Around the Camp: AWI Classifly Course, DCAP climate survey, QLD trends in tail docking, Forecasts and feed considerations

  1. AWI Classifly course
  2. DCAP climate survey
  3. QLD trends in tail docking
  4. Forecasts and feed considerations
  5. Upcoming events
  6. Podcasts, eBulletins and surveys

AWI ClassiFly course

Two members of the Leading Sheep team recently attended AWI’s train-the-trainer for the Classifly course in Wagga Wagga, NSW. Classifly is the second course developed through AWI’s Flystrike Extension Program and explores the use of visual score assessment and ASBVs in breeding and selection to improve natural resistance to flystrike. The course will be available from July 2023

Visit the AWI website for more information or contact your local Leading Sheep extension officer to express your interest in attending this course.

Back to the top

DCAP climate survey

How do you manage drought and climate variability? The Drought and Climate Adaptation Program are seeking your response to their benchmarking survey to inform the future program and help map climate variability management and drought trends.

As a thank you, you can opt to receive the latest rainfall posters or be in the draw for one of three new rain gauges. To find out more contact program management Neil Cliffe or phone 13 25 23.

Back to the top

QLD trends in tail docking

According to the recently released 2021 AWI Merino Husbandry Practices Survey, 100% of QLD producers tail dock lambs. QLD producers are significantly more likely to use cold knife and shears than in other states, with rings the most preferred method of tail docking (56%) followed by hot knife (23%). Merino producers who use rings to tail dock were much less likely to administer pain relief compared to other methods.

Industry best practice recommends tail docking to 3 or 4 joints. Docking too short increases the animal’s risk of perineal skin cancers, bacterial arthritis and breech strike and predisposes them to rectal prolapse. Nationwide, 32-37% Merino producers are docking at the recommended 3 joints, with 19-29% of QLD producers docking to this length. Commonly cited reasons for docking to <3 joints was a lack of awareness of the recommended length and the health reasoning behind it, docking for shearer’s preference and the impracticality of measuring during the procedure. AWI explains these issues in this short article.

AWI’s March issue of Beyond the Bale contains a concise outline of the trend in merino husbandry practices across Australia or the full report can be accessed here.

Back to the top

Forecasts and feed considerations

The SOI is heading into an El Nino phase which generally means lower rainfall. How much lower will the rainfall be? Does this mean a dry time or drought and how severe will it be? What management strategies are in place to cope with this?

  • The producer who sells all his stock when it gets dry is regarded as an idiot if it rains two months later but he is a genius if it doesn’t rain for two years. Lightening off early is rarely a bad management decision.
  • The best time to start planning for the next drought is immediately after the last one.
  • Fodder conservation? Not widely practiced in the pastoral areas but much can be done with forward planning. This may be fodder purchased and stored when there is cash flow and feed prices lower. (For example, cottonseed is cheaper than grain sorghum at the moment). Alternatively, fodder may be home grown and stored.
  • Understanding the feed requirements is critical for any supplementary feeding to be successful, “a ewe in the 4th week of lactation will require more than double the energy compared to a dry ewe to maintain weight”. Professional advice on nutrition and feed requirements is recommended.
  • There is no correct, “text book” solution to drought management and drought feeding. Many different systems work effectively.
  • Many people think protein is the most important supplement needed. Incorrect when it comes to drought/survival feeding. Energy is usually the first limiting factor followed by protein but a balance of energy, protein, minerals and vitamins is important.

This article was supplied by Philip Kemp, producer/consultant from Imbil.

Table sourced from Lifetime Wool (click here to view).

Back to the top

Upcoming events

  • 1 June. Merino Link Conference 2023, Bathurst. Click here for more information.
  • 2 June. Hungerford Field Day, Hungerford. Click here for more information.
  • 2 June. Forecasting for decision making workshop, Longreach. Delivered by NACP. Click here for more information.
  • 5-6 June. Business EDGE, Barcaldine. Delivered by BushAgribusiness. Click here for more information.
  • 6-8 June. Nutrition EDGE, Cloncurry. Delivered by Désirée Jackson Livestock Management. Click here for more information.
  • 16 June. PayDirt, Wallumbilla. Delivered by Applied Ag. Click here for more information.
  • 19-21 June. Breeding EDGE, Roma. Delivered by . Click here for more information.
  • 27 June. Practical Merino Sheep Classing Day, Tara. Delivered by AWI and Elders. View the flyer here for more details.
  • 28 June. Pop Up Office: Farm Business Resilience Program, Barcaldine. Delivered by DAF, QRIDA and RFCSNQ. Click here for more information.
  • 29 June. Pop Up Office: Farm Business Resilience Program, Blackall. Delivered by DAF, QRIDA and RFCSSQ. Click here for more information.
  • 13 July. Ag Innovation Expo, Longreach. Delivered by GroWQ. Date claimer.

Back to the

Podcasts, eBulletins and Surveys

Surveys

  • AWI and MLA’s joint sheep producer intentions survey will provide forward-looking information allowing the industry to meet producer and customer expectations and better manage the supply chain.  Click here to contribute.
  • How do you manage drought and climate variability? Your response to the Drought and Climate Adaptation Program survey will help inform the future program and help map climate variability management and drought trends.

Back to the top. 

 

Leave a comment