- Garments to growers
- What to watch out for in the Central West
- Less isn’t always best – especially when it comes to tails
- Production Pointers Part 2: Condition Scoring App
- Upcoming Leading Sheep events
- Upcoming events
- eBulletins
1. Garments to growers
Tambo graziers, Hume and Di Turnbull, are making it on the map as the first Queensland wool growers to be included in AWN’s DNA Program. AWN is just one of the wool brokers using QR code technology on swing tags to link garments to growers. When scanned by a consumer, the code shows a video of where that wool was produced. It is all part of an industry push to bridge the gap between growers and consumers. To read more about AWI’s newest idea to put chips in garments click here or to read more about the Turnbulls click here.
2. What to watch out for in the Central West
There have been considerable introductions of sheep into parts of Queensland that have been lucky enough to snag the rain. However the lush feed and introduction of sheep from other regions has been a fatal combination for some, with clostridial diseases, such as pulpy kidney, and plant toxicities taking a toll. Leading Sheep and Biosecurity Queensland have put together a fact sheet for producers introducing sheep to risky pastures. Click here to read the fact sheet or click here to get in touch with your local Sheep Extension Officer.
3. Less isn’t always best – especially when it comes to tails
According to veterinarian and researcher Dr Joan Lloyd, the best outcomes for sheep occur with tail docking below the fourth knuckle. A 2017 AWI survey showed 53% of growers dock at the third or fourth joint. Three knuckles is good but four is better according to Dr Lloyd, explaining that shorter tails increase the risk of arthritis in lambs and skin cancers of the perineum.
To read more about the best tail length, click here.
4. Production Pointers Part 2: Condition Scoring App
This is the second part in a series of tools that can be used to make decisions on all aspects of sheep production. Part 2 is about condition scoring and a nifty app to make it even easier.
We all know we should be condition scoring, especially in the lead up to joining or managing nutritional requirements of pregnant or lactating ewes, but it can become another job. With this little app though, it’s a piece of cake. Next time you’ve got sheep in the yards, score 25 or so and record it on the app right then! Each time you score a sheep, you simply tap the condition score on the app and it will automatically generate a graph to show you the spread of scores and save it to compare to past or future measurements, or other mobs. To find the app click here and for more information on condition scoring click here.
5. Upcoming Leading Sheep events
31 July Sheep Technology Field Day, Goondiwindi. Save the date.
6. Upcoming events
29 May Cyclone Trevor One-stop-shop flood recovery, Jundah. For more information and to register contact Vol Noris norrisv@agforceqld.org.au
29, 30 & 31 May Better Business Solutions, Mitchell, Injune & Surat by Connect Ag. For more information and to register click here.
31 May AgForce Sheep and Wool Event: Rebuilding for the Future, Karara by AgForce. For more information and to register click here.
3 June Cow and Weaner Management Options Webinar, by Grazing Futures. For more information and to register click here.
10-11 June Business EDGE, Longreach by Bush Agribusiness. For more information and to register click here.
10-12 June Nutrition EDGE, Taroom by Desiree Jackson. For more information and to register click here.
11,12 & 13 June Property Computer Mapping, Gin Gin, Kilkivan & Kingaroy by AgForce. For more information and to register click here.
13 June Excel Spreadsheets for Grazing Enterprises, Hodgson by Connect Ag. For more information and to register click here.
16-18 June Nutrition EGDE, Boulia by Desiree Jackson. For more information and to register click here.