category:  POM(E)          Supplier:  Intervet
Treatment
Mycophyt powder is a dry, cream-coloured powder for the preparation
of a suspension containing 1g natamycin in each 10g or 200mg natamycin
in 2g. This can only be used for the treatment of ringworm. It can be used
in both cattle and horses. Treatment of stables, immediate surroundings
, brushes etc is recommended to prevent re-infection. It is recommended
that treatment takes place in the stable or cowshed: if the animals
are outside they should be treated in the evening.Each gram of mycophyt makes up 1 litre of suspension. This must beused immediately after preparation. It can be applied by spraying or sponging. Particular attention needs to be paid to preferential sites of infection  such as the head, neck etc. About 750ml of suspension is needed to treat a calf and about a litre for a cow of horse. Treatment is repeated for the following four to five days. There is no withdrawal period for meat or milk.

INSOL TRICOPHYTON    Legal category:    LM Supplier: Boehrunger

Treatment and Prevention:
Insol Tricophyton  can be used for the active immunisation of cattle
from 1 month of age against strains of fungi leading to ringworm.
It can be used for both treating and preventing ringworm and it is
available in a 100ml size. Two Intramuscular injections 14 days apart are required, administered on alternative sides of the body. Annual Booster vaccinations needed to maintain the vaccine protection.
DOSAGE: Cattle        70kg and less  2.5ml               70kg plus        5.0ml
As of yet no effect on milk output has been observed. There is a 3 day withdrawal for meat.

 PRODUCT   SIZE   TRADE     P'CHEM   SUGGESTED     SUGGESTED
                                 PRICE     PRICE       MARK-UP         RETAIL
 MYCOPHYT 2X26     6.70+VAT         6.10+VAT           33.3%                             £8-£10.50+VAT
                                      10G      16.73+VAT      15.22+VAT            33.3%                             £20-£22.50+VAT
 INSOL                                     37.60               37.60+VAT            33.3%                             £50.12
 

TIXOL
Stocks of Tixol may not be available in the foreseeable future. Boileau and Boyd say only orders booked in the next few weeks can be deemed to be guaranteed.

IVOMEC THIEF
Ivomec was stolen from a fridge beside the main counter recently in
the Cork and Wicklow  areas. Be vigilant.

MONSANTO MERGE WITH PHARMICA & UPJOHN

December saw the merger of Pharmacia and Upjohn with Monsanto.  The
combination of the animal health divisions would create a new major player in the animal health world.  There are some concerns about the commitment to the future of the animal health section.  Pharmacia and Upjohn’s product sales have been sluggish over recent years and public perception of rBST in some markets is similar to that of genetically modified crops.
 

ANIMAL HEALTH COSTS REVIEWED IN SCOTLAND

A review of the cost of veterinary medicines has been sought from the Parliament by the National Farmers Union in Scotland.  Surveys highlighted a 15 litre pack of wormer for £330.00 available for £120 in New Zealand, and an antiparasite treatment available for £182.00 in the UK but £89.00 in New Zealand, intramammary preparations costing £169.00 in Scotland but S£112.00 in Ireland.  Concerns were expressed that farmers might turn to buying cheap, illegally imported products from Ireland.  Reasons offered to justify the differential included more expensive licencing costs, larger quantities (tens of thousands of animals in New Zealand) ordered in bulk, different market structures.  It was pointed our that in Ireland vets are heavily subsidised by fees from official services, whereas vets in the UK charge low fees but mark up medicine prices.  Eg - A case has been drawn to our attention where one veterinary practice in the UK now charges £120.00 per hour fee and is keeping medicine prices down.

FARM INCOME:  OUTLOOK IMPROVES FOR 2000

There is a prospect that farmer margins for cattle enterprises could be £65 per hectare higher in 2000 than in 1999 according to Teagasc predictions.  There are several factors which suggest that the recovery might even be better.  Factors influencing this are:
phased implementation of the agenda 2000 agreement  purchased fee costs will decline
more farmers getting reps payment EU intervention stocks almost gone (increasing demand for Irish beef) central and eastern Europe cattle herd ceases to decline, thus more animals will be retained for breeding.  This will reduce supply in the region at a time when the Russian economy begins to recover (aided by oil price increase).  Russia may then seek Irish beef given low intervention stocks. These conditions are predicted to impact into the next year as well. This weeks 90p/1lb from the factories is further good news for the farmers.  With so many price rises affecting the cost of animal remedies, we hope that as the Euro strengthens perhaps some of these price rises
might be reversed!!
The continued consolidation of the manufacturers never seems to yield reduced prices.  The production runs seem to get longer and shortages increase.
We need to increase our team mentality within Pharmachem and perhaps
we may develop closer relations with others in the industry and thus
increase our ability to have an influence.
Your continued support for Pharmachem is vital.  We need every member giving maximum support through Boileau and Boyd.  This will optimise our political clout in every direction.

FLUKICIDE EFFICACY

Univet’s Mark O’Rourke is concerned that graphs used in the December Newsbulletin did not reflect accurately the efficacy of Rafoxanide which is in Curafluke, and Flukex.  He points out that Rafoxanide controls immature and mature liver fluke in cattle (at 11.25mgl/kg) and in sheep (at 7.5mgl/kg).  The chart used in the December article
accurately reflected this situation. Forans advise us that Boverm Plus is  no longer available due to non availability of ingredients.

WARNING!!!!

One member reports that close examination of his insurance revealed the cover on his fridge was £500.  With current values of rotovac K99 and leptavoid it is quite possible that this value would be exceeded.