Sheep and Goat Science Commons^™

'Dermo' Fleece Rot And Body Strike On Sheep, S G. Gherardi, S. S. Sutherland, N. Monzu

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Blowfly strike is one of the major problems confronting the sheep industry in Austrsalia, with an estimated totsalcost of control eceeding $100 million each year.

Sheep are susceptible to five types of strike: body, breach, poll, pizzle and wound. Body strike, is of greater economic importance because its sporadic occurence from year to year makes it difficult to predict and cintrol. Outbreaks of body strike after rain can affect large numbers of sheep and inflict severe production losses.

In eastern Australia fleece rot is generally considered to be the main predisposing factor to blowfly strike, but in Western Australia evidence …

Cashmere From Australia, T J. Johnson

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Cashmere is the 'cream' of fibres in the garment industry, with processors paying up to $110 a kilogram for quality white cashmere. This highly sought after fibre is the soft superfine undercoat ofgoat hair produced by the secondary follicles of a certain type of goat. The undercoat normally grows during the cooler months of the year and moults in spring.

At least 30 per cent of the Australian feral goat population today could produce reasonable quantities of cashmere which, until now, was being shed and lost to the wild. Fibre processors and goat producers are working towards establishing a new …

The Economic Potential Of Cashmere Production, A T. Kelly

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Although the cashmere industry has developed rapidly in eastern Australia, development in Western Australia has lagged behind because of local restrictions on the use of feral goats. However, recently the Agricultural Protection Board has eased these restrictions.

In Western Australia there are about 30 to 40 producers with commercial cashmere flocks, involving a total of 7,500 to 10,000 goeats. In most agricultural areas where sheep production occurs, cashmere production is also possible.

In the following article, A. T. Kelly, an adviser with the Marketing and Economics Branch, discusses the economic potential of cashmere production in this State and compares …

The Bush Tick, R B. Besier

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

A newly discovered livestock parasite has focused attention on farms in the Walpole district in the south-west of Western Australia. Ticks submitted to the Department of Agriculture in December 983 were identified as the bush tick, Haemaphysalis longicornis. An intensive campaign to locate areas of infestation and to limit spread was started in January 1984.

The bush tick is a pest of livestock in some areas of New South Wales and Queensland. It is important in a narrow coastal strip from Sydney to Brisbane where total summer rainfall can exceed 1000 mm. In this area heavy tick infestation causes …

Protecting Off-Shears Sheep In Adverse Weather, T M. Ellis

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

In January 2982 in the Narrogin-Darkan area of Western Australia, about 14,500 sheep up to 40 days off-shears died after a 48-hour period of heavy soaking rain that followed a thunderstorm three days previously. An estimated 100,000 sheep died throughout the South-West at the time.

P. G. Buckman - at the time Department of Agriculture District Veterinary Officer, Narrogin - surveyed 17 properties in the area. He found that losses in unshedded sheep 0 to 40 days off-shears ranged from 0 to 84 per cent of sheep on the property with an overall average of 27.9 per cent. Rainfall in …

Dispelling Some Myths About 'Dermo', J R. Edwards

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

There are a lot of misconceptions and myths about dermatophilosis, a disease which can kill young lambs, affect wool quality, make shearing difficult and make sheep susceptible to fly strike.

One misconception is perpetuated by the incorrect use of the name mycotic dermatitis, which implies that a fungus causes the disease. This is not so.

The disease is caused by the bacteria Dermatophilus congolensis, which attacks the sheep's skin and eventually forms a lesion or scab in the wool, and so is better called dermatophilosis, 'dermo' or 'lumpy wool'.

Veterinary Epidemiologist at the Albany Regional Office, J.R. Edwards, discusses …

New Developments In Footrot Control, R B. Richards, L. J. Depiazzi, R. V. R. Gwynn

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

The eradication policy for footrot in sheep adopted by the Western Australian Department of Agriculture has produced an overall decline in the number of properties with the disease.

Our knowledge of the disease has improved substantially as a result of the research conducted at the Slabany Regional Veterinary Laboratory in recent years. Laboratory tests now sssist stock inspectors and veterinary officers to distinguish between different forms of footrot and to quarantine and eradicate accordingly.

The recent discovery of more effective foot-bathing solutions by officers of the Victorian Department of Agriculture will greatly assist further eradication procedures.

Western Australia's sheep industry …

Dingoes And Sheep In Pastoral Areas, P C. Thomson

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Since 1975, a long-term study of dingoes in the Fortescue River area of northern Western Australia has sought to provide the detailed information necessary to devise efficient dingo management strategies.

Dingoes have been fitted with radio-transmitter collars, then tracked and observed from a specially equipped aircraft. Their movements, breeding, hunting and social behaviour have been monitered in the rugged, spinifex-covered ironstone terrain which represents typicaldingo refuge country, and in neighbouring sheep country.

Although the pastoral and agricultural industry have long recognised the need to control dingoes to protect livestock, particularily sheep, there is little published evidence about the type of …

The Use Of Buffer Zones In Dingo Control, P C. Thomson

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

The aim of dingo control is to protect livestock, not to eliminate dingos from Australia's vast ininhabited areas. However, with labour costs rising, dingo control must become more cost effective.

In this article, P.C. Thomson discusses the "buffer zone" control strategy which involves removing dingos from a strip of country adjacent to stocked land.

Although variations of this strategy have existed for some time, detailed knowledge of dingo behaviour and movement patterns was required to ensure that the concept was soundly based. Much of this information came from a long-term study of dingos carried out in unstocked country and adjacent …

The Grazing Value Of Saltbushes, A J. Clarke

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Many Western Australian/armers have obtained useful grazing from their salt/and in the past, both from natural stands of salt tolerant plants and from areas planted to a variety of introduced salt tolerant plants. The benefits provided by such grazing have been hard to assess because no quantitative figures were available. However, grazing trials now in progress are showing that salt tolerant shrubs can carry similar stocking rates to clover-based pastures in the same districts. About 500,000 hectares of Western Australian wheatbelt land has always been saline, and has supported various useful native salt-tolerant plants. Other land that has become saline …

More Lambs By Mating Weaners, R J. Suiter

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Farmers can increase sheep numbers by mating ewe weaners. Trials have shoen that this does not affect the later performance of these ewes.

Diagnosing Pregnancy In Sheep : The 'Scanopreg', R H. Wroth, M. J. Mccallum

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

The "Scanopreg", an ultrasonic machine for diagnosing pregnancy in sheep, is effective as early as eight to nine weeks of pregnancy, and could therefore be a useful management tool.

Lupinosis : A Disease Still With Us, Jeremy G. Allen, P. Mcr. Wood, K. P. Crocker, J. Hamblin

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Current research on lupinosis continues to reveal what a complex problem it is, but the improved understanding should help to reduce losses.

Erosion Risks With High Stocking Rates At Kojonup Trial, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

A pasture grazing trial at Kojonup dramatically illustrated the effects of Cyclone Alby. Severe erosion was evident on the heavily stocked plots while the more lightly stocked plots showed little damage.

Flystrike In Sheep : Secondary And Tertiary Flies Striking Sheep In Western Australia, N Monzu

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Unlike primary species of blowflies, the secondary and tertiary species of flies cannot initiate a strike, but their activity in the presence of the primary blowflies becomes significant in the death of struck sheep. This is particularily so when the hairy maggot blowfly is involved. Future management of sheep flocks to minimise deaths may require recognition of these secondary and tirtiary flies.

This article presents some basic facts about these flies.

Pulling The Wool Off, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

The Department of Agriculture has begun a three year project to study the potential for "chemical shearing" or, more correctly, biological defleecing.

Doublegee Control In Pasture : What Is It Worth, D J. Gilbey, R. J. Lightfoot

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

A recent study showed that the cost of spraying to control a heavy doublegee infestation can be recovered in the first year of the spraying.

Rejections Of Sheep And Lamb Carcasses Are Costly, R H. Wroth, R. J. Suiter

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

A 1976 survey of more than 48 000 sheep and 25 000 lambs slaughtered at two of Western Australia's export abattoirs has indicated a high rejection rate for W.A. carcasses. Rejections may be for disfiguring, blemishes requiring trimming or for diseases which can lead to condemnation.

Savings that producers can make by simple management changes, could thus save the industry $3.12 million a year. Reduction in other causes of rejection or further reduction in some of those mentioned id feasible but requires more research and may be more difficult to achieve.

Low Cost Fencing, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Fences with more wire and posts are not necessarily stronger.

Design using high tensile wire can save on materials and reduce costs.

Super And Stocking Rates At Kojonup After 10 Years, J W. Bowden, B. Scurr, R. Glencross, K. Longbottom

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

A Department of Agriculture trial on old land at Kojonup has been comparing rates of superphosphate and stocking of sheep for 10 years.

New Policy Hits Hard At Sheep Lice, F C. Wilkinson

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

In March 1977 the regulation requiring compulsory routine dipping of all sheep within 30 days of shearing changed, and only infested flocks were required to be dipped. This change has allowed concentrated eradication efforts.

Some Basic Facts About Primary Blowflies, N Monzu

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Research has begun on blowfly species attacking sheep in Western Australia. Already this research has indicated the importance of a species in Western Australia which is not a problem in the Eastern States.

Future management of sheep flocks to minimise fly strike may require recognition of the differences between blowfly species. This article gives a description of the primary species - those which can initiate strikes.

Crutching Cradles Can Work Well, N M. Marney, R. A. Mills

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Crutching cradles allow successful do-it-yourself crutching if a continuous flow of sheep can be maintained. This article describes some units available and discusses costs.

Controlling Annual Ryegrass Toxicity, C H. Trotman

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Eight years of intensive work has changed annual ryegrass toxicity from an unknown killer to a manageable problem.

The Philosophy Of Drenching Sheep In Western Australia, G C De Chaneet

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Sheep of all classes are drenched more or less regularly throughout the agricultural areas of Western Australia.

Much of the drench is wasted because it is used in the wrong circumstances. This situation is probably a result of poor understanding of drenching.

This article discusses the philosophy of drenching and attempts to relate this to the epidemiology of parasitism as it is currently understood.

Annual Dipping Is A Costly Business, F C. Wilkinson

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

When sheep dipping was compulsory, lice infestations and their control could have been costing the sheep industry in Westrn Australi as much as $8 million a year.

On March 1, 1977 compulsory annual sheep dipping ended.

This raises the question of whether an owner should dip sheep.

Designing Yards For Sheep, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

This article has been adapted from a report of the 1976 Sheep and Wool Refresher Course.

The officers attending the Course inspected W. A. farms, and then met in groups to discuss what they had seen, and to pool their experience in compiling a report. This article has been adapted from the report of the group working on the topic "Sheep yards and facilities".

The W. A. representative in the group working on sheep yard design was Mr John Wise of the Department's Katanning office.

The principals discussed here should help farmers either design new sheep yards, or improve the …

Lumpy Wool May Increase By Dipping : Research Roundup, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Lumpy wool, or mycotic dermatitis, is an infectious disease on the skin of the sheep caused by the bacterium Dermatophilus conglensis. The organism invades the wool and hair follicles, causing formation of skin lesions producing scabby material which binds the wool fibres into a hard mass.

Research shows that 'dipping' may increase the incidence of lumpy wool with some chemicals a greater risk than others.

Ryegrass Disease Could Spread, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

The disease annual ryegrass toxicity kills sheep and cattle grazing pastures which contain infected annual ryegrass. In Western Australia the first confirmed outbreak was in 1968 in the Gnowangerup area.

The disease has noe spread over a range of 450 kilometres and with a total area of perhaps 100 000 hectares. because annual ryegrass is the major sown pasture grass in W.A. the disease could spread throughout the South-West.

There are some precautions that can be taken.

The Feral Goat Herd Of Faure Island, W H J Clarke

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

For just on a century there has existed on Faure Island, off the mid Western Australian coast, a herd of white feral goats.

The fleece of these animals, while similar in appearance to Angora mohair, has characteristics which somewhat resemble the luxury fibre cashmere, in that it comprises a fine dense undercoat, which sheds in early spring, as well as the hairy outcoat typical of all goat breeds except the Angora.

As there is little, if any, shedding in second or subsequent crosses, it would appear that the mating of Faure Island feral goats with traditional Angoras (or off-spring of …