What's On

• Upcoming events

What's New

• Digital Agriculture Investment Scheme
• Short Cuts
• SALRC Committee member positions

BestWool/BestLamb

• BWBL Group Profile: prime lamb production systems
• AWI Change Makers Episode 6: Lambing paddock planning

BetterBeef

• BetterBeef Group Profile: Stock handling, farm technology and safety equipment
• Technote: Grass tetany - be prepared

Beef and Sheep News

• Did you miss our early winter webinars?

Ag Recovery

• Recovery After Fire: Practical Steps for Farmers
• Supporting landholders impacted by fires and floods across Victoria
• Financial and business support
• Regional weather and climate guides
• Farm Water Pipelines - tips and tricks

Quick Links

• Links to Feeding Livestock website, AWI, MLA, The Fast Break, Rural Financial Counselling Service and more

PLEASE NOTE: The events listed below may be subject to last minute cancellation in the event of an emergency or advice from Victoria’s Chief Health Officer.

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The Victorian Government’s Digital Agriculture Investment Scheme is now open. This program provides an exciting opportunity for farmers investigating the benefits of on farm technology as well as those keen to build upon or update current technology.
Funding will be provided for a range of products from walk over weighing systems and eID technology such as wands and panel readers through the GPS autosteer, security and farm management software. This program will be co-funded at a rate of 1:1 with a cap of $50,000 per application.

Applications close 31 October or when funds are fully allocated.

For more information visit the Rural Finance website.

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Vaccines are a great way to prevent and eliminate animal health issues. Selecting the right ones for your business and making sure you administer them correctly can help to prevent economic loss, disease and welfare issues in your farming business.

Check out this Short Cuts video from the Agriculture Victoria Red Meat Value Chain team for tips on how to vaccinate with care to prevent carcase damage.

Things to consider include:

• Seek advice from your animal health professional such as a vet or consultant. Use vaccines wisely, do some partial budgets to see which ones will benefit the health of your flock and be the most cost-effective for your production system.
• Consider the range of suppliers and treatment combinations available, seek advice if you are unsure.
• Develop an Animal Health Plan to keep you on track for when vaccines are due and coordinate with other livestock husbandry activities such as shearing, marking, weaning etc.
• Check the labels to ensure you use and store them correctly. Remember to keep records of what you use and when, to maintain your Livestock Production Assurance (LPA) accreditation.

Diseases of sheep that can be managed using vaccines include:

• Clostridial diseases
• Tetanus
• Black leg
• Blacks disease
• Pulpy kidney
• Malignant oedema
• Cheesy gland or CLA
• Scabby mouth
• Ovine Johne’s disease (OJD)
• Ovine Campylobacteriosis (Vibriosis)
• Erysipelas (Sheep arthritis)

Not all vaccines are the same, different vaccines have different requirements. Incorrect vaccination techniques can damage the carcase costing you dollars. Most vaccines are administered under the skin (subcutaneous) or via a dermal scratch. Be sure to check the label to see how to administer correctly and if you are not sure seek advice. If vaccines are not given correctly it can result in loss of production, illness, injury, carcase damage animal welfare issues or death.  Make sure you are using the correct technique to reduce carcase trimming and keep the valuable cuts valuable.

Vaccines are great! Administer them correctly and be the best sheep producer you can be.

Keep the Short Cuts for the oven, not the farm.

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EOI’s are invited from livestock producers to assist in directing the RD&A agenda in south-eastern Australia through membership of the following SALRC regional committees in central, western and south east Victoria.

The Southern Australia Livestock Research Council (SALRC) is an independent, Incorporated Association and one of three national research council’s setup to provide recommendations on Research, Development & Adoption (RD&A) priorities and planning for grass-fed beef and sheep meat producers and R&D professionals throughout Australia.

As part of SALRC’s commitment to building industry and organisational capability, recruitment is now underway for key livestock producer members in south-eastern Australia.   The tenure of all positions will commence following the SALRC AGM in September. Producer members are eligible to serve two three-year terms, with positions eligible for re-appointment at the conclusion of their first term.

Working closely with their respective regional committee chair, SALRC’s regional committee members provide the critical interface between RD&A providers and the needs of red meat and livestock producers.

Positions are open in each region to any grass-fed beef and/or sheep meat producer who reside in the respective SALRC region (northern, southern, central and western NSW including QLD Sheep, central, western and south east Victoria and Tasmania, and South Australia). Note: some current members are eligible for re-appointment however positions are open to other applicants.

The successful candidates will have:

• established commercial beef and/or sheep meat production experience
• a strong interest in RD&A within the context of red meat and livestock production
• a detailed knowledge of red meat and livestock production in their region
• a willingness and capability to take a leadership role to collate RD&A priorities on behalf of their region
• a preparedness to act as industry and community advocates on livestock RD&A issues.

The selection committee will consider expressions of interest for regional committee member positions on 23 July 2021.

For more information on the positions and the process please visit the SALRC website.
 

In this month’s profile, we look at the Boorhaman BWBL Group’s three-day tour visiting multiple south west Victorian sheep producers. The group were eager to compare how producers measure success, what their key performance indicators are and what are the factors that drive profit in their businesses. The group focused on lamb finishing systems, pasture and grazing management, including stocking rates and lamb growth rates.

Read the full profile online.

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Lambing paddock selections should be carefully planned to give you the best possible lamb survival results. Join Nathan Scott as he outlines the considerations and impacts of lambing paddock choices, with practical management tips for deciding what will work for your operation #AWIChangeMakers Episode 6: Lambing paddock planning.

For further information, go to www.wool.com/lambing or www.feedonofferlibrary.com for further information to assess your Feed on Offer.

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The Ballarat BetterBeef group in conjunction with the Pyrenees and Smeaton BestWool/BestLamb groups recently held a stock handling and farm safety field day. With guest speakers from Agriculture Victoria, Australian Wool Innovation, and the Catchment Management Authority. The day also included a small trades display which highlighted infrastructure such as yarding and handling facilities for both beef and sheep, cattle tags, specialist drones and farm safety.

Read the full profile online.

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Grass tetany is caused by either a magnesium (Mg) deficiency or an interference with the absorption of Mg and results in high death rates in affected animals.

It may occur at any time but generally occurs over the winter months in south eastern Australia, with peaks during times of cold, wet and windy weather conditions. Grass tetany is most common in older cows (> six years), although very occasionally it can occur in younger cattle. Older cows in autumn and winter calving herds, especially overly fat and very thin are most susceptible to this metabolic disease.

When does it occur?

Grass tetany occurs when the Mg level in the blood falls below a critical level. Cattle hold Mg in their bones but can’t readily mobilise these stores. The animal constantly loses Mg in urine, faeces and milk; therefore it needs a daily intake of Mg.
The balance of Mg in cattle basically depends on the rate of absorption from the rumen and the rate of excretion of Mg, especially in the milk. A cow in peak lactation needs a constant source of Mg to replace the large amount lost from the body in milk. Grass tetany will occur when Mg losses in milk exceed the amount consumed in pasture, with the highest risk period occurring from calving through to the first few months of lactation.

Grass dominant pastures in late autumn and winter will have lower Mg and calcium concentrations and higher potassium levels, especially with very short pasture. Grazing cereal crops are generally high risk because they are inherently low in Mg. Pastures that are excessively high in potassium can inhibit the uptake of Mg by cows.

Grass tetany usually occurs when cattle graze these types of pastures after calving down. The amount of Mg present in the body fluids of fat cows is low compared to that of a normal cow. This is why grass tetany deaths in fat, older cows, is often associated with a check in grazing after calving. Any factor that disrupts grazing creates low intake and may trigger grass tetany in at-risk cattle.

Signs and symptoms

Very low levels of Mg in the brain fluid affect nerve impulses between the brain and muscles. This causes nervous signs and ultimately death.

The first sign of grass tetany is often dead cows in a paddock. You can usually see froth around the mouth and nose. The ground is rubbed where they have thrashed around before dying. Deaths usually occur in winter when the weather is overcast, cold, wet and windy.

In less severe cases, the cow will be obviously ill at ease, walk stiffly, be hypersensitive to touch and sound, urinate frequently, and may progress to the acute convulsive stage. This becomes more likely if the cow is put under any type of stress.

Treatment

Early treatment is critical to recovery and the chance of saving the animal. Therefore, it’s important to restore blood Mg levels rapidly.

Generally, in an animal that has gone down, a 4 in 1 mineral solution pouch (calcium and Mg solution, available from your local veterinarian or rural supplies store) is injected under the skin. It supplies the animal with vital Mg needed to stay alive once affected. After the cow has recovered from the initial episode, she should be given an oral treatment of Causmag® or Epsom salts to prevent a relapse.

Prevention

The aim of grass tetany control is to ensure that stock with high Mg requirements have an adequate intake and good absorption of Mg. Therefore, be prepared with recently calved cows if cold, wet and windy conditions continue or if you have animals in your herd that are high risk.

There are many options available for the control, and the time and money spent will depend on the risk of animals being affected.

Below are some management strategies to prevent and treat grass tetany:

Increase the Mg intake to at-risk mobs of cows:

• Feed 60 grams/head/day Causmag® on hay during risk periods
• Note that after commencement of feeding, it takes two to three days before the stock are protected
• Protection ceases immediately after supplementation stops
• May be expensive in terms of labour and hay costs, as well as difficult if paddocks become too wet
• Feed hay (also a source of calcium)
• In some cases, feeding hay alone may be all that is required to prevent grass tetany
• Match high risk cattle to low risk paddocks and control and manage feed availability through grazing management.
• Avoid stressful management procedures such as mustering or calf marking during times of high risk
• Have cows in good, but not overfat, body condition (fat score 2-3) at calving and ensure they don’t lose weight rapidly
• Provide lick blocks
• Commercial blocks are relatively expensive
• Cheaper option may be to make up your own lick block
• Seek advice from animal health advisor on home licks.

Grass tetany is a complex metabolic disease in cattle, as many factors can contribute to it. Good management is essential to prevent and manage grass tetany.

For more information contact your veterinarian or animal health advisor.

This article can be found on the ‘The Feeding Livestock’ website, this website also has other resources and tools on the nutrition and feeding of cattle that you can access online.

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Capturing Life Data Using eID, presented by Mark Ferguson from NextGen Agri and Charlie Douglas-Clifford, NZ merino producer

Topics covered:

• Producer perspective, using eID on New Zealand farms
• Use of whole of life data for flock performance
• Using the data points for innovation in the industry.

View the recording online

To wean or not to wean? Presented by Steve Cotton from Dynamic Ag and Rachel Coombes, Agriculture Victoria

Topics covered:

• Production benefits of weaning prime lambs at 12-14 weeks
• Producers perspective
• Plans for 2021 lambing season
• Best practice weaning.

View the recording online

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An updated recovery guide is now available to help farmers rebuild and provide a one-stop reference to the support available. The guide includes steps to take immediately after the fire and for short-term recovery and longer-term rebuilding. It covers re-fencing, dealing with erosion and flooding, pasture recovery, pest and weed control and preparing for the next season.

The printed booklet is available from Agriculture Victoria, by contacting our Agriculture Recovery Managers (details noted below) or the Customer Services Centre on 136 186 or digital version online.

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The Victorian and Commonwealth governments are supporting landholders impacted by fires and floods across Victoria.

For more information on bushfire recovery or recovery from floods/storm event, visit the Agriculture Victoria website or contact:

Bushfire Recovery Victoria – 1800 560 760 vic.gov.au/bushfire-recovery-victoria

Regional Agricultural Victoria Recovery Managers:

• • North East – Kylie Macreadie on 0428 975 728
  • Gippsland – Darren Hickey on 0457 609 140

For more information on bushfire recovery, contact Agriculture Victoria on 136 186 or see agriculture.vic.gov.au/farm-management/emergency-management/bushfires

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Rural Financial Counselling Service

The Rural Financial Counselling Service (RFCS) have an experienced team ready to assist primary producers and small rural business in recovery planning. Financial counsellors can help develop financial forecasts and business plans required for lenders or investors, plus connect with support agencies and services. RFCS provides free financial counselling to farmers and small related businesses who are in, or at risk of, financial hardship. They can also assist with filling in forms and grant applications. For more information or to book an appointment call RFCS Gippsland on 1300 045 747 or RFCS North East on 1300 834 775

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The Regional Weather and Climate Guides project is part of the Australian Government’s Drought Assistance Package. The project aims to improve the resilience of farming businesses by providing localised facts about the likelihood, severity, and duration of key weather variables in regions across the country.

The weather and climate information will be delivered through a set of guides corresponding to Australia's Natural Resource Management regions. The project is a collaboration between the Bureau of Meteorology, the CSIRO, and FarmLink Research. The guides have been developed in collaboration with representatives from each NRM region to ensure the information is tailored to the needs of local farmers and agribusinesses.

For more information visit the Bureau of Meteorology.

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Installing an efficient and effective farm water pipeline can be a complicated and expensive process. It is essential you select the correct components to ensure an adequate and reliable supply of water to all parts of the farm. Consider the following points when designing, installing, or upgrading your system:

Design and layout

• Design assistance is essential for all pipelines; you can’t guess this stuff
• Always over design your pipeline to allow for property expansion, build-up of residue and emergency use
• Use a range of pipe sizes to maximise flow rates and minimise cost; big flows need big pipes
• Doubling your pipe diameter increases the flow rate by six times
• Use a gravity supply for reliability and safety; tanks can be placed on a mound of earth to provide extra pressure
• Consider using a solar pump for reliability and reduced CO2 emissions.

Water quality

• Water quality can have a big impact on animal production, it is recommended you clean troughs on a regular basis
• A trough contaminated by algae, feed residues, straw or dust can reduce water consumption
• Avoid water with a salt concentration greater than 5,000 EC units (µS/cm).

Tank size

Storage tanks need to hold four days of water in reserve based on the peak demand over summer. Typical tank volumes to meet this requirement:

• For 500 sheep = 20,000 litres
• For 50 cattle = 20,000 litres.

Trough flow rates

Stock consume most of their daily water requirements over a four to six hour period. As a result, high flow rates are needed to meet this peak demand. Typical trough flow rates:

• For 500 sheep = 21 litres/minute
• For 50 cattle = 21 litres/minute.

Route selection

• Locate your main pipeline to access all critical parts of your farm such as a stock containment area, stockyards, house and garden
• Aim for straight lines where possible
• Avoid sudden changes in grade to reduce the risk of air locks
• Permanently mark the pipeline route on fence lines
• Mark the location of pipes, joiners and valves on your farm plan indicating depth and distance from other fixed objects.

Troughs, pipes and fittings

• A suitable trough for 500 sheep or 160 cattle would have 8 – 10 metres of accessible trough edge
• A long shallow, smooth sided concrete trough with rounded ends and a large bung for easy cleaning is recommended
• Place troughs on a raised pad to ensure good drainage and stability
• Only use high quality brand name pipe and fittings
• Use blue line pipe where pressure exceeds the pressure rating of normal pipe usually 60- 80m head
• Regular monitoring and maintenance of your pipeline, tanks and fittings are essential to ensure an adequate and reliable water supply.

Installation

• Ensure stored pipe is clear of mice, soil or other items that will clog the pipe
• Use trencher and bedding in rocky ground, suggest a minimum trench depth of 400 -500mm
• Use a pipe cutting tool to ensure clean, square ends to the pipe
• Follow fitting instructions for pipe joints carefully, some require hand tightening only, others require the use of multigrips or a pipe wrench
• Use a minimum of six turns of pipe tape between all threaded components
• Do not stretch pipe during installation; keep the pipe cool and loose to avoid failure
• If possible, leave the trench open and pressure test all your fittings.

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Visit Agriculture Victoria’s website for the latest information and resources relating to livestock and animals.

Agriculture Victoria is delivering workshops, farm walks and information sessions online. Virtual events might include webinars, teleconferences or livestreams. Visit Agriculture Victoria events for a comprehensive list of upcoming activities.

The RFCS provides free financial counselling to farmers and small related businesses who are in, or at risk of, financial hardship. Counsellors can also assist applicants to apply for the Farm Household Allowance (FHA).

For more information visit the RFCS or call the national toll free number on 1300 045 747 (select option four for Victoria).

The National Centre for Farmer Health (NCFH) provides health and safety education and advice to farmers and their families via the Online Ag Health program. 

For more information visit the National Centre for Farmer Health or contact Cecilia Fitzgerald on (03) 5551 8533

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