A new injector gun for administering doramectin-based worm and scab medication to sheep has been introduced by Pfizer Animal Health. According to senior livestock vet Carolyn Hogan, the intra-muscular injection route for this medication combined with the injector’s prime-and-push design allows a single arm movement to penetrate the skin and dispense the treatment.

“Farmers who have tried the gun say it causes much less fatigue than a squeeze injector,” she says. “This is because the whole arm and shoulder are involved in the operation, rather than just the fist and forearm muscles with a traditional squeeze gun.”

The new injector is 3ml capacity, with dosage adjustable upwards in increments of 0.25ml (ie 8kg live-weight) via a dial on top of the gun. Ms Hogan says this was specified to suit the doramectin treatment’s dose rates, and the precision mechanism ensures excellent metering accuracy and refills quickly.

“Users say the easy action makes the new gun quicker than the old one, allowing markedly more sheep per hour throughput,” she adds.

Sold separately, the new gun is priced £21.00. Farmers buying a promo-pack of the combined scab and worm treatment receive a free gun as part of the purchase price.

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