Northern Tablelands Local Land Services is urging livestock producers to stay on top of supplementary feeding and vaccination this winter, warning that cold conditions, limited pasture and fresh green pick have created ideal conditions for disease.
Local district veterinarians are advising producers to watch for metabolic disease, pulpy kidney, botulism, Barber’s Pole Worm and liver fluke ahead of spring.
Fresh green pasture with little bulk can trigger metabolic disease in pregnant and lactating livestock, which have increased energy and mineral requirements. Low dietary energy and deficiencies in calcium or magnesium can lead to “downer animals”, requiring immediate treatment to reduce stock losses.
Green pick will continue to pose a risk until pasture matures and moisture levels decline, a process likely to be delayed by slow winter growth. Pregnant and lactating animals should continue to receive supplementary energy, such as grain, until pasture quantity and quality improve.
Producers feeding grain, pulses or cottonseed should include limestone at two per cent of the ration. Magnesium can also be supplied through a loose mix of Causmag, limestone and salt. Maintaining adequate calcium levels in ewes and cows around lambing and calving is equally important, with deficiencies increasing the risk of difficult births and stock losses.
District Veterinarian Dr Andrew Biddle said producers experiencing downer animals should identify the underlying cause before more livestock were affected.
“Producers should look at the energy being provided through their current feeding regime, check that the quality and quantity of feed is adequate, ensure all animals have access to the feed, and that calcium is being provided if feeding livestock grain,” he said.
Pulpy kidney is another seasonal risk that can cause sudden deaths, particularly when livestock graze short, lush pasture. High sugar levels in fresh green feed encourage rapid growth of clostridial bacteria in the gut, which can lead to disease.
A 5-in-1 booster is recommended for pregnant livestock, weaners and steers, while a 7-in-1 vaccine is recommended for breeding animals because it also protects against leptospirosis, a disease that can infect people. Animals require two initial doses, given four to six weeks apart, to achieve full protection. Thereafter, pulpy kidney boosters are needed every three months and take several days to become effective.
“A common mistake we see locally is producers assuming that an annual booster will be sufficient. Unfortunately, this approach often results in unnecessary livestock losses,” Dr Biddle said.
“Keeping vaccinations refrigerated, using an esky in the yards and discarding unused vaccine is also crucial, as heat and sunlight damage vaccine, and the most expensive vaccine is the one that doesn’t work.”
Botulism is also a risk for livestock fed silage and is not covered by a standard 5-in-1 vaccine. The disease can occur when rodents or snakes become trapped in silage, producing botulinum toxin as they decompose. Where silage forms part of a total mixed ration, contamination can affect large numbers of animals. Protection requires a botulism-specific vaccine administered as a two-dose course.
Sheep producers are also being warned to monitor for Barber’s Pole Worm as larvae surviving from summer and autumn become active in moist winter conditions.
Unlike many internal parasites, Barber’s Pole Worm does not initially cause diarrhoea or weight loss. Instead, affected sheep may become weak, develop pale gums and die suddenly. Regular worm egg counts can help producers assess worm burdens before serious losses occur. Producers should also ensure drenches remain effective and seek advice on integrated parasite management.
Liver fluke remains a concern across the Tablelands, reducing growth and condition in cattle while causing severe anaemia and death in sheep. Although most common on the Tablelands, cases can also occur on the slopes, particularly in older livestock or animals introduced from endemic areas. Dry conditions can increase the risk as stock graze closer to the ground in search of feed.
For more information on preventing livestock disease this winter, producers can contact their private veterinarian, livestock adviser or local district veterinarian on 1300 795 299, or visit the Local Land Services website.
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