LIVESTOCK REPORT
Issues to be aware of...
|
|
|
Ovine Johne's Disease
Ovine Johne’s Disease (OJD) is a bacterial gut infection of sheep. It causes parts of the intestine to become thickened, meaning the absorption of nutrients is reduced and infected sheep lose weight and may ultimately die.
The disease can take a long time to develop, so usually it’s older animals (>2 years) that are visibly affected. Many producers first become aware of OJD after noticing a ‘tail’ of older sheep that don’t respond to drenching or other treatments.
The bacteria causing OJD can survive a very long time in the environment, so complete eradication of the disease isn’t feasible, but fortunately vaccination is a highly effective way to suppress the disease and minimise production effects.
In the past, flocks with OJD have been subject to movement restrictions, but this is no longer the case.
Parts of our region have a high prevalence of OJD, but our vets have also diagnosed occasional cases in areas that have been considered low or medium prevalence zones.
Flock-level testing options (including checks on sheep sent to abattoirs) are available if producers would like to monitor for the presence of OJD – speak to your District Vet to find out more.
More information on the disease can be found in this DPI Primefact.
|
|
|
Pneumonia
Pneumonia in sheep and cattle is a disease we see throughout the year. It can occur in any age or class of stock, but is more common in younger animals, and when risk factors such as transport, mixing, or cold/heat stress are present.
Bacterial pneumonia mostly develops secondary to a viral respiratory infection that suppresses the animal’s immunity. Vaccines are available for some of the viral and bacterial pathogens that can be involved and may be a useful preventative measure in certain situations.
We find that cases which are treated early have the best chance of recovery, so when pneumonia is diagnosed the rest of the flock or herd should be monitored closely for mild symptoms that might indicate early stages of disease
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
Bacterial pneumonia in a weaner steer
|
|
Green cestrum toxicity
Green cestrum was the likely cause of death in a case involving the loss of over 150 sheep. The mob had been recently moved to a paddock containing the plants.
Tissue samples sent to the lab for analysis showed liver damage consistent with green cestrum poisoning, and an inspection of the paddock revealed some plants had been eaten.
We diagnose plant toxicities fairly commonly as a cause of various issues, including sudden death, staggers, or photosensitisation.
Losses often occur when a mob has been recently introduced to a new property or paddock, when other feed is scarce, or when younger animals (which tend to be more curious) have access to toxic plants. Some of the more commonly identified culprits include rock fern, phalaris, and panic grasses.
In cases like this, where plant toxicities cause sudden death, we also perform testing to exclude significant diseases like anthrax. Proving that these diseases are not present is just as important as finding out what the cause is.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
Green cestrum - the lower leaves and flowers have been eaten.
|
|
LIVESTOCK ALERT
To look out for in the weeks ahead...
|
|
|
Photosensitisation
Photosensitisation can be seen in the winter and spring months in stock grazing brassicas or oats, but coming into summer it’s St John’s Wort that is now the most likely cause.
Later in summer, we tend to diagnose panic grasses (such as hairy panic) and cathead as the cause of a few cases of photosensitisation each year.
In our region we almost always see photosensitisation in sheep, but it’s possible for cattle to be affected too. The first signs are usually drooping ears and swelling around the face (since these areas aren’t protected from sunlight by wool), and affected animals will show signs of discomfort such as head shaking or rubbing.
As the disease progresses, swelling around the lips can make eating painful, and swelling around the eyes can cause the eyelids to become completely closed. Affected skin then becomes crusted and may peel away.
For more information, including treatment advice, take a look at this DPI Primefact.
|
|
|
|
|
Photosensitisation causing swelling and crusting of the skin around the mouth and eyes
|
|
Barber's pole worm and flystrike
Ongoing wet weather means these two diseases are definitely ones to watch over the next few months.
An excellent source of information is the Paraboss website – you’ll find advice on testing, prevention, and treatment.
|
|
|
|
|
Sheep with barber's pole worm sometimes develop 'bottle jaw' (Photo - S Slattery)
|
|
Food safety and field grown fruit and veg
Karen O'Malley - Senior Land Services Officer, Horticulture and Plant Biosecurity
karen.omalley@lls.nsw.gov.au
0428 103 665
Lots of rain, muddy conditions and flood water can increase the risk of cross contamination of fresh produce grown in fields. Reviewing food safety practices will be important this season. Washing and sanitising are critical post-harvest operations to reduce microbial loads on fruit and vegetables. For example; salmonella, listeria and E.coli could be abundant in some environments.
Promising new technologies are being developed across many horticultural industries; The Fresh Produce Safety Centre Australia and New Zealand found that growers are very keen to adopt rapid diagnostic testing (RDM). The focus will be on a preference for an accurate, low-cost-per-test RDM, capable of returning a quantitative result on levels of listeria, E.coli and salmonella, ideally in less than three hours. So, keep an eye on trade papers for new releases.
In the meantime, review your food safety standards with this document.
Melons are a significant crop in the Central Tablelands. NSW DPI has released a detailed document on the critical control parameters for harvesting melons. It is well worth reading and implementing the recommendations.
|
|
|
|
Melons are a significant crop in the Central Tablelands
|
|
Fall armyworm management guide for veggie crops - available now
Karen O'Malley - Senior Land Services Officer, Horticulture and Plant Biosecurity
karen.omalley@lls.nsw.gov.au
0428 103 665
AUSVEG has compiled a guide with monitoring and chemical recommendations for a range of specific vegetable crops including Peas & beans, lettuce, sweetcorn, brassicas, Asian greens, cucurbits, onion and potato.
Preliminary investigations into Australia's fall armyworm populations observed two important findings:
- gene mutations for group 1A insecticides were common, and
- resistance relating to pyrethroids and diamides was not detected.
Users of chemical control methods should be mindful of the potential selection for resistance populations in fall armyworm and other pests. The key to efficient control of fall armyworm is an integrated pest management (IPM) program, inclusive of sustainable practices, cultural farm practices, biological control, conservation of natural enemies, as well as biopesticides like spinosad.
There are several emergency minor-use permits issued by the Australian Pest and Veterinary Medicine Authority (APVMA) available for fall armyworm management.
|
|
My tree generation - utilising natural regeneration events to improve livestock shelterbelts
Phil Cranney - Senior Land Services Officer, Pastures
phil.cranney@lls.nsw.gov.au
0458 745 478
The Who released “My Generation” in October 1965, during an El Nino phase in eastern Australia, with an area from Longreach in the north to Dubbo experiencing decile 1 rainfall. The Who’s Pete Townsend wrote the hit song and explained to Rolling Stone magazine in 1985 that “it was very much about finding a place in society”.
Just like the youth of the 60’s, the native regeneration of trees and shrubs are trying to find a place in your paddocks during this La Nina event. In fact, this natural germination and subsequent establishment of native trees and shrubs may be a once in a life-time event.
The three big factors that have led to this natural regeneration event:
- Above average rainfall
- Low stocking rates
- High fertiliser prices and therefore less fertiliser applied, especially in the less productive paddocks near existing native tree corridors
Click for a review of the top seven benefits of planting or promoting more native trees, as well as more inspiration from The Who...
|
|
|
|
The most famous line from The Who’s hit song, My Generation, is “I hope I die before I get old” could be quite prophetic for the unprotected native trees and shrubs of this La Nina generation on your farm.
|
|
Fill the Farmer's Christmas stocking with legumes to plant in 2022
Phil Cranney - Senior Land Services Officer, Pastures
phil.cranney@lls.nsw.gov.au
0458 745 478
Just like teaching a person how to catch fish, legume seeds are the gift that keeps on giving. Sure, the Christmas stocking must have a Soil >5.5pH (CaCl) for that legume to reach its full potential, but there is really no better gift you can give your farm’s soil in 2022.
With the cost of nitrogen fertiliser nearly doubling this year, there has never been a clearer beneficial financial and environmental decision to introduce legumes under your farm Christmas tree.
Seed stocks of pasture legumes are now replenished. There is likely to be a full range of choice in varieties of sub-clovers and aerial seeding pasture legumes.
Hard seeded legumes can provide that very special gift for mixed farmers in the Central Tablelands, giving you the flexibility of having a large seed bank of hard seed readily available to regenerate, following a cropping phase.
With the high-quality grazing value of legumes as well as the added soil nitrogen of approx. 25kgs/Ha of N/tonne of legume DM, a pasture legume phase becomes a very profitable proposition.
So, instead of chasing that lost yield from waterlogging or flooding this year by planting all wheat and/or canola in 2022, please consider the soil health benefits of an annual legume phase in your cropping system.
|
|
|
|
Serradella (Ornithopus spp.) is one of the most important annual legumes for pastures in southern Australia. Its growth pattern is similar to that of sub clover but generally performs better on sandy acidic soils
|
|
Santa's summer stubble management
Phil Cranney - Senior Land Services Officer, Pastures
phil.cranney@lls.nsw.gov.au
0458 745 478
Managing your cereal stubble starts at harvest. You and/or your harvesting contractor can control the height and how the stubble trash is distributed. Due to the large amount of stubble expected this year there are some issues to be considered this season.
Here are the top five issues with stubble management in 2021/22:
- High stubble loads help reduce evaporation over the hot summer
- High stubble loads can severely reduce available soil nitrogen
- Stripper fronts allow greater height of stubble which increases shading, thus cools the soil and reduces evaporation
- High disease risk paddocks should be identified, and stubble management applied to reduce disease risk for the following crop
- Low stubble height or incorporation of stubble will make summer fallow weed control a much easier task
Some lessons from the Riverina GRDC Stubble Project (2013-18) could be applied to our Central West Slopes area this fallow. Click to read the key learnings from this research.
|
|
|
Think ahead when it comes to stubble management
Image - NSW DPI
|
|
Weather damaged grain for livestock
Brett Littler - Senior Land Services Officer, Livestock
brett.littler@lls.nsw.gov.au
0427 007 398
Unfortunately, this year has seen a wet end for the cropping sector with many crops ready to harvest. This wet finish with the grain developed and almost ready to harvest has led to some of the crop to develop shoots and roots in some cases and in others the delay in harvest has meant weather damaged grain.
Weather damaged/shot and sprung grain is not new, and the questions I'm hearing now are the same as I have had in the past - What are the issues? What has it done to the feed quality? Etc.
Click to read my recommendations and tips.
|
|
|
|
If you are looking at buying or storing grain, then you must look at the moisture content.
|
|
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.
|
|
Kate Peffer, Molong
0409 496 908
Nigel Gillan, Cowra
0438 700 398
Bruce Watt, Bathurst
0428 935 559
Rhys Powell, Orange
0428 710 002
|
|
Lucienne Downs, Orange
0417 043 966
Jess Bourke, Mudgee
0417 803 685
Emilee Johnstone, Cowra
0419 334 077
|
|
|
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.
|
|
Phil Cranney, Orange
Pastures
0458 745 478
Clare Edwards, Mudgee
Pastures
0428 435 615
Casey Proctor, Cowra
Agricultural Systems
0429 110 072
|
|
Brett Littler, Mudgee
Livestock
0427 007 398
Karen O'Malley, Cowra
Horticulture
0428 103 665
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
If you've had a farm visit or over the phone consultation with one of our District Vets or Ag team members, we'd love to know how it went. By rating your interaction with us via a series of smiley faces and a short optional survey, your feedback tells us how we’re going and how we can improve our service delivery. Click here to rate us.
|
|
|
Connect with us!
Click on the icons below to visit us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and our website
|
|
|
|
|
