LIVESTOCK REPORT
Issues to be aware of...
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Listeria abortion
We’ve investigated lots of cases of stillbirth and abortion in sheep recently.
There are many potential causes (such as toxoplasma, campylobacter, or salmonella), but recently in a few flocks the bacterium Listeria has been identified.
Listeria abortions tend to occur late in pregnancy, and the ewes themselves generally don’t look unwell. Listeria survives and proliferates in damp, decaying vegetation, so this winter has created ideal conditions for it to occur.
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Pestivirus 'PIs'
‘PI’ stands for ‘persistently infected’, and refers to an animal that has been exposed to pestivirus as a foetus and now permanently carries (and spreads) the virus.
The disease does occur in sheep, but we mostly investigate cases in cattle and have identified a few PIs in recent weeks. PI cattle may look normal and healthy early in life, but they’re usually more susceptible to other diseases, and commonly succumb to issues like pneumonia or parasites.
PI animals can be identified with a simple tail hair test. They are significant because they can spread pestivirus to other animals, causing reproductive losses if heifers or cows are exposed for the first time while pregnant.
It’s worth testing a sample of heifers pre-joining to assess the need for herd vaccination. For producers planning in to join in October or November now is a good time to get this done.
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Bacterial scours
Pathogens like salmonella and campylobacter can cause diarrhoea in sheep, but in winter it’s mostly Yersinia that’s the cause. This bacterium tends to cause disease in animals that are subject to other stress factors, like cold/wet weather, internal parasites, or poor nutrition.
Our vets have seen cases in weaners (the most common group affected), but also in adult sheep causing more chronic symptoms like weight loss.
Antibiotic treatment may be warranted, so suspect cases should be investigated by a vet.
Of course, internal parasites like black scour worm and small brown stomach worm should be ruled out, since they’re also a common cause of diarrhoea at this time of year.
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Bacterial scours in sheep
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Grass tetany
Hypomagnesaemia or ‘grass tetany’ is a recurring problem for cattle producers on the tablelands.
Cases are typically seen through winter, and this year has been no exception.
It is a condition that can be rapidly fatal, and is caused by low levels of magnesium in the blood and CSF.
Sometimes losses can be sporadic (just one or two cows) but unfortunately we’ve also seen more dramatic losses – up to 10/47 cows dead in one herd.
Grass tetany develops due to a complex interaction of factors – age, body condition, lactation, pasture composition, mineral supplementation, and weather all play a role.
For more information, take a look at the DPI Primefact on treatment and prevention.
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Grass tetany continues to be a problem for producers across the Central Tablelands
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LIVESTOCK ALERT
To look out for in the weeks ahead...
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Bloat
A good season puts bloat on the radar, and it’s worth thinking about some preventative strategies before the really high risk period arrives.
Preventative options come down to grazing management (e.g. not putting hungry stock onto high risk paddocks) or anti-bloat products (e.g. loose licks – give us a call for some options).
A new ‘Bloat Alert’ app (currently only available for iPhone) can be downloaded at www.bit.ly/bloatalert or by searching the App Store. It allows producers to be alerted to (and report) local cases of bloat in real-time, without the specific property location being identified.
The app will become more helpful as the number of users increases, so we encourage all our cattle producers to sign up.
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Foot abscess
Like bloat, foot abscess (mostly in sheep – though cattle can also be affected) is a condition of high production – more of a headache for producers who boast big, heavy sheep grazing lush, high quality pastures.
Treatment with antibiotics is usually only effective when given very early, so preventative steps should be considered.
Making use of better drained paddocks (while balancing feed requirements) and avoiding yarding during muddy conditions can help reduce the risk, but will never totally eliminate cases.
If you’re seeing a high prevalence or persistent foot abscess issues, call one of our District Vets to discuss management options.
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Prevention is the best cure when it comes to foot abscess
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Orchard pest and disease prevention for spring
Karen OMalley - Senior Land Services Officer, Horticulture and Plant Biosecurity
karen.omalley@lls.nsw.gov.au
0428 103 665
A forecast for wet spring will mean it is vital to have an open canopy to help tree leaves dry quickly after a rain event. While pruning check for health problems in the tree’s structure. Proper pruning should open the plant to wind and sun penetration, allowing for rapid drying of leaf, stem, and fruit surfaces. Without water on those surfaces, it will reduce the ability of the pathogens to spread.
The simplest and most direct way that pruning benefits disease management in orchards and vineyards is cutting out visibly diseased wood, wood that could otherwise be a source of reinfection.
When pruning, it is best to prune plants when it is dry and when the weather is expected to be dry for the next three or four days. If pruning is done with handheld tools, they should be sanitized between cuts apply a fungicide, or paint directly to large cuts. Check for evidence of pests like woolly aphids, borers and bacterial gummosis. Scale can infect immediately after budburst, so pruning is a useful monitoring time for impending problems.
Leaf curl sprays in spring should not be applied before buds are swollen because the leaf curl fungus overwinters in the buds and fungicides applied to fully dormant buds can be washed off before the buds swell enough to allow the fungicide to contact the overwintering fungus. Leaf curl sprays applied after buds have opened may be less than 100% effective but applying a leaf curl spray a bit late is better than not applying any control at all.
Brown rot fungus overwinters primarily on dried infected fruits from the previous season, called mummies. All rotted fruit and mummies should be collected beneath trees or removed from the branches in fall to reduce disease pressure the following year.
As winter moves into spring, look for signs of life and the fruit to come. The fruit buds are swollen and often hang in small clusters. If it looks like a bumper crop, it is easier to thin them at this stage rather than when they are half grown.
For more detail on how to deal with orchard pest and diseases refer to NSW Orchard plant protection guide for deciduous fruits in NSW 2021–22.
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Prepare now for a fruitful spring
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Guide - Weed control in winter crops
The popular NSW DPI Weed control in Winter Crops guide is now available online. Effective and timely weed control in winter crops is important for a number of reasons. Weeds can impact crop yield, growth rates, grain quality and effect harvesting. For example, if using forage crops as a ‘clean up’ phase prior to sowing a perennial pasture, it is important to reduce problem weeds.
Integrated weed management which combines a number of control measures is the key to success for weed control. Recognising the weed and its growth stage is critical for deciding which control measures to use. The GRDC Common Weeds of Grain Cropping – the ute guide is a useful resource to help identify some of the more common species. It can be downloaded or ordered via this link.
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Guide - Weed control in vegetable crops
The University of New England recently published a suite of weed management guides for the Australian vegetable industry. These guides provide information on the identification, key characteristics, distribution, impact and management of troublesome weeds including marshmallow, amaranth, common sowthistle, and chickweed.
You can access the full list of weed management guides here.
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So you have a new bull!
Brett Littler - Senior Land Services Officer, Livestock
brett.littler@lls.nsw.gov.au
0427 007 398
With bull sale season in full swing and reports coming in about the prices that some producers have paid, it is important that you look after your new investment and that you ensure you get the most from him (lots of calves over more than a couple of years). You can reduce problems by getting them home and settling them in properly.
During the sale and delivery process, bulls can become upset and excited. They are subjected to a lot of stress through strange people, yards, handling methods, trucking, unloading, new paddocks and different water and feed. This combination is often enough to upset even quiet animals, so it is important that you let bulls settle in when they get home.
Click to read a few tips and suggestions of what to do when you get your new bull home.
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Bulls ready for sale
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Ensuring stock eat your dry/mineral lick or mix
Brett Littler - Senior Land Services Officer, Livestock
brett.littler@lls.nsw.gov.au
0427 007 398
We have seen a lot of cases of grass tetany across the tablelands. This has occurred in some areas that we do not normally see it as an issue. Some of this may be as a result of the lack of legume in these paddocks, others as a result of the season. With the amount of grass tetany, I have had numerous enquiries asking how producers can ensure we get these animals to eat/lick these mixes that are being supplied with magnesium in them.
Generally, there a few tricks that we do to ensure that we make these mixes more appetising/appealing. Click to read more.
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Livestock find that magnesium oxide is very bitter and not overly palatable, so getting the mix right is important.
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Contact a district vet
Your District Veterinarian is a valuable resource for local and independent advice on biosecurity and animal health issues. They can investigate herd and flock problems to help maintain a productive and secure local livestock industry.
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Kate Peffer, Molong
0409 496 908
Nigel Gillan, Cowra
0438 700 398
Bruce Watt, Bathurst
0428 935 559
Amy Masters, Orange
0428 710 002
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Lucienne Downs, Orange
0417 043 966
Jess Bourke, Mudgee
0417 803 685
Emilee Johnstone, Cowra
0419 334 077
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Contact the ag team
The agriculture advisory team supports you in managing your livestock and landscapes by providing support services, pasture and livestock advice and industry training to increase productivity and profitability.
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Phil Cranney, Orange
Pastures
0458 745 478
Clare Edwards, Mudgee
Pastures
0428 435 615
Peter Evans, Lithgow
Sustainable Agriculture
0438 496 851
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Brett Littler, Mudgee
Livestock
0427 007 398
Karen O'Malley, Cowra
Horticulture
0428 103 665
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Report any suspicion or outbreak of an emergency animal disease
Emergency Animal Disease Watch Hotline - 1800 675 888
Emergency animal diseases are likely to have severe consequences for livestock productivity, trade or possibly even human health. By remaining vigilant and acting quickly if you suspect an emergency animal disease, you may be able to prevent these consequences.
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If you know or suspect of a plant pest or disease, call the
Exotic Plant Pest Hotline - 1800 084 881
or use the online notification form
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