LIVESTOCK REPORT
Issues to be aware of...
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Lamb mortalities and ill-thrift
In a season like this you may expect weaned lambs to be thriving, but despite generally excellent feed quantity and quality, there are still a few things that can cause issues with younger sheep.
Our District Vets have investigated a number of cases of mortality and/or ill-thrift in weaner lambs in the past month and have identified a range of contributing factors.
Probably the most common problem (unsurprisingly) is internal parasites – usually a combination of ‘small brown stomach worm’, ‘black scour worm’, and ‘barber’s pole worm’. The first two of these worm species cause diarrhoea, while barber’s pole worm causes anaemia (low red blood cells), leading to weakness/lethargy, pale gums, and sometimes sudden death – generally without any scouring.
In addition to worms, we’ve identified bacterial scours (salmonella and yersinia), pneumonia, and arthritis as diseases that are contributing to losses or failure to thrive.
Vitaimin B1 deficiency (‘PEM’) causing neurological disease in older lambs was identified in one flock. It’s also worth noting that while unimproved native pastures may have a good quantity of feed at the moment, the quality (energy and protein) often doesn’t match that of improved pastures and might not be meeting the high demands of rapidly growing sheep.
Selenium deficiency can contribute to ill-thrift in sheep, but in all the cases we investigated selenium levels were found to be within the normal range.
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Regular rainfall has meant weaner lambs are at risk of high worm burdens, but scouring can also be due to bacterial infections
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Arsenic toxicity in cattle
Arsenic toxicity was the likely cause of death in five steers in a small herd, after they accessed a shed containing various farm chemicals.
Lab testing ruled out lead toxicity and nitrate toxicity – two other potential causes of sudden death.
We commonly see chemical or plant poisonings under certain circumstances – often younger animals (mostly cattle) that can be more curious and eat things they shouldn’t, usually when they have access to new paddocks (or house/shed yards with weeds or chemicals), and probably more commonly during or just after drought when feed is more limited.
But not all poisoning cases fit this scenario – for example, we’ve diagnosed lead toxicity in cattle that had been grazing a lush oat crop for some weeks but managed to find an old car battery in a corner of the paddock.
If you’ve had a case of suspected toxicity in livestock, our District Vets and agronomists are available to help investigate the cause.
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Some toxic chemicals can cause death very rapidly, so preventing access is critical
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Ovine Johne's disease (OJD)
Johne’s disease in sheep (OJD) is relatively common in most parts of our region, and since the causal bacteria can live a long time in the environment, it’s a disease that has to be managed (primarily through vaccination) rather than eradicated.
In recent weeks we’ve diagnosed a few cases of OJD in flocks where it hasn’t been known to be present – a good reminder that it’s a disease that can develop slowly, causing gradual losses that may not be immediately obvious.
Many producers first become aware of OJD after noticing a ‘tail’ of older sheep that lose weight despite good feed availability, and that don’t respond to drenching or other treatments.
This DPI Primefact has more information on the disease.
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LIVESTOCK ALERT
To look out for in the weeks ahead...
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Grain poisoning (acidosis)
With lambs being put onto grain, there’s always the risk of acidosis, and we see a handful of cases each year.
Illness occurs when animals eat large amounts of grain, since organisms in the rumen that digest high starch feed produce lactic acid, which is absorbed into the bloodstream and also damages the lining of the rumen.
Most producers are aware of the need to increase the quantity of grain being fed gradually, to allow the rumen organisms to adapt to the higher level of rapidly fermentable carbohydrate.
Buffers are also commonly incorporated into grain, and these can certainly reduce the risk. However, a scenario where we do still see losses is when feed intake has been interrupted. This can be the result of sheep being yarded then put back onto feeders, feeders accidentally being allowed to empty then being refilled, or even a change in the weather leading to a temporary drop in feed intake.
When animals are on a high grain diet, sometimes it only takes a very small change in intake to cause problems.
More information on prevention and treatment can be found in this DPI Primefact.
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A large amount of grain in the rumen of a sheep that died from acidosis
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Pinkeye in cattle
The development of pinkeye in cattle depends on damage to the surface of the eye along with the spread of particular bacteria.
Typically, conditions in summer and into autumn are ideal for pinkeye, since high UV, long grass, and dust can cause physical irritation and damage to the eye, and flies can be vectors to spread bacterial infection.
While we may not have too much dust to worry about this summer, there is no shortage of long grass and plenty of flies, so cattle producers should monitor for pinkeye and treat promptly if cases are seen.
For more advice on prevention and treatment in your herd, speak to your veterinarian.
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Photosensitisation and nitrate toxicity from summer weeds and grasses
Summer rainfall invariably brings unwanted weeds, and species like cathead (which can cause photosensitisation due to liver damage) and heliotrope (which can cause chronic liver damage) are currently fairly abundant in parts of the region.
In late summer we also often see cases of photosensitisation caused by panic grasses – mostly in sheep.
Producers grazing sprayed paddocks should also remember that some of the commonly used herbicides (such as 2,4-D) can increase the palatability of plants while also increasing nitrate concentrations, increasing the risk of nitrate poisoning if hungry stock are allowed access.
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Panic grasses or cathead can cause photosensitisation
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Protecting next season's horticultural crop from Queensland fruit fly
Karen O'Malley - Senior Land Services Officer, Horticulture and Plant Biosecurity
karen.omalley@lls.nsw.gov.au
0428 103 665
Many of you may have noticed it has been a particularly bad year for Queensland Fruit Fly (QFF) on unmanaged fruit trees. Anywhere where active monitoring and control is practiced, there has been a great deal of pest pressure.
It is vital to work on cleaning up any infested crops now to play a significant role in protecting next season's horticultural crop. It is extremely important to reduce the number of QFF able to lay their eggs into fruit, as it is the offspring of these flies that will survive over winter and cause problems to the community and the commercial grower's next season. In Autumn, high-risk fruits are pomefruit such as apples, pears, and quinces, early citrus such as mandarins, also other fruit such as pomegranates, and ornamental fruiting plants such as feijoa (pineapple guava).
- Pick up any fallen fruit to break the QFF lifecycle
- Continue to monitor for QFF and check traps weekly
- Heat treat fallen and infested fruit to kill QFF maggots
- Continue to spray high risk fruit if appropriate and always follow label instructions.
- Of you prefer not to spray, netting backyard fruit trees and vegetables with insect proof netting is a highly effective strategy
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Take action now to protect next season's crop from Queensland fruit fly
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Bees are not the main vectors of cucumber green mottle mosaic virus
Karen O'Malley - Senior Land Services Officer, Horticulture and Plant Biosecurity
karen.omalley@lls.nsw.gov.au
0428 103 665
Bees themselves may not be the culprits for spreading cucumber green mottle mosaic virus into new areas, a new Hort Innovation research report has concluded. But while the forager bees are not likely to transmit the disease, the hive components themselves (boxes, hive stands) and vehicles could carry infected soil/plant material which needs to be managed.
Cucumber green mottle mosaic virus (CGMMV) is a virus that affects cucurbit plants and was first found near Katherine in the Northern Territory in 2014. In NSW in 2019 the virus was detected in an isolated glasshouse facility, however, further detections were found in 2020 and 2022 in field crops. Following a review of the current geographic spread and biology of the virus, the disease has been deemed not technically feasible to eradicate in NSW. The area freedom status for this disease in the whole of NSW will cease.
The short answer to managing pollinators such as bees is there was only a small window of time after initial exposure to the plant virus that forager bees were able to transmit it.
The industry recommended practice is now a hive resting period of one month after hive exposure to CGMMV positive plants. Managed pollinators and their ability to transmit CGMMV is just part of a broader understanding of managing farm and apiary biosecurity. The key message for preventing CGMMV that is frequently introduced in seed/infected planting material and can be moved in soil, plant material or on contaminated equipment.
For more information visit the NSW DPI website.
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Preparing livestock paddocks for the year ahead
Brett Littler - Senior Land Services Officer, Livestock
brett.littler@lls.nsw.gov.au
0427 007 398
Last year some producers experienced livestock issues that were directly related to the season, but also due to failure to prepare paddocks to meet livestock requirements and desired performance.
Right now is the time to think and act on your paddock preparation for livestock for the season ahead.
Click to read more.
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Poor livestock weight gain, grass tetany, decreases lamb survival and many other things can be influenced by poor paddock preparation/selection
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Autumn joining - are your rams ready, willing and able?
Brett Littler - Senior Land Services Officer, Livestock
brett.littler@lls.nsw.gov.au
0427 007 398
With the continuing good season sheep should be in great condition for joining this autumn. To ensure that you maximise this favourable season it is time to look at your ewes. Assesses their condition and the feed/paddocks that you have for joining. Most producers have embraced this assessment of their ewes and pastures prior to joining, but what about your rams?
It is vitally important that prior to putting your rams out that you conduct an individual assessment of the rams to highlight any possible problem. So, how do you check your rams? Remember the 4 T’s -
- Testes
- Tossle
- Teeth
- Toes
Click to read about each one here.
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Check that your rams are in good condition for upcoming joining season
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Please note that due to the changing COVID situation, events may be postpone/rescheduled.
BENEFICIAL INSECTS - WEBINAR
Beneficial insects and other invertebrates like mites and spiders play a specific role in agricultural ecosystem. Join us and Cesar Australia for a webinar to learn just how beneficial they can be to your farming operation.
Friday 18 February 2022
DIGITAL MARKETING 101 - ONLINE WORKSHOP
Bought to you by the Farm Business Resilience Program, this online workshop will break down digital marketing necessities and help you make a simple plan of attack.
Wednesday 23 February 2022
TROPICAL GRASS RESEARCH UPDATES – ORANGE & COWRA
The Livestock Productivity Partnership, funded by the MLA Donor Company and NSW DPI, present the tropical grass replicated plot trials at Orange and Cowra research stations. These trials may prompt you to consider new ways of adapting to climate risk in this region.
Monday 21 March 2022 – Orange
Wednesday 23 March 2022 – Cowra
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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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Rhys Powell, Orange
0428 710 002
Nigel Gillan, Cowra
0438 700 398
Bruce Watt, Bathurst
0428 935 559
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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
Casey Proctor, Cowra
Agricultural Systems
0429 110 072
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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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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.
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