Around the Camp: Front foot with flystrike, treating lice, to worm of not to worm, preparing Rams for joining.

  1. Be on the front foot with flystrike
  2. Treating lice
  3. To worm or not to worm?
  4. Preparing Rams for joining
  5. Upcoming Leading Sheep events
  6. Upcoming events
  7. eBulletins and podcasts

1. Be on the front foot with flystrike.

As we head into the predicted La Nina cycle across Queensland, understanding when your flock may be at increased risk of flystrike can potentially save you big bucks. Predicting flystrike is dependent on seasonal conditions however, basic understanding of the Australian blowfly cycle will also help in knowing whe n the risk increases before it’s too late.

90% of cases are caused by the Australian Sheep Blowfly and the perfect conditions for strike include:
• The presence of primary species (commonly the Australian sheep blowfly).
• Temperatures must be right (between 15–38 degrees).
• Recent rain — enough to keep suitable sites on the sheep moist for about three days.
• There must be suitable sites (wrinkles, urine, faeces) on the sheep to attract flies and sustain larvae.
• Wind speeds below 9 kilometres per hour (km/h) as this gives flies the best opportunity to disperse.

Preventing flystrike is far more cost effective than treating it. For more control methods and management techniques you can introduce to manage the risk click here.

 

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2. Treating lice.

You’ve bought sheep; quarantined, shore and treated them in case they had lice. When can you box them with your sheep? Backline ‘knockdown treatments’ do not kill lice overnight, or even in a week! Knockdown refers to how fast the lice die after contact with the chemical—but it takes weeks for backline products to gradually spread and contact the furthest lice on the sheep before the chemicals even have a chance to kill the lice. For more information click here.

     

     

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    3. To worm or not to worm?

    During what has been an extended period of patchy rainfall across out state, there is currently a great deal of seasonal variability across Queensland’s grazing regions. Producers may be undecided about whether drench sheep flocks for worms under their current individual seasonal conditions- is the expense worthwhile? There is certainly no “one size fits all” approach.

    Testing a sample of a flock for worms can be a cost effective and efficient way to determine the broader need for treatment of an entire flock. A simple feacal egg count test can accurately assist in identifying the presence of worms within a flock, as well as the species of the worm, necessary treatment options and even help in selecting breeders for a more worm resistant flock.

    For further information, click here.

     

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    4. Preparing rams for joining.

    The ability of a Ram to sire a number of lambs each season is one of the main defining factors of the success of reproduction. This is one of the biggest financial contributors to your business and should be managed correctly. Rams should be selected and prepared two months, and again 2 weeks prior to joining. Characteristics to consider when selecting Rams include structural soundness, health and nutrition, physical examination of scrotum and penis. Semen quality examination often used to eliminate poor performers based on fertility.

    For more information click here.

     

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    5. Upcoming Leading Sheep events

    • 24 November 8am- RAMping Up Repro – Goondiwindi. For more information and to register, click here.
    • 26 November, 8:30am – Excel in Business – Tambo. For more information and to register, click here.
    • To be confirmed, 8:30am – Excel in Business – Quilpie. To register your interest contact Jed Sommerfield.

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    6. Upcoming events.

    • 4-6 November – Working dog & advanced livestock handling school – Tambo by Neil McDonald. For more information contact Josh Millerick on 0400 465 838.
    • 6 November – Excel Spreadsheets for Grazing Enterprises – Blackall by ConnectAg – For more information click here.
    • 9 November – Excel Spreadsheets for Grazing Enterprises – Longreach by ConnectAg – For more information click here.
    • 9-13 November – Novice Sheep and Wool Training – Longreach by RAPID. For more information contact Liza Cameron on 0422 092 830 or email.
    • 18 November – Excel Spreadsheets for Grazing Enterprises – Winton by ConnectAg – For more information click here.
    • 21 November – Drones 101 – Quilpie by ConnectAg – For more information click here.
    • 22 November – Drones 101 – Thargomindah by ConnectAg – For more information click here.
    • 24 November – Drones 101 – Cunnamulla by ConnectAg – For more information click here.
    • 25 November – Drones 101 – Morven by ConnectAg – For more information click here.
    • 23 – 24 November  – Farm Business Management Skill Set – Barcaldine by RAPAD. For more information click here.
    • 26-27 November – Farm Business Management Skill Set – Winton by RAPAD. For more information click here.
    • 30 Nov to 1 Dec – Farm Business Management Skill Set – Barcaldine by RAPAD. For more information click here.
    • 1 December- Excell Spreadsheet for Grazing Enterprises – Charleville – (To be confirmed)
    • 3 – 4 December- Farm Business Management Skill Set – Winton by RAPAD. For more information click here.

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    7. Podcast, eBulletin and surveys

     

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