PROPERLY managing animal health can save as much as one-fifth of treatment costs, according to an animal health expert.
University of Adelaide sheep health lecturer Colin Trengove said managing animal health issues should represent less than 2 per cent of the annual operating costs for producers but could exceed 10pc if not managed properly.
Dr Trengove is one of the speakers scheduled to take part in the upcoming It's Ewe Time forums across SA this month.
“It’s important for producers to have preventative strategies and trigger points in place when managing animal health issues,” he said.
“Every season throws up different scenarios and given the variable seasonal conditions across SA, producers can’t assume a management strategy that worked last year will have the same effect this year.
“With ongoing dry conditions continuing across many parts of the state, metabolic disorders due to nutritional stress, such as pregnancy toxaemia, also known as twin-lamb disease, is particularly pertinent."
Dr Trengove said ewe loss was a risk this coming lambing season, as well as lamb loss.
"We encourage more twinning and so the risk of pregnancy toxaemia is increased," he said.
“Pregnancy toxaemia as well as other metabolic disorders such as hypocalcaemia and hypomagnesaemia will be addressed at the forums as well as best practice management strategies for tackling parasites and reproductive diseases.”
The half-day forums are designed to deliver practical information designed to increase producer awareness and provide take home tips on the principles, practices and tools of sheep enterprise profitability and productivity.
The forums will be held on Tuesday, March 26 at Sir Hubert Wilkins Memorial Centre, Jamestown; Wednesday, March 27 at Karoonda Football Club; and Thursday, March 28 at Naracoorte Town Hall.
Dr Trengove will be joined by Australian Wool Innovation's Nigel Gosse on the sheepmeat and wool outlook, Redefining Agriculture's Helen McGregor on maximising ewe performance and Landmark Jamestown's Daniel Schuppan on weaner opportunities.
The Jamestown and Karoonda events will also include AWI's Geoff Lindon of the impacts of mulesing status and staple length on price and Holmes Sackett's Hilary Beech on making decisions in dry times.
In Naracoorte, Meat & Livestock Australia's Richard Apps will speak on objective carcase measurement and feedback while Rural Directions' Simon Vogt on capitalising on positive price cycles.
- Details: Register at makingmorefromsheep.com.au/events or by calling 1800 070 099.
