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Thursday 5 June 2025
Urolithiasis in livestock – what is it and what causes it?
Dr Jeff Cave, Senior Veterinary Officer
As many producers have been supplementary feeding for some time a number of related animal health issues may emerge. One of those issues is urolithiasis due to bladder stones.
Bladder stones form as a result of minerals in the urine forming crystals that grow on to become stones.
Bladder stones may either pass in the urine or remain in the bladder in which case they are not an issue.
It is when they become stuck in the urethra and cause a blockage that they become a problem as the animal then cannot urinate. This is condition is known as urolithiasis.
Urolithiasis is mainly seen in wethers and feeder steers.
The first sign of urolithiasis is restlessness as the animal attempts to urinate. A swelling is then often seen around the pizzle. Finally, the animal may die due to the toxic effects of not being able to urinate.
Urolithiasis is particularly seen in animals fed primarily grain rations. Grain is relatively high in phosphate but low in calcium. This imbalance predisposes the production of phosphate rich stones.
When feeding grain, the most effective way of preventing urolithiasis is to add calcium in the form of ground limestone.
In addition, it is important to ensure that ample water is available to prevent dehydration. The provision of salt will help stimulate water intake.
For further information please contact your local veterinarian or Agriculture Victoria Veterinary or Animal Health Officer.
Growing the next generation of farming leaders
The Victorian Government is strengthening the future of agriculture by helping young farmers develop their skills and advance their careers through a scholarship program.
Minister for Agriculture Ros Spence recently announced the opening of the 2025 Upskill and Invest Young Farmers Scholarship Program, encouraging early-career farmers to apply and gain the tools they need to thrive in Victoria’s agriculture sector.
Creating local leaders in northern Victoria and Gippsland
The Victorian Government is expanding the Forestry Transition Program through a new Community Leadership Program which will help create emerging leaders in communities of northern Victoria and Gippsland.
Committee for Gippsland and the Australian Centre for Rural Entrepreneurship are two established leadership providers that will deliver the tailored leadership programs, aimed at fostering a new generation of community leaders in these former native timber towns.
Do you have a great idea to help your community combat established pests and weeds in Victoria?
Round 4 of the Partnerships Against Pests grants program is now open to organisations operating at a regional or local level with an interest in established invasive species management.
The grants will help community groups to deliver workshops, resources and community engagement initiatives, build
community capacity, and promote collaboration between neighbours and communities.
This round of grants will include an opportunity for groups that can demonstrate sustained community engagement over a minimum of two years, to purchase capital items with a value up to $10,000.
This will aid groups to move to the next stage of their engagement, education and management journey to purchase equipment for demonstration and education purposes in line with best practice management for their target species.
Applications close on Friday 4 July for 1- or 2-year projects between $10,000 and $50,000. Agriculture Victoria encourages all eligible groups with innovative and impactful ideas to apply.
Expanded drought support package: Assistance for farmers and communities
The Victorian Government has announced a new and expanded Drought Package – with an additional $37.7 million in funding.
Eligible farmers across the state will be able to access grants of up to $5,000 to support on-farm drought management.
For eligible farmers in the south west, the grant has been increased to up to $10,000.
The Premier has also established a Drought Response Taskforce.
More details will be available soon at www.agriculture.vic.gov.au/dryseasons
Farmers can lodge an Expression of Interest for the grants by emailing Rural Finance at: admin@ruralfinance.com.au
Popular irrigation incentive program set to benefit even more Gippsland farmers
West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority and Agriculture Victoria are pleased to open a new round of farm plan incentives, and for the first time, farmers in Warragul, Thorpdale, Noojee and Perry Bridge and across the entire Lake Wellington Catchment are eligible to apply.
Up to $10,000 per farm is available through the Lake Wellington Irrigation Efficiency Incentive Program to help with the cost of a professionally designed irrigation plan.
Catch up on our 'feeding by-products' webinar
If you are missed our recent webinar on feeding by-products, you can catch up via the link below.
Passcode: feeding
Nominations now open for the 2025 Australian Biosecurity Awards
The awards provide important recognition for biosecurity champions across industry, government and the public, who have made a significant contribution towards protecting our nation from pests and diseases.
We encourage you to submit a nomination if you know someone who deserves to be recognised for their biosecurity efforts.
Nominations close 9 am Monday 30 June.
There are 9 award categories that recognise a wide range of stakeholders:
- Dr David Banks Lifetime Achievement Award
- Dr Kim Ritman Award for Science and Innovation
- First Nations Award for Excellence in Biosecurity
- Farm Biosecurity Producer of the Year
- Industry
- Government
- Environmental Biosecurity
- Community
- Education.
What's On
Gippsland soils symposium
When: Wednesday 11 June, 9 am to 3 pm
Where: Gippsland Agricultural Centre, Bairnsdale.
The Gippsland Soils Symposium is your opportunity to build carbon literacy and take actionable steps toward improving soil health, productivity, and climate resilience on-farm.
This practical and engaging event brings together local farmers, soil specialists, and agronomists to explore how carbon flows through our farming systems and how you can grow more topsoil—naturally and profitably.
What to expect:
- Building Carbon in Soils Across the Red Gum Plains
- Tracking Gippsland's Soil Carbon Movement
- The Science Behind Sulphur and Trace Elements
- From Run-Down Dirt to High-Performance Soils
- Benchmarking Change on Farm
- Practical Topsoil Strategies.
Whether you’re just starting or already implementing carbon-smart practices, this symposium will equip you with the knowledge, tools, and connections to grow your carbon literacy and improve your farm’s natural capital.
Webinar: Seasonal outlook myth busting
When: Friday 13 June, 12 – 1 pm
We invite all Gippsland farmers and service providers to a webinar to bust some myths about seasonal outlooks and winter and spring forecasts.
Hear Agriculture Victoria Seasonal Risk Agronomist Dale Grey discuss topics such as:
- Timing of the Autumn Break, historical analysis
- Why is autumn such a difficult time to accurately predict?
- Current climate influences
- Current forecasts for winter and spring
- What tools are available to help with planning.
VFF Stock Sense Sheep Essentials series
Session 1 - Wednesday 11 June, 6 -7:30 pm
Traceability 101, the do’s and don’ts of sheep care, and what to look for when buying sheep.
Session 2 - Wednesday 18 June, 6 - 7:30 pm
Parasite management, vaccinations, and the importance of a vet/client relationship.
Field Day: Future proofing your farm!
Join us for a day of presentations from national specialists to help ensure the long-term sustainability of your farm.
When: Wednesday 25 June, 10:30 am – 2 pm
Where: Foster (exact location provided on registration).
Topics covered will include:
- Related climatic past and future trends
- Farm biosecurity
- Energy options
- Dry Seasonal Conditions options for farmers
- Improvements to housing and feeding infrastructure.
Guest speakers:
- Dale Grey – Seasonal Risk Agronomist, Agriculture Victoria
- Donna Woerz -- Consultant, Debenham Australia
- Scott McDonald – Specialist, Intensification, Agriculture Victoria
- Dr. Shareen Labib -- Gippsland Region Public Health Unit
- Graeme Anderson – Climate specialist, Agriculture Victoria.
This field day will also provide the opportunity for all participants to interact with national experts and specialists on:
- Back up energy options
- Measuring your water
- Feed pad and effluent management integration project
- Trees on farms.
VicGrid Community Hubs
VicGrid wants to hear from communities, landholders, industry, and First Peoples about the draft Victorian Transmission Plan.
They have opened community hubs across regional Victoria where you can learn more, ask questions and have your say in person.
The draft 2025 Victorian Transmission Plan is the first of its kind in Victoria. It identifies the most suitable locations for renewable energy zones and the transmission projects needed to keep costs down and the lights on.
Drought Resilience 2025
When: Wednesday 9 to Friday 11 July
Where: Deakin University, Geelong.
Join experts from all disciplines to learn about and discuss the latest drought resilience research.
Keep up to date with GippsDairy's events on their website.
Keep up to date with Gippsland Agricultural Group's events on their website.
Keep up to date with Food & Fibre Gippsland's events on their website.
Contacting Agriculture Victoria
Call 136 186 from anywhere in Australia for the cost of a local call (except for mobiles and public telephones).
If you are deaf or have a hearing or speech impairment, contact us through the National Relay Service at 133 677 or visit the National Relay Service.
All contact points can be found at: agriculture.vic.gov.au/about-us/contact-us
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