MerlinVet & Numnuts at The Highlands & Islands Veterinary Services Scheme Conference
February 12, 2025
MerlinVet’s Managing Director, David Taylor, and MerlinVet-cel’s Group Business Development Manager, Jane Hutcheon, recently attended the annual Highlands & Islands Veterinary Services Scheme Conference in Inverness.
The scheme’s aim is to ‘ensure the provision of an adequate veterinary service to prevent & eradicate animal diseases for all animals kept for agricultural purposes and belonging to crofters and others of like economic status.’ The Highlands & Islands Veterinary Services Scheme
supports large animal veterinary practices in remote areas of the Scottish Highlands and Islands to provide practical veterinary cover to crofters and their animals, which is vital in the role of preventing & identifying anim al disease.
Clarification on the Law in Scotland
Andrew Voas, Scottish Government Veterinary Head of Animal Welfare spoke on the updated legislation of lamb tail docking and castration. As distributors of Numnuts, the MerlinVet team were able to demonstrate to vets the advantages and ease of use of the device, thus being able to support their farmers when the time comes later in Spring. Andrew Voas reaffirmed that it is legal in Scotland to use rings for lamb marking up to 12 weeks of age provided that a local anaesthetic is used. Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) officers in attendance stated that now that there is a legal and approved means of applying local anaesthetic at the time of ringing, then farms who are ringing at over 7 days and not using local anaesthetic will be penalised.
This clarification brings significant relief to Scottish farmers and veterinarians seeking reassurance on the legality of using Numnuts. This innovative method minimises the pain and distress typically associated with traditional rubber ringing procedures. Scottish legislation allows this practice up to 3 months, ensuring adherence to animal welfare standards and providing a compassionate alternative to older methods.
Current legislation is more restrictive in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, with rubber rings for castration or tail docking being prohibited on lambs older than 7 days. We are hopeful that the situation will change - please consider petitioning your local MP or NFU Representative to align the legislation across the UK.
Numnuts®
Numnuts® is a 2-in-1 device that administers an Elastrator® ring along with a pre-calibrated dose of local anaesthetic. This device makes giving fast-acting targeted pain relief for castration and tail docking of lambs easy, fast, and safe. The Numnuts® Device allows farmers and vets to provide best practice without compromising on safety and efficiency. No other device exists that allows farmers and vets to provide targeted pain relief to lambs during tail docking and castration.
View more information on Numnuts here
Order Numnuts here
Other sessions also included the eradication of sheep scab, and Glasgow Vet School gave a demonstration of their calving simulator used for vet students and farmers. Hector Low from Stornoway Vets, pictured below with Jane, won the prize raffle competition on the stand, taking home a bottle of MerlinVet-branded Caorunn Gin.
With the news that Coltronics has ceased trading, remember that you can monitor anaesthetic exposure in your workplace safely and accurately through MerlinSalus PAM . Benefits of Personal Anaesthetic Monitoring: - Measures staff exposure level - More accurate than environmental measurement - Badges & tubes are light, unobtrusive, and practical - Helps comply with COSHH, Work Exposure Limits, and RCVS Practice Standards and Training Practices Order at: https://www.saluspam.com/
MerlinVet will be exhibiting at this year’s VET Trust Conference 2026 , which will be taking place Tuesday 2nd – Wednesday 3rd June at Stirling Court Hotel, Stirling.
In addition to our core services of being a wholesaler, export business, and veterinary buying group, we are now offering some additional services which can help maximise your practice’s revenue. We’ll be showcasing this in London, so let us know when you’re booking a meeting if you’d like to discuss any of the following: Online MerlinVet Pet Shops Bespoke & Limitless Health Plans & Treatment Plans Home Delivery of Prescription Products: MerlinVet Direct Make sure you visit us at London Vet Show to experience some animal magic – with themed games, giveaways and prizes, there’s going to be lots of magical experiences at Stand V55! We’ll have Merlin’s cauldron on the stand full to the brim with sorcery – hook out a ball inside and you may win a prize! We will also be on hand to answer any queries relating to our buying group, MerlinVet-cel, as well as MerlinVet Export, and of course our services through MerlinVet UK such as Special Import Products, fertility equipment, equine products, and more. Schedule a meeting below! Book a meeting with the team About London Vet Show: London Vet Show is the pinnacle of veterinary education, dedicated to providing high-quality CPD. With a carefully curated programme developed by veterinary experts, the event features handpicked speakers renowned for their knowledge and experience in tackling common challenges faced by veterinary teams. This two-day conference allows you to learn from industry-leading speakers, gain valuable insights, and transform your career and practice. It’s also the perfect platform for building connections. Engage with passionate veterinary professionals, pioneers, and experts from all over the world to discuss key topics, find creative solutions, and share ideas. Don’t miss the Vet Show Happy Hour on the show floor, a great way to unwind and network with the community. The event showcases over 400 industry-leading exhibitors, offering a unique opportunity to explore the latest innovations, try out new equipment, and chat with suppliers. Whether you’re comparing products or testing cutting-edge technology, the exhibition floor is where the future of veterinary care unfolds. The London Vet Show is not just about education – it’s an unparalleled experience, packed with opportunities for professional growth, networking, and hands-on learning. Don’t miss out on this exciting event, designed to elevate your veterinary practice and career to new heights. You can see what we got up to at LVS 2024 below: Find out more About MerlinVet MerlinVet is a full-service veterinary solutions provider for practices in both the UK and abroad, with specialisms in fertility equipment, sourcing Special Import Products which other wholesalers cannot provide, and exporting veterinary products globally. With additional expertise in providing health plan solutions and developing new veterinary software, as well as gas exposure monitoring and our buying group, our deep sector knowledge can add a touch of animal magic to practices, and ultimately fulfil our main ambitions of supporting the veterinary industry while enhancing animal health and welfare. If you’re visiting us at London Vet Show, make sure you’re following us on our socials to keep up to date with our activities: Instagram Facebook LinkedIn Join our mailing list Recent Posts
