1. News:
OJD events in Tasmania
 Over 150 people attended a recent series of nine workshops highlighting the emerging OJD threat to Tasmania. The workshops were conducted with assistance from Pfzizer Australia, DPIPWE (Tasmania) and Sheep Connect. Topics covered included the economic impact of the disease to wool and prime lamb operations, vaccination, OH&S considerations and management of the disease on farm, including tagging and selling options for diseased and infected sheep.
A highlight for one workshop was the input of Chris Cocker (pictured with field day participants), a superfine wool producer and meat inspector at the Cressy abattoir. He brought along a number of specimens from infected and healthy sheep for producers to see the distinguishing features of the disease should farmers be slaughtering stock on farm. The rapid increase in prevalence rates observed in Tasmania's abattoir slaughter data has highlighted the cost and need for appropriate action by sheep producers to address the disease.
Australian Pastoral Property Innovation Manual - Christmas Special
 An essential reference for pastoralists, the manual documents 120 innovations from a cross-section of pastoral businesses. Innovations profiled include grazing management systems, water telemetry, business diversification strategies and electronic sheep management.
Innovations from the manual were revisited in Bestprac e-newsletter articles during 2010. To read these articles, follow this link.
Special offer for Christmas
Order your copy of the Innovation Manual before 24 December 2010 and receive FREE postage.
Special price is $44 (normal price is $55).
Click here for the order form.
Phone orders and credit card payments are welcome - 08 8842 1103
2. R & D Update:
Grow or die? Managing merino weaners over summer
Merino weaners can be hard to manage over the summer months and most areas of Australia report higher than 6% mortality in 20% of flocks. This represents a poor welfare outcome as well as lost income through fewer replacement animals, lower sale turnoff and poor production in the remaining animals. Find out the key points to better weaner management by clicking through to the Managing Merino Weaners fact sheet produced by the Sheep CRC and based on information from lifetime wool research.
3. In Brief:
Your rams should have testicles that feel like a new tennis ball
The “good season” has not translated into good ram condition on some properties, especially for young rams. This can result in a poor joining - and a poor lambing at a time when surplus sheep are worth a mint. Rams should be checked for soundness at least 8 weeks before joining (see Wean More Lambs Tool 10.6). Testicles should be firm, springy on palpation with a scrotal circumference above 28cm and no abnormal lumps. Lupins are an ideal pre-joining supplement for rams, fed at a rate of up to 4kg per head per week, introduced slowly. Further information on ram management can be found in Procedure 10.1 of the Making More From Sheep manual.
Setting goals and objectives
With weather conditions playing havoc with normal farming operations in many areas, now might be a good time to set goals and ojectives for 2011. Setting goals can provide a big picture framework underpinned by specific objectives and informed by business analysis as part of an overall strategic business plan. Tools to assist with this include a simple process for setting goals and objectives, how to prepare a business plan, indicative industry benchmarks and determining cost of production. These tools can all be found in the Making More From Sheep Plan for Success module
4. Coming Events
Over 5000 sheep producers have attended events on various Making More from Sheep modules. These events may be small workshops, large seminars or webinars (a seminar that you attend on your computer and phone without leaving home). The one thing these events all have in common is that after participating you will be able to implement at least one of the management practices or tools from the Making More From Sheep manual on your property.
Events for the new year are currently being planned and will be posted on the events page of the website once they are finalised. In the meantime, have a look at the pdfs of the recent 'It's ewe time' presentations by clicking here
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