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E D I T I O N 3 1 2 D e c e m b e r / J a n u a r y 2 0 1 3
Katherine Research Station
PO Box 1346, Katherine NT 0851
Phone: (08) 8973 9739
Fax: (08) 8973 9777
ISSN 0394-9823
www.nt.gov.au/d/
Christmas Wishes
Neil MacDonald, Regional Director, Katherine
In this final edition of the Katherine Rural Review for 2012, I would like to add my best wishes for a safe and happy Christmas to everyone involved in Primary Industry in the region. Bureau of Meteorology data shows that most of the Katherine Region has had a below average start to the wet season so far, but it feels now as if the proper wet season is about to settle in across the region. The Bureau’s long range forecast is neutral with an equal chance of above or below average rainfall over the next few months.
This has been a very difficult year for most people in the NT pastoral industry. We all hope that 2013 will be better, but reality tells us that margins are likely to stay tight for some time. Recent studies on the state of the northern beef industry make sobering reading. Our Department staff are certainly aware that all our research and advice has to be realistic and focussed on helping the industry become more profitable as well as productive. Hopefully all NT producers can get through this hard period and look forward to a time when the cycle turns again in the industry’s favour.
Hopefully 2013 will bring good yields and good commodity prices for NT farmers and growers too.
For those of us in the Department we are looking forward to next year with some optimism. DPIF got a boost from the recent mini-budget with our base funding emerging almost unscathed, and with a number of other initiatives given additional funding.
Our staff has been fairly stable except for maternity leave. We have welcomed six new babies during the year, all boys - Liam Renfree (mum Di), Lawson Fletcher (Dior), Jonte Pettit (Caz), Reid Rothery (Sarah), Tennyson Chalmers (Mel) and Reagan Rose (Rosy and Chris). Rowena Eastick has come down to Katherine to lead the Plant Industry team while Mel Fraser is on maternity. Rowena will be well known to many in the local industry from her earlier work with weeds in crops and, having returned from some years working in Cambodia, her more recent interest in the possibilities of rice once more becoming a significant NT crop. Rowena’s arrival is also a boost to the Katherine’s triathlon talent pool.
Nick Krebs (Stock Inspector) recently left us to take up the management of a local station and Alison Haines (Assistant Manager at Kidman Springs) has moved across to the Gulf District. We wish them both very well in their new ventures.
I wish you all a Merry Christmas
Neil
CONTENTS
The Katherine Rural Review is prepared by the Department of Primary Industry and Fisheries, Katherine.
It is designed to provide advice to people in primary industry in the Katherine region.
For further information please contact Jodie (08) 8973 9730.
This edition includes information about:
Christmas wishes -------------------------------------------------------- 1
Is there a business case for NT beef producers to “farm carbon”? -------------------------------------------------------------------- 2-3
A profitable supplementation strategy – wet season P ------ 4-5
What’s happening over the fence? P supplementation ----- 6-7
Breeding bulls to produce profitable performing cows ------- 8-9
New loss carry-back scheme for tax ------------------------------ 9
Mango lenticel spotting trial work ----------------------------------- 10
Ord Stage Three -------------------------------------------------------- 11
A walk down memory lane for Chief Veterinary Officer ------ 12
Animal Health News-------------------------------------------------- 13-17
Round the region -------------------------------------------------------- 18
Page 2 of 20
Katherine Rural Review, Issue 312
Is there a business case for NT beef producers to “farm carbon”?
Dionne Walsh, Rangeland Program Coordinator, Berrimah Farm
Summary
The carbon tax is a reality.
Agriculture is currently exempt from paying the carbon tax but some inputs will cost more
due to other sectors passing on their increased costs.
The Australian Government wants to reward primary producers for increasing carbon
storage and reducing methane emissions from livestock (“carbon farming”).
Many of the practices that are potential “carbon farming” options happen to improve
livestock productivity, business efficiency and profitability (e.g. improving breeder
performance, improving live weight gain, reducing turn-off age, improving land condition
and taking “rubbish country” out of production).
The NT and Queensland primary industry departments have a new project (Climate Clever
Beef 2) to investigate whether there is a business case for cattle producers to farm carbon
as part of their beef enterprises.
Background
There is no shortage of confusion and controversy about climate change and carbon farming and what it means for the pastoral industry. The reality is, a carbon tax is now in place and the Australian Government has introduced a program to reward land managers for increasing carbon storage and reducing methane emissions (the Carbon Farming Initiative).
Why are we doing this project?
To continue helping northern beef businesses turn off more kilos of beef and become more
efficient.
To assess whether “carbon farming” is a viable opportunity to generate additional cash flow
in northern beef businesses.
To realistically measure how much carbon can be sequestered and how much methane
can be reduced in northern beef businesses.
To be an independent source of advice to industry on ways to improve business
performance as well as the pros and cons of “carbon farming”.
How will we do this project?
DPIF have developed a business analysis process which identifies opportunities to improve
the productivity and efficiency of individual pastoral businesses.
1. Are there really any viable carbon farming options that can be integrated into a
northern cattle enterprise?
2. Are they practical and will they pay?
To answer these questions, DPIF has started a new three year project to “acid test” carbon
farming options for the northern beef industry.
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Katherine Rural Review, Issue 312
This process will be rolled out with three partner producers – one each in the Barkly, VRD
and Douglas Daly.
On-property trials will also be conducted to demonstrate practical ways to improve animal
and pasture performance to improve productivity and reduce livestock emissions.
Soil carbon will be measured to better understand how different management practices
influence sequestration rates.
More information
Contact Dionne Walsh on (08) 8999 2178, [email protected] or David Ffoulkes (08) 8999
2204, [email protected].
Read up about the Climate Clever Beef project on the Future Beef website:
http://futurebeef.com.au/resources/projects/climate-clever-beef/
Meat & Livestock Australia have produced a good information sheet about carbon farming:
http://www.mla.com.au/Publications-tools-and-events/Publication-details?pubid=5993
The Climate Clever Beef project is funded by the NT Department of Primary Industry & Fisheries, Queensland Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Carbon Farming Futures - Action on the Ground program.
Calling all Happy Snappers!!
Have you got a great photo which captures the character of the Katherine pastoral region?
Well, we are looking for a local photo of cattle or the landscape to put on the cover of the Katherine Pastoral Industry Survey, which will be launched early next year.
The last survey carried out in 2004 provided valuable information on the region and the reports have been widely used as an industry benchmarking and planning tool. The winning photo will not only grace the cover of the Katherine survey report, but will also earn the photographer a copy of Scott Bridle’s magnificent collection of bush photographs in his book, Outback! So please send your winning entry to [email protected]
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Katherine Rural Review, Issue 312
A profitable supplementation strategy – wet season P
Whitney Dollemore and Renee Rippon – Katherine Pastoral Production
Dry season supplementation is commonly used to supply urea to make up for the shortfall of protein in pasture and while it is important, for most parts of the Katherine region, research has clearly indicated that providing phosphorus (P) in the wet season gives the most benefit for money spent where P is deficient. Let’s have a quick glance over the economics of feeding P.
Table 1: Economic benefits of supplementing phosphorus
The gross margin figures in the above table are taken from a Breedcow analysis of two supplementation options for breeders grazing acutely phosphorus deficient country in the Katherine region. The two supplementation options explored include; a dry season supplement alone (Without P) and a year round supplementation (With P : dry season supplement and wet season loose lick comprising of 50% salt, 40% P and 10% Gran am, assuming an intake of 100g/day – which would supply a breeder with about 8gP/AE/day). It was assumed that the cost of P supplement was $882.90/t delivered (which equates to $11.14/AE). This modelling shows that the added supplement costs of the wet season lick can be recovered in under 3 years based on the assumed benefits; a 10% increase in weaning rate, a 15kg/year increase in live weight gain and a 2% reduction in breeder mortalities (estimated from the MLA publication – Phosphorus management of beef cattle in Northern Australia, available from http://www.mla.com.au/Publications-tools-and-events/Publication-details?pubid=6024).
Recent research projects have shown the benefits of cattle getting adequate P in their diet. Cashcow, a 4 year study investigating factors that affect breeder fertility across northern Australia, has identified that a wet season phosphorus to metabolisable energy (P:ME) ratio above 500mg P/MJ ME during the wet season is a major factor in the likelihood of a breeder getting back in calf within 4 months of calving. The ratio of faecal P to ME in the diet is currently the most reliable indicator of whether the diet provides sufficient phosphorus. A current recommended threshold for lactating cows losing 0.3kg/d is 440mg P/MJ ME (Dixon pers. comm.).
A pen feeding trial has recently been conducted by the University of Queensland, Gatton investigating the effect of different amounts of P in the diet of steers. The results from this investigation are depicted in the graph below. It can be seen that during phase 1 (0-150 days) that liveweight gain was higher as the P content of the diet increased. Differences in liveweight gain as a result of lower P supplement rates appeared within 8 weeks of the diets being fed. After 150 days the P content in the low P ration (originally 0.09%P) was increased to 0.2%P which resulted in a large increase in the rate of liveweight gain.
Without P With P
GM/10,000 AE $859,600 $1,105,600
GM/AE $85.95 $110.56
GM difference/AE $24.61
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Katherine Rural Review, Issue 312
The P requirement for breeding stock is 10g/day and the common target for P supplementation is to aim to supply 6 – 8 grams P/head/day. Things to consider in having cattle consume the required amount of P for the least cost include:
the daily intake and the % of P in the supplement can be used to calculate how many
grams of P that each animal will consume. The lick can be varied to achieve the target
intake of P,
method of delivery - blocks vs. loose lick taking into account animal preference, the
weather, paddock access during the wet season and water solubility of the supplement.
the option of supplementing with straight Kynophos or Biophos rather than a mix
Management decisions that lower the requirement of the cattle for P supplementation including, weaning as close to the end of the wet season as possible and/or herd segregation for targeted supplementation will work to increase the efficiency of supplementation. Some strategies employed in local situations are described in the following case studies.
Figure 1: During Phase 1 it can be seen that the animals receiving the ration with the lowest rate of P gained weight steadily when compared to the animals receiving higher rates of P supplementation, until Phase 2 when the P rate was increased and significant weight gains were observed.
Stage of experiment (days)
0 50 100 150 200 250
Live
wei
gh
t (k
g)
250
300
350
400
450
500 P-5 (0.24% P)
P-4 (0.21% P)
P-3 (0.17% P)
P-2 (0.13% P)
P-1 (0.09% P)
Phase 1 Phase 2
(Simon Quigley, 2012)
Liv
ew
eig
ht
(kg
)
Stage of experiment (days)
Page 6 of 20
Katherine Rural Review, Issue 312
Property name: Kidman Springs Owners: NT Government Locality: Victoria River District, NT. 220kms sw of
Katherine. Background
Property size – 314km² Soil – Emu red earths, Kunnunurra cracking
clays, Kidman earths Pastures – Wire grass, white grass, black
spear grass, ribbon grass, flinders grass, bluegrass, limestone grass, native couch. Cattle run – 1000 Brahman breeders. Fire regime – for woody weed control and to
freshen paddocks. Waters – natural waters, dams and bores. Pasture spelling – set stocking, based on carry
capacity estimates. Pasture improvement – minimal. Sale cattle options – young stock are moved
to other research properties. Herd management
Mating season – Year round, twice yearly
weaning. Herd health – Annual botulism vaccine, bulls
vibrio vaccine.
Property name: Cave Creek Owners: Sullivan Family Locality: Mataranka, NT. 100kms south of
Katherine. Background
Property size – 1250km², encompassing 3
properties Soil – Savannah woodlands; sandy red soils
and black soil creek frontages. Cattle run – 3000 Brahman breeders, 2000–
3000 growing stock. Fire regime – early burn to prevent wild fires,
late burn for pasture management. Waters – natural waterways, dams and and
bores. Generally two water points per paddock. Pasture spelling – set stocking, based on carry
capacity estimates. Pasture improvement – minimal Sale cattle options – live export
Herd management Mating season – Year round, twice yearly
weaning. Herd health – Annual botulism vaccine, bulls
vibrio vaccine, 5-in-1 and internal and external parasite drench for weaners.
Supplementation for the VRD and Katherine regions – Kidman Springs and Cave Creek
Rohan Sullivan managed the Northern Territory Government owned Victoria River Research Station (Kidman Springs) before owning and managing his own family property, Cave Creek. In this case study Rohan tells of how he implemented a successful year-round supplementation program on both properties and the results he has observed.
In 1990 a new management package was implemented at Kidman Springs, which among other things included year-round supplementation of breeders. Animals were fed a dry lick, which included a mix of Kynophos, Sulphate of Ammonia, and salt during the wet, with the addition of urea to the mix over the dry season. The budget was for each breeder to consume 100g/day in the dry and 50g/day in the wet, which worked out at $24/hd/year. The change from dry season to wet season lick was made when there was a noticeable ‘green pick’ about. Rohan noticed a remarkable difference in the cattle under this management system. “It is difficult to pin point exactly what difference the wet season supplement made, but the whole change in management program saw breeder mortality reduce from 12% to 4%. After 18 months weaning rates had increased from 50% to 80% and average weaning weights had increased by 30kgs”.
“The results I observed at Kidman were phenomenal, it was enough to convince us to use lick when we bought Cave Creek.” Rohan uses a loose mix at Cave Creek which is a similar mix to that used at Kidman, with the same budgeted consumption rates and an annual cost of $20/head.
Animals are fed salt for a couple of weeks before commencing dry season supplementation which avoids animals gorging themselves when the first dry season lick is put out. Dry season
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Katherine Rural Review, Issue 312
Property name: Helen Springs & Brunchilly Owners: S. Kidman and Co. Locality: northern Barkly, 285 km north Tennant Creek, NT. Background
Property size – 11 500km² Soil – Mitchell Flinders open downs, some red Spinifex country. Cattle run – 60 000 AEs Waters – Bores, av 8km between points. Pasture spelling – rotational Sale cattle options – young cattle go to live export, value add on other company properties or the feedlot
market. Cull cows go to abbatoir. Herd management
Mating season – Controlled, bulls removed May/June.
Herd health – Annual botulism vaccine all animals, bulls vibrio and 3-day vaccine.
supplement is distributed weekly on the bore run. Cave Creek has reduced access during the wet, so supplement was put out in tractor tyres after the first few storms in the past. During the last wet season bulka bags with slits cut in the top of the bag were put out, the lick lasted all wet and was protected well from weather. Rohan comments “Although feeding lick is costly I don’t think we would survive as a cattle business without it. We have always fed supplement on Cave Creek, so it is difficult to know exactly what the benefit is, but I am sure our mortality would be higher and our weaning rates would not be near what they are. The other benefit I see is that it keeps our cattle quiet, and I don’t think you can put a value on that.”
Down on the Mitchell grass – Helen Springs and Brunchilly
Breeders are mustered and pregnancy tested in May/June each year. Mobs are segregated based on their pregnancy status, and their dry season supplementation program commences based on each mobs needs. ‘Out of season’ breeders (generally around 3 000 head) receive a dry season lick which is made up of urea, cotton seed meal, phosphate and trace elements. Budget is for each breeder to consume 100–150g/day. Weaner heifers also receive this lick, at a consumption of 200–250g/day.
All animals on the property receive Kynophos wet season supplementation, and this program commences as soon as the wet season breaks up until it is too wet. Access around the property is very restricted during the wet season so all supplement is put out at the start of the wet at the various bores. The animals have ad lib access, and tend to only consume what they require, grazing away from the troughs for the majority of the time. Wet season supplementation usually continues through until May.
This supplementation program has been developed using observations of pasture conditions, herd health and NIRS (faecal sampling) over a period of time; however seasonal conditions and variations between mobs and paddocks are assessed annually to ensure the program is meeting animal requirements.
This program has proven results with better overall herd health, increased branding percentages and average daily gains in grower cattle. The key to the success of the program is to measure everything; and compare what goes into the system to what is coming out. We are then able to maximise the benefits of good seasons and minimise the impacts of a poor season.
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Katherine Rural Review, Issue 312
Breeding bulls to produce profitable performing cows
Trisha Cowley, Pastoral Production Officer, Katherine
“The need for change is now. There are tools and technologies available now and in the future that will assist producers to identify the ‘golden’ fertility genetics that exist in many Brahman herds, which until they are identified, remain hidden.” This was the key message that cattle genetics specialist Don Nicol hoped that participants would take away from the Breedleader workshop run in Katherine on the 28th and 29th of November. The workshop was tailored to bull breeders and walked participants through considering their breeding objectives, Beef Genetics 101, provided an update on the genetics of reproductive performance in Brahmans from the Beef CRC research, genetic technologies available, how to influence the rate of genetic change and more.
Attended by 2 commercial studs, 4 nucleus herd bull breeders and 20 attendees in total, the workshop was thoroughly enjoyed by participants who felt they took a lot away. The workshop focussed on the genetics of fertility and really brought home the critical importance of identifying superior bulls. Bulls drive the genetic progress of a herd due to the number of calves they produce in their lifetime. Thus, no matter how much selection pressure is placed on breeders, if the right bulls aren’t going into the herd, efficient progress won’t be made. In northern commercial breeding herds weaning rate is a key driver of profitability, but many bulls are not selected on fertility traits, such as Scrotal Size estimated breeding values (EBVs), Days to Calving EBVs and dam calving history. Further, in many cases this information is not provided to commercial producers wishing to purchase bulls using objective information.
Don Nicol pointed out that 60-80% of the genetic variance for reproductive performance in Brahmans is driven by age at puberty and lactation anoestrus interval in heifers. Further, both of these traits are strongly genetically related to scrotal size at 12 months of age and semen motility and percent normal sperm at 18 months. Hence a stud wishing to identify superior animals could:
Overmate maiden heifers and identify
those who conceived early, soon after
the bulls went in
Identify first-calf heifers that
reconceive early
Measure scrotal size at 12 mths in
bulls and identify superior animals for
weight
Perform bull breeding soundness
evaluations (BBSE) on bulls at 18mths
and identify superior performers
Record Scrotal Size (SS) and Days to
Calving (DC) EBVs
Lorre Herrod from Ponderosa Brahman Stud felt that the major take home message for her business was the huge opportunity that exists in the Brahman breed to improve fertility through objective selection. Lorre wants to start yearling mating to identify early puberty females. She also wants to identify the superior breeders in their stud herd based on their calving histories and start a ‘supercow’ herd within the stud. For Lorre, the biggest challenge was finding bulls that have good
Photo 1: Participants of the Breedleader workshop assess the structual soundness of a bull after learning about interpreting genetics information such as EBVs.
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Katherine Rural Review, Issue 312
objective data (SS and DC EBVs, excellent dam calving history, 400 day growth EBV, moderate mature cow weight EBVs) and the structure and temperament that Ponderosa need in their bulls.
Ben Wratten (Camfield Station) and Cassie Duggan (Delamere) attended from AACo. They are in the process of establishing a nucleus bull breeding herd at Camfield through identifying heifers that conceive as yearlings and first calf heifers that reconceive. At this stage they are monitoring a group of heifers that fit this criteria and hope to produce replacement heifers from them using bulls from central Queensland breeder Alf Collins. In the future they hope to start producing some bulls for use in their commercial breeding herds. For Cassie the workshop really emphasised the need to heavily scrutinise bulls going into a herd, or being selected from the bull breeding herd, as these drive the herd’s genetic progress. Cassie really enjoyed the interactive session on BREEDPLAN and the ideas and experience that participants from a wide range of professions brought to the workshop. Ben felt that the workshop re-iterated the track that AACo is on already, but really highlighted the importance of doing your homework on your sires, stating that “We have put a lot of pressure on our females in the past and not a lot on the sires we are joining them to. This region is predominantly breeder country and fertility is our strongest KPI so any positive change we can make to fertility is going to increase our profitability.”
For Peter Letchford, a vet from Kununurra, the key message from the workshop was “Fertility, fertility, fertility”. After 20 years working in the industry, Peter feels that the biggest issue still is getting cows to reconceive. “There is genetic material in our herds that we need to tap into and identify if we are going to address our weaning rates. The relationships between age at puberty, lactation anoestrus interval, and bull traits allows us to identify bulls which will improve these traits in our breeding herds. The workshop reinforced my current recommendations that we need to be putting greater emphasis on semen morphology and scrotal size for weight and age in bulls, because both of these traits are predictors of female progeny’s age at puberty and lactation anoestrus interval.”
At the end of the workshop participants had to write up changes that they intend to make to their breeding plans. We look forward to catching up again in 2013 to see what progress has been made and what has been learnt along the way.
New loss carry-back scheme for Tax
Christine Long, Policy Director
The 2012 Australian Government Budget announced a new tax concession as part of its business tax reform measures that will benefit businesses run by companies and/or taxed as companies who elect to carry back losses. The Australian Taxation Office is currently in the process of determining how these rules will operate and recently released draft legislation for comment.
Broadly speaking, the new scheme allows for “Company Loss carry-back”, meaning that companies which have paid tax in previous tax years and find themselves in a tax loss position in future can claim back some of the tax they have paid in past tax years (at the company tax rate). This enables the losses to be used more quickly. It only applies to revenue losses.
This will start in the 2012-13 year, allowing for a loss carry-back refund to be claimed against tax paid last financial year in 2011-12. From 2013-14, this can then be claimed for the two years previous.
The maximum amount of losses which can be carried back is $1 million per year, so the maximum cash benefit in a given year will be $300,000.
Obviously, DPIF is not able to give you taxation and financial advice. If you think this tax refund scheme my benefit your company’s business enterprise, talk to your accountant about this initiative to clarify and expand on any issues.
Further information can be obtained from your accountant and the Australian Taxation Office website at:
http://www.ato.gov.au/content/00331932.htm or email: [email protected]
Page 10 of 20
Katherine Rural Review, Issue 312
Mango lenticel spotting trial work
Khamla Mott, Technical Officer, Plant Industry, Katherine
There are many factors affecting mango fruit quality: soft nose, sunburn, sapburn, pink spot, stem end cavity, cuts, blemishes, lenticel spotting and many more! If you have ever worked with mangoes you may be familiar with some of these and what causes them and how to prevent it occurring in your fruit. What about lenticel spotting? The typical characteristics of lenticel spotting are the development of small spots of corky tissue in the skin lenticels that tend to darken as the fruit changes colour during the ripening process. The damage caused in mangoes reduces quality, the fruit is then downgraded, which in turn reduces overall fruit prices. Previous research has shown that the severity of lenticel spotting in mango can vary with season, production location, and cultivar, in particular Kensington Pride and Calypso™.
How and why?
To learn more about lenticel spotting and how to reduce it, several trials have been set up in key mango productions areas in the NT and QLD as part of a collaborative research program between DAFF-Qld and DPI&F-NT funded by HAL and One Harvest. On a local Katherine farm, two trials were established in 2010, by DAFF QLD’s postharvest research team, and growing conditions, tree characteristics, and fruit quality have been monitored yearly.
The lenticel spotting survey: The first trial aims at identifying production factors (including tree flowering and flushing patterns, tree yield, canopy area, fruit maturity, and climatic conditions) that affect lenticel damage at harvest and at ripening.
The late hanging: The second trial looks at identifying how long mature fruit can stay on the tree and the potential for extending the harvest window. To achieve that, fruit maturity has been monitored from several weeks before commercial harvest until the fruit drops off the tree using near infra-red spectroscopy (NIRS) technology.
Withholding irrigation: This year, a third trial was established on the same farm to investigate the effects of withholding irrigation a few weeks before harvest on tree yield and fruit quality, in particular fruit resistance to lenticel damage following irradiation treatment for disinfestation.
Where to next? The data collected from these trials is undergoing collation and detailed analysis. It is hoped the results will benefit the mango industry by increasing knowledge of the causes of lenticel spotting. This in turn will assist in management practices, hopefully contributing to reducing lenticel spotting and increasing the marketability of fruit.
For more information about these studies, please contact Dr Roberto Marques (DAFF-Qld) on (07) 5453 5966 or email [email protected] .gov.au.
Photo 1: Lenticel spotting on mango fruit
Photo 2: Assessment of fruit maturity (dry matter and flesh colour) using
NIRS handgun
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Katherine Rural Review, Issue 312
Ord Stage Three
Lorraine Corowa, Ord Development Team, Darwin
The Department has received additional $400,000 funding under the NT Government’s recent mini budget to establish an Ord Development Unit. The new Unit will focus on progressing Ord Stage 3, which could see up to 15 000 hectares developed for agricultural use on the Territory side of the border.
Ord Stage 3 was also given major project status by the Chief Minister on 23 November and it is the first time this status has been granted to a primary industry project in the Northern Territory.
The WA Government recently announced that the preferred developer for Ord Stage 2 was Chinese company, Shanghai Zhongfu. This company, trading as Kimberley Agricultural Investment, will develop 15,000 hectares in WA and plans to invest up to $700 million over six years to establish a sugar industry in Kununurra, including the construction of a $250 million sugar mill.
The WA Government has invested around $300 million to build 31 kilometres of new channels and roads to extend the project to within six kilometres of the NT border. This infrastructure will become the catalyst for development of Ord Stage 2.
A Memorandum of Understanding between Western Australia, the Northern Territory and the Commonwealth Government to work together to extend the Ord Irrigation Scheme (Stage 3) into the Northern Territory was signed recently in Kununurra following the Northern Australia Ministerial Forum (NAMF).
NAMF is chaired by the Australian Government Minister for Regional Australia, the Hon. Simon Crean and includes the Regional Development Ministers from Western Australia, Northern Territory and Queensland.
The Hon. Alison Anderson, Minister for Regional Development and Indigenous Advancement is the NT’s representative at this forum, and she was joined by Chief Minister Terry Mills and the Minister for Primary Industry the Hon. Willem Westra van Holthe. The department’s Chief Executive Alister Trier provided support to Ministers at the NAMF and official channel opening ceremony which followed.
A cross agency taskforce is being formed and will be chaired by Alister Trier, with the department’s Lorraine Corowa to lead the Ord Development Team.
While there has been no formal decision on how the NT land in the Knox Plain and Keep River areas will be developed, the NT Government is working with counterparts in Western Australia, the Commonwealth Government and with Traditional Owners to ensure early engagement and respectful consultation occur. Much work is to be done to address native title, obtain environmental clearances, release the land and make biosecurity arrangements.
A number of additional important issues for the Northern Territory's primary industries were also discussed at the NAMF meeting, including:
A report on the strategic directions for the Northern Australia Beef Industry and required joint Government and Industry action was developed by the QLD, WA, NT and Australian Governments in close partnership with pastoral industry bodies from those jurisdictions.
A new publication by the CSIRO which identifies the challenges and opportunities for the emerging carbon economy in Northern Australia will be released shortly and available on line.
Discussion around the role of Northern Australia in the ‘Asian Century’ and the need for private sector and Government investment in infrastructure for potential to be realised.
A new study into food and fibre supply chains across Northern Australia and the continuation of transport logistics modelling work to identify infrastructure needs under various growth scenarios.
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Katherine Rural Review, Issue 312
A walk down memory lane for Chief Veterinary Officer – Brian Radunz
Following 35 years of dedicated service to the Northern Territory, including 13 years in the role of the Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO) and Chief Inspector of Stock, Brian Radunz has handed over the reins to Dr Malcolm Anderson and now is easing into part-time employment.
Brian started his career with the Northern Territory Government as a 3rd year veterinary cadet in 1969. He then moved into fulltime employment as a Veterinary Officer in January 1972 initially in Darwin and then onto Katherine. His management skills and leadership ability were soon recognised with a promotion to the position of Regional Veterinary Officer at Katherine in 1974 and then as the Regional Co-ordinator in 1980.
During the 1980s, Brian headed to the southern states for 6 years to work as a Senior Veterinary Officer in SA, Canberra and NSW, but was drawn back to the wide open spaces of the Territory in 1989 as the District Veterinary Officer in Alice Springs. He then spent 2 years in Tennant Creek as the Regional Veterinary Officer and Regional Coordinator.
In 1989, Brian moved to Darwin to take on the role of Deputy Director Animal Health Division. Brian then remained in Darwin as Principal Veterinary Officer to manage Brucellosis and Tuberculosis Eradication Campaign (BTEC) and the Livestock Market Health Assurance from 1997-1999 before becoming CVO in 1999.
Brian was instrumental in one of Australia’s most notable animal health achievements - the success of the BTEC. The campaign also resulted in huge changes to the Territory cattle industry, particularly in areas of livestock management and infrastructure. His personal contribution to the campaign is recognised in the book ‘Beating the Odds in a Big Country’.
Brian has also made a significant impact nationally and is highly regarded by his interstate counterparts. This is shown by his peers selecting him on two occasions to chair the national Animal Health Committee (AHC). Brian has done an excellent job of representing the Territory at national focus and has played a key role both within the Territory and nationally in achieving consensus on some difficult and contentious subjects. An example of this is his successful chairing of the national Bovine Johne’s Disease (BJD) Committee.
During his time in the Territory Brian said he has seen enormous change. In his early years, feral buffalo, bull catchers and pet meaters were widespread, with Territory shorthorn cattle still widely bred, a number of abattoirs operating and live exports only just a trickle.
Brian will continue to work for Department of Primary Industry and Fisheries part-time to complete three key projects. These include the development of the national cattle welfare standards and guidelines, a review of the Australian Standards for Live Export (ASEL) and amendments to the NT Veterinarians Act. Brian plans at this stage to retire in September 2013.
We would like to thank Brian for his very significant contribution to animal health policy and operational management and advances in the livestock industries both nationally and locally over the past four decades. His dedication and achievements were recognised in 2008 when his colleagues nominated in for the Department’s Stars Award and in 2011 when he was awarded the Chief Ministers Public Service Medal for his services to the Territory’s pastoral industries – a well-deserved and fitting recognition.
Photo 1: Brian Radunz - Blood testing for brucellosis at Katherine after taking the bloods the day before, during 1970’s
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New Territory Chief Veterinary Officer
A new Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO), Dr Malcolm Anderson started work in the Northern Territory on 26th November 2012.
Dr Anderson will have big shoes to fill as he takes over the reins from his highly respected predecessor Dr Brian Radunz and a series of other well-known NT CVO’s including Colonel Lionel Rose after whom part of the Darwin Berrimah Veterinary Laboratory is named.
Malcolm has been working with Biosecurity South Australia since 2007 as the Manager of their Disease Surveillance program and is well known by the SA livestock industry. Whilst working in that role he has also been the SA Planning Manager in their team for responses to outbreaks of exotic animal diseases and in 2011 was a member of a team working in Cambodia and Laos on an Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) project on Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD). He has also been involved with a project on Rabies in Bali.
Originally a graduate of Murdoch University, WA , Malcolm has previously worked in a variety of government or private roles in SA and Western Australia including as an export
consultant veterinarian with shipments of live animals to the Middle East, Malaysia and Pakistan. Along the way, Malcolm has studied Bahasa Indonesia and has a Masters in Veterinary Public Health from Sydney University.
Malcolm says he is greatly looking forward to working with the NT team and will be based at the Berrimah Research Farm in Darwin.
Introduction of the Land Transport Standards in the Territory The Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines - Land Transport of Livestock, known as the Land Transport Standards (LTS) is a set of nationally agreed standards and guidelines developed to ensure appropriate livestock welfare during the transport process. The LTS are based on the revision of the Model Codes of Practice for Welfare for the transport of various livestock species and were developed by the livestock industries and government in consultation with stakeholders.
The LTS cover the transport of livestock by road. A separate set of standards, the Australian Standards for the Export of Livestock (ASEL), cover the requirements for export of livestock by ship. The ASEL are currently being reviewed.
Responsibilities during transport
The LTS apply to all people responsible for the management of livestock at all stages in the livestock transport process. The consignor is responsible for mustering and assembling of livestock
Photo 1: New Chief Veterinary Officer, Dr Malcolm Anderson
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in yards, preparation of livestock and selection as fit for the intended journey, supply of feed and water prior to transport and holding periods before loading.
The transporter is responsible for final inspection as fit for the intended journey, loading and loading density, inspections during transport, spelling periods during the journey and unloading.
For a journey over 24 hours, the transporter must have records of the date and time that stock last had access to water, inspections, any welfare concerns, actions taken and emergency contact details. This information must be provided to the person in charge when the responsibility for stock is transferred during the journey.
The receiver is responsible for the management of stock after unloading.
The LTS are divided into two sections. Part A outlines general standards and guidelines that apply to all livestock species and Part B provides specific standards and guidelines for each livestock species.
Standards are the MUST DO requirements for livestock welfare and are the minimum standards for livestock management practices. Guidelines are recommended practices to achieve desirable welfare outcomes - the SHOULD DO and complement the standards.
How will LTS be enforced?
In the Northern Territory, the LTS has been adopted under the Livestock Regulations. Compliance and enforcement activity will be undertaken by Department of Primary Industry and Fisheries Veterinary Officers and Livestock Biosecurity Officers from 1 January 2013. In other States, LTS will be regulated by government agencies responsible for animal welfare legislation.
Information on LTS was posted to all properties in October and information sessions were held in Regions during early December.
Cattle Standards and Guidelines
The cattle standards and guidelines are the next in the series of livestock standards to be developed and will likely be available for public consultation during January 2013. A copy of the cattle standards and guidelines will be available for public comment at http://www.animalwelfarestandards.net.au/cattle/ during this time.
More information
Department of Primary Industry and Fisheries website www.nt.gov.au/d/livestockstandards
Land Transport Standards website www.livestockwelfarestandards.net.au/
Meat and Livestock Australia’s website www.mla.com.au/Publications-tools-and-events/
Release of Hendra virus vaccine
After several years research, a vaccine against Hendra virus – Equivac HeV has been released under a minor use permit to accredited veterinarians. It is expected that the vaccine will be available to accredited Northern Territory vets from December 2012. Under permit conditions, the accredited vet must microchip vaccinated horses and record details on a national vaccine register for horses. Two doses of vaccine are required 21 days apart for primary immunisation. Initial vaccine trials have shown complete protection when vaccinated horses have been challenged with Hendra virus. The vaccine will reduce the risk of Hendra virus exposure to horse owners, handlers and vets.
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Hendra virus is a virus present in flying foxes (fruit bats) that on very rare occasions may spillover and cause disease in horses and people in contact with infected horses. It can be fatal. Four species of Australian flying foxes (grey-headed flying fox, black flying fox, little red flying fox and spectacled flying fox) carry the virus but do not show symptoms of disease. Only the little red flying fox and the black flying fox are found in Northern Territory.
Hendra virus is believed to be spread between flying foxes through faeces, urine and saliva in colonies. Scientists believe infection in horses may occur through ingestion of grass or partially eaten fruit contaminated with bat urine, saliva or other body fluids, such as birthing fluids. Hendra virus has only been transmitted to people through very close contact with secretions or body fluids of infected horses. There is no evidence of spread between flying foxes and humans or human to human spread.
Hendra virus has not been reported in horses or humans in the Territory, however it is important that all suspect cases are reported to your local vet for investigation. Hendra virus is a notifiable disease. The vaccine is only available from accredited vets. Please contact your local vet if you wish to have your horses vaccinated.
Further information
Horse owners http://www.health4horses.com.au/
Vets http://www.vetsaustralia.com.au
Bayticol Pour-on – Discontinued supply by Bayer
Bayer has recently discontinued the supply of Bayticol pour-on to the Australian market. This is due to concerns raised by SAFEMEAT about the potential risk of cattle treated with the product which have been rejected from live export, entering the domestic and export meat supply chain.
The registration of Bayticol pour-on for use as a general tickicide was cancelled in 2002. As a result, Bayticol pour-on was no longer used for routine tick control on property or for pre-treatment of cattle tick prior to inspection and supervised treatment in a plunge dip for movement of to tick free areas. The use of Bayticol pour-on for live export cattle was not affected at this time.
The Australian Pesticide and Veterinary Medicine Authority (APVMA) began a review of the product in December 2001 following concerns that the use of the product according to label instructions would result in beef fat residues that exceeded the Maximum Residue Limit (MRL) which would pose a potential risk to Australia’s international trade. Flumethrin, the active ingredient of Bayticol pour-on is not registered in some overseas countries. The US has a zero tolerance to flumethrin residues. Detection of flumethrin residues in Australian meat would have a significant impact on access to these markets. In February 2002, Bayer voluntarily requested that the APVMA cancel the registration of Bayticol pour-on cattle tickicide and APVMA cancelled the registration on 31 March 2002.
NT resellers and producers with existing product may continue to sell existing stocks and use the product as directed on the label. The potential risk associated with rejected cattle from live export supply chain treated with Bayticol pour-on must be managed by cattle producers and exporters until the supply runs out, so that treated cattle do not enter the meat export supply chain.
The product label clearly outlines conditions for use. It is important to remember that until supplies run out, Bayticol pour-on may only be used as a live export clearing tickicide prior to IMMEDIATE live export.
Animal Biosecurity Disease Investigations A large proportion of laboratory submissions have been for disease surveillance and research activities as well as health certification for animals going to export markets. A few cases of downer animals were investigated with bovine ephemeral fever as the most likely cause. Several
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submissions to check for internal parasites were received. In one case 23 out of 750 weaner cattle died after showing signs of diarrhoea. Salmonella was cultured from half of the faecal samples submitted. In two separate incidents, goats were diagnosed with enterotoxaemia due to the sudden increase of supplementary feed prompted by very dry pastures.
Bronchopneumonia after transportation – Exotic Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia excluded
A post mortem was carried out on a 6-year-old cow that died in the spelling yards following long distance road transport. Histopathology revealed the presence of severe bronchopneumonia combined with severe liver lesions. Two bacteria Pasteurella multocida and Trueperella pyogenes were isolated from the lung tissue.
P. multocida is an important pathogen of the bovine respiratory system. The stress associated with road transportation is the most probable factor that precipitated the severe pneumonia. T. pyogenes is an opportunistic pathogen that is occasionally isolated along with other respiratory pathogens. Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia was excluded at the Australian Animal Health Laboratories (AAHL) in Geelong, Victoria from samples of lung tissue and pleural fluid.
Bovine Herpes Virus-2 (BHV-2) skin lesions – Exotic Lumpy Skin disease excluded
Nodular skin lesions were reported in a 6-year-old Brahman cow. The nodules could be easily removed, leaving a hairless skin patch. There were also lesions on the legs and flanks.
Microscopy confirmed chronic dermatitis with secondary bacterial infection. This is consistent with bovine herpes virus-2 (BHV-2) infection, known as pseudo-lumpy skin disease. Capripox virus infection, causing true lumpy skin disease was excluded at AAHL.
This is the fourth report of the disease in the Katherine region this year. An Australia wide survey has shown that the virus appears to be more prevalent in the far north of the Northern Territoy, with 93% of herds showing positive antibodies to BHV-2. The disease generally has a high infection rate which is usually self-limiting. Animals completely recover within a couple of months. It is spread from one animal to another by biting flies.
Friendly reminder…
A reminder that the use of shotguns using lead shot as an aid to mustering is an unacceptable practice. Industry needs to aware of the risks to the meat export market as well as local meat trade associated with detections of lead pellet contamination in carcases at abattoirs. Firearm operators also need to understand the welfare issues associated with the inappropriate use of ammunition when mustering stock and suitable firearms for the effective destruction of stock.
Photo 1: Two examples of Bovine Herpes Virus-2. Four cases of this disease have been reported in the Katherine region this year.
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Katherine Rural Review, Issue 312
The National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) is a national system developed for the
identification and tracing of livestock. It is a permanent whole-of-life identification system that
enables individual animals to be tracked from property of birth to slaughter for food safety, product
integrity and market access purposes. The NILS is the main information system used throughout
Australia to trace cattle in the event of an Emergency Disease incident.
NLIS was developed and implemented nationally in 2003 with the NT becoming fully compliant with
the NLIS from 1 July 2007. Upon commencement all cattle moving to another property, export
yard, saleyard or interstate required an approved NLIS radio frequency identification device (RFID)
attached to the right ear prior to leaving the property. The exemption to this requirement was cattle
leaving their property of birth going direct to live export through an approved export yard did not
require an RFID to be attached or cattle moving direct from the property of birth to an NT abattoir
only required an approved transaction tag attached.
In June 2011 the Federal Government suspended all live exports of cattle to Indonesia on animal
welfare grounds. On resumption of the live export trade one of the conditions for the trade to
resume was that all cattle being exported live to Indonesia are required to be traceable to the point
of slaughter in Indonesia. Therefore an RFID must be attached to the animal prior to movement
and recorded on the NLIS database. This decision has resulted in changes to the Livestock
Regulations for the identification of cattle moving in the NT.
As of the 1 January 2013 ALL cattle regardless of destination will require an RFID attached
to the right ear prior to movement off a property.
An addition to the Livestock Regulations is that as of 1 January 2013 the Registrar can approve
movement of cattle, buffalo, sheep or goats without an NLIS device or tag attached. This
Regulation has been implemented to allow for movement of livestock in special circumstances
without NLIS identification. Example of when this can be applied would be;
1. Natural Disaster: Natural disaster events such as cyclone, flood, fire.
a. After a natural disaster which has resulted in livestock unintentionally having moved
from their original property and are required to be moved back home
b. or are required to be moved to another property to avoid stock losses
2. Return of stray stock from a neighbour’s property.
Please contact your Regional Biosecurity office if you would like to discuss these changes in more
detail or for further information. Contact details for Regional offices are outlined in the information
provided. For application to the Registrar to move livestock without an NLIS device or tag attached
please contact the Registrar.
DARWIN - Ian Doddrell
Regional Livestock Biosecurity Officer P: 08 8999 2030 M: 0439 270 039
TENNANT CREEK - Tom Haines
Regional Livestock Biosecurity Officer P: 08 8962 4458 M: 0401 113 445
KATHERINE – Josh Haigh
Regional Livestock Biosecurity Officer P: 08 8973 9767 M: 0467 740233
ALICE SPRINGS - Greg Crawford
Regional Livestock Biosecurity Officer P: 08 8951 8125 M: 0401 118 125
Sharon Kearney P: 08 8999 2031 Registrar M: 0401 112 031
Website: www.nt.gov.au/d/animalhealth
National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) Livestock Regulation amendments.
Effective 1 January 2013
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Katherine Rural Review, Issue 312
Round the region
1. Participants of the Breedleader workshop
seek a higher vantage point while
discussing the heritability of
temperament from bulls to offspring and
the effect of this on production.
2. Presenter of the Breedleader workshop,
Don Nicol, demonstrates the importance
of balanced selection when choosing
bulls, including evaluating genetic data
and the conformation of each bull.
3. Shane and Vicki Mayne of Annaburroo
Station were among the Breedleader
workshop attendees.
4. Off to bigger and better things, Nick
Krebs enjoys the Primary Industries Staff
Social Club Christmas Party. We wish
him and his family all the best in their
future endeavours.
1.
2.
4.
3.
23.
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Katherine Rural Review, Issue 312
The staff of the
Katherine Research Station
of the Department of Primary Industry and Fisheries would like to
wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a healthy and prosperous New Year.
Our office will be closed from Monday the 24th of December 2012 until the 2nd of January 2013.
However if you have an animal health emergency, please call 0467 740 233, and for
other emergencies 0427 600 388.
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Katherine Rural Review, Issue 312
Katherine Region Events Calendar
Event Location Date
Later…
NTCA AGM & Conference Alice Springs 21-22 March 2013
Northern Beef Research Update Conference Cairns 12
th-15
th
August 2013
www.nbruc.org.au
Please email with updates of events happening in your area: [email protected]
If you know someone who would like to receive this newsletter or if you no longer wish to receive this newsletter, have a change of address or would prefer to receive this newsletter electronically please forward your request to [email protected].
If undelivered
please return to:
PO Box 1346
Katherine NT 0851
POSTAGE
PAID
Disclaimer
While all care has been taken to ensure that information contained in this publication is true and correct at the time of publication, the Northern Territory of Australia gives no warranty or assurance, and makes no representation as to the accuracy of any information or advice contained in this publication, or that it is suitable for your intended use. No serious business or investment decisions should be made in reliance on this information without obtaining independent and professional advice or both in relation to your particular situation.
Reproduction of Rural Review Articles
The Department of Primary Industry and Fisheries (DPIF) welcomes the reproduction of articles appearing in this newsletter, but requests that the technical information be confirmed with the editor or author, prior to publication. The department also requests that acknowledgement be made for any original work sourced from the Katherine Rural Review.
