a quarterly newsletter from your peak sheep industry bodies

Ewes at 'Karbullah', Goondawindi QLD 

Photo by Vicki Murphy  

Welcome

To the March edition of our joint newsletter.  Animal health conditions and biosecurity can have a huge impact on your bottom line of a sheep enterprise. 

The industry is committed to continuous improvement across all facets of the farm business. Australian graziers continue to invest in the health and welfare of their sheep through a variety of animal husbandry practices that are suited to the sheep type and the environment. Over the last 5 years the sheep industry has invested more than $50 million into sheep welfare R&D programs for parasite control, vaccination and other animal health issues all of which lead to improvements in animal welfare. 

In this edition we discuss a range of industry initiatives, including

• The development of the Barbers Pole vaccine
• Lice and worm management tools
• Livestock Production Conditions (LPC) Pilot Project
• Wild Dogs
• NLIS update
• Sheep Industry Strategic Plan
• Do you  need assistance with a biosecurity plan?

You'll also hear from SCA and WPA Presidents and see profiles of some of your representatives on SCA and WPA.

We are also including a new section to profile a young sheep industry leader, and this time 'round the Young Talent is Felicity Brumpton.

There are also a number of links to sheepmeat and wool extension groups and industry events. 

We are planning for the next newsletter months in advance, and welcome your input and requests for content: click here

Barbers Pole Vaccine

Brown Besier, Guest Contributor

Barbers Pole worm is a major problem for sheep graziers in summer rainfall and some other areas, often causing sheep mortalities. Control costs are significant, and the need for frequent drenching has led to severe drench resistance. Many producers now have few remaining drench options. 

A new solution has now emerged:  the world’s first sheep worm vaccine, “Barbervax”, was released late last year. The vaccine is the result of many years of research by the Scottish Moredun Research Institute, with support by MLA, and is produced at the laboratories of the Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia in Albany. Feedlot sheep are given small doses of the worm, which are harvested after slaughter to provide the proteins used in the vaccine. Continued

Young Talent - Felicity Brumpton

Article by Madeline Cooper, originally appearing in 'AgForce Envoy'

FOR as long as she can remember, Mitchell merino stud breeder Felicity Brumpton has had a passion for the sheep and wool industry.

Inspired by the success of her parents Nigel and Rosemary Brumpton of Mt Ascot Merinos, in 2007 Felicity and her two younger brothers established their own Poll Merino stud, Jolly Jumbuck, when they saw an opening to breed a dual purpose poll merino.

Felicity is involved in all aspects of the everyday management of the stud at ‘Baynham’, Mitchell, including animal husbandry, lamb marking, classing, artificial insemination, ram sales, promoting stud to the public and caring and preparing sheep for the show ring.  Read more about Felicity's story here

Livestock Production Conditions Pilot Project

A holistic approach to endemic production diseases

Reducing the financial impact of endemic diseases is a major focus for the peak sheep industry councils. With a view to streamlining administration costs, enhancing collaboration and taking a more holistic approach to endemic conditions, the sheep industry peak bodies and Animal Health Australia (AHA) have together developed the Livestock Production Conditions (LPC) pilot project.

The LPC project will take a proactive approach to tackling sheep production issues, with greater emphasis on biosecurity and associated extension activities. This project aims to ensure that the value-add arising from animal health improvements is maximised at all stages of the sheep supply chain, from on-property to beyond the farm gate at the processor level. It also aims to address animal health issues in order to mitigate animal welfare and market access risks.

LPC is coordinated by AHA through the recently established sheep industries LPC Project Steering Committee comprising representatives from SCA and WPA, Meat & Livestock Australia, Australian Wool Innovation, state governments, Australian Livestock and Property Agents Australian Meat, Industry Council and Australian Veterinary Association.

NLIS Update 

Livestock traceability is a critical component of market access with the NLIS helping to underpin Australia’s reputation as a reliable producer of safe and high quality product.

While the current system provides traceability for food safety and prepares Australia for cases of disease investigation, the sheep industry is always looking for improvements.

SCA and WPA are currently working with government and industry stakeholders to investigate options for improving the current visual mob-based system.  

SCA and WPA support the voluntary use of electronic identification devices (EID), recognising the potential benefits of that EID may provide some enterprises as a management tool. The decision to implement EID on-farm is a business decision for individual producers.