maker? rangeland management courses station …jodie ward, livestock industry development, katherine...

DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRY AND FISHERIES BARKLY BEEF | page 1 www.dpif.nt.gov.au

Who’s the money maker?

Trisha Cowley & Whitney Dollemore, Livestock Industry Development, Katherine

Reproductive performance is a key profit driver in northern Australia, with plenty of room for improvement. While nutritional management is key, genetics also definitely play a major role. The Beef CRC III research program found that the heifer fertility traits, age at puberty, and time to resume cycling after calving were highly heritable in Brahmans and Tropical Composites. Furthermore, these two traits were strongly genetically correlated to lifetime reproductive performance, meaning that heifers who reached puberty at a younger age and reconceived earlier after their first calf, tended to have more calves in their lifetime. Hence by selecting superior heifers for these traits, you are also selecting those who will be superior breeders over their lifetime. Sires have the largest influence on the genetic direction of a herd, so selecting superior sires is also critical.

WHO’S THE MONEY MAKER?

AUSTRALIAN RANGELAND CONFERENCE IN ALICE SPRINGS

RANGELAND MANAGEMENT COURSES

TERRIOTRY LOSES ANOTHER LEGEND: TONY MORAN

STATION PROFILE: HELEN SPRINGS

NON-PASTORAL USE ACTIVITIES

TNRM COMMUNITY GRANTS

ANIMAL HEALTH NEWS

DEPT MINES & ENERGY NEWS

WHAT WHEN AND WHERE

AROUND THE TRAPS

ISSN: 1325-9539

JUNE 2015

Photo courtesy of Claudia Hunter, Brunchilly Station


Show them what your daddy gave you!

As an example of the role that genetics play, we compared heifer progeny performance of two Brahman bulls who were used in the Beef CRC III research program. Each bull sired about 20 daughters whose calving performance was recorded for six matings on Belmont Research Station near Rockhampton in Central Queensland. As Table 1 below shows, these two sires produced daughters who performed very differently!

Table 1: Some bulls produce much more fertile daughters

Reproductive Trait Sire

Lancefield 4999M Belmont 79/96

Maiden heifer pregnancy rate 94% 86%

Percent of first calf heifers cycling prior to weaning 92% 19%

First calf heifer pregnancy rate 67% 17%

Average lifetime weaning rate 82% 62%

How do you know he is made of the right stuff?

We want to select bulls who will produce more fertile daughters, but we can’t wait until he has sired 20 daughters who have calved several times before we decide if he’s good enough to buy! So how do we know who’s got the goods at two years old? Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs) are estimates of differences in an animal’s genetic merit based on the animal’s pedigree, own performance, and that recorded of its relatives. They provide the best basis for comparison of the genetic merit of animals reared in different environments and under different management systems, by making adjustments that account for these factors. For example, Sire A may be producing females on the A property which have a 90% weaning rate, but it is in premier country and the cows are fed molasses at calving to increase reconceptions. In comparison, Sire B is producing females on another property in poorer country where the cows are not provided any extra feedstuff but are weaning 80%. You can’t compare the weaning rates between these two properties to determine which sire has a better genetic merit for fertility. And this is where EBVs offer the advantage, because they remove the effects of nutrition and only compare differences due to genetics.

Days to calving (DTC) EBVs provide the best estimate of an animal’s genetic merit for fertility. Variation in DTC EBVs reflect differences in the time taken for females to conceive after the joining period. Animals which calve earlier and more often have lower, more negative DTC EBVs. Scrotal size EBVs are also important. Let’s compare our two sires.

Because you want a shorter period between calves, this means that negative DTC EBVs are better, as this means cows calve earlier. Hence, the DTC EBVs are confirming the raw data shown in Table 1 – Lancefield 4999M is a superior sire for fertility. As a general rule of thumb, 1 unit difference in a DTC EBV is equal to 1% different in weaning rate. While there is a 20% different in weaning rates between the female progeny of these two bulls, there is a 31.1 unit difference in their DTC EBV.


Show me the money!

What about a dollar value difference between these bulls? Selection indexes take into account each EBV and provide a ‘balanced’ view of the animal, depending on the particular market and production systems. They relate to short term profit generated by a sire through the sale of his progeny, and the longer term profit generated by his daughters. The Live Export Selection Index was developed in the NT by Katherine and Barkly producers, so is the most locally relevant. The graph below shows the relative importance given to different traits when designing the Live Export Index.

Table 2: Group BREEDPLAN EBVs for Lancefield 4999M

September 2014 Brahman GROUP BREEDPLAN

Birth Wt. (kg)

200 Day Wt. (kg)

400 Day Wt. (kg)

600 Day Wt.(kg)

Mature Cow Wt. (kg)

Scrotal Size (cm)

Days to Calving (days)

Carcase Wt. (kg)

Eye Muscle Area (sq.cm)

EBV +0.6 +13 +24 +40 +11 +4.1 -20.9 +14 -2.2

Acc 91% 93% 94% 95% 93% 77% 83% 91% 85%

Breed Avg. EBVs for 2012 Born Calves

EBV +2.7 +18 +25 +34 +40 +0.4 +0.9 +21 +2.4

Table 3: Group BREEDPLAN EBVs for Belmont 79/96

September 2014 Brahman GROUP BREEDPLAN

Birth

Wt.

(kg)

200

Day

Wt.

(kg)

400

Day

Wt.

(kg)

600

Day

Wt.

(kg)

Mat.

Cow

Wt.

(kg)

Scrotal

Size

(cm)

Days

to

Calving

(days)

Carcase

Wt.

(kg)

Eye

Muscle

Area

(sq.cm)

EBV +1.0 +15 +12 +23 +15 +2.2 +10.2 +4 +3.4

Acc 95% 94% 96% 96% 94% 90% 85% 91% 88%

Breed Avg. EBVs for 2012 Born Calves

EBV +2.7 +18 +25 +34 +40 +0.4 +0.9 +21 +2.4

Importance weighting of factors that were incorporated into the Live Export Index.


Lancefield 4999M has a Live Export Selection Index value of +$64, while Belmont 79/96 has one of -$8, compared to the breed average of +$19. Admittedly Lancefield 4999M has better growth EBVs as well, which will also increase his index value. However, the heaviest weighting in the Live Export Selection Index is on the DTC EBV.

The Bottom Line

Buying bulls with superior fertility genetics will influence your bottom line, by breeding daughters who have more calves in their lifetime. While other traits need to be considered when selecting bulls (i.e. he has to be quiet and structurally and reproductively sound), it is obvious that these two bulls differ greatly in the value that they would bring to your herd. Select bulls with larger, more positive Scrotal Size EBVs and lower, more negative Days to Calving EBVs – it’s worth it!

Thank you to David Johnston from AGBU, Armidale, for providing the data on which this article is based.

Australian Rangeland Conference held in Alice Springs

Jodie Ward, Livestock Industry Development, Katherine

Innovation in the Rangelands was the theme for the Australian Rangeland Society 18th Biennial Conference held in Alice Springs earlier this year. The conference attracted over 300 delegates from all over Australia as well as international delegates from North America, Great Britain and South Africa.

DPIF officers played a significant role in not only event preparation and organisation but also delivering presentations and posters over the three days. Jane Tincknell teamed up with well-known pastoralist Joanne Craig of Mistake Creek to provide a captivating interview style presentation where Jane questioned Joanne about her experience with the Business Management Advisory Project. Joanne admitted that although she was sceptical at first, the tools developed as a part of the project has allowed the management team at Mistake Creek to create meaningful information from the data they collect, which in turn has allowed Joanne, and husband Steve, to make informed decisions. Joanne stated: “The extra half hour in the office has made a huge difference.” Jane and Joanne’s presentation earned them second place in the People’s Choice Awards for a Spoken Presentation.

Dionne Walsh’s presentation titled “Ahead of the pack: what 30 years of commercial pastoral innovation can teach us”, showcased strategies to improve beef business performance.

The strategies were identified by speaking to a long time, well respected, local pastoralist from the Barkly and analysing detailed station business records. Successful strategies included:

Infrastructure development where economically viable

Invest and select for fertility in the herd

Pay good attention to heifer and weaner management, as these have long term impacts on herd performance

Jane Tincknell, Extension Officer, telling a captive audience the ins and outs of the Steer Challenge based on Old Man Plains


Dionne’s closing statement and advice for the audience was to “do your sums very carefully when selecting options for investment of your hard won capital”.

Robyn Cowley presented an analysis of fire frequency in the Victoria River District. Using data sourced from the North Australian Fire Information website and other GIS information, Robyn and her co-author Dale Jenner determined that good quality grazing country in the VRD is, on average, only burnt once every 10 years. This is in contrast with the recommendation developed from the long term fire trial conducted at the research station in the same district (Kidman Springs), which found that one hot fire every four years is required to control woody vegetation thickening.

Steve and Bec Cadzow were interviewed on stage by Dr Margaret Friedel during the Stories from the Rangelands session. Steve and Bec answered questions on a variety of topics including how they manage the family owned Mt Riddock Station and how they are actively involved in educating urban Australians about the good job the pastoral industry does in land management, food production and animal welfare. The long-term investment Steve and Bec have made in erosion and feral animal control has led to large increases in animal production and improvements in land condition.

The Alice Springs pastoral team also provided a stimulating field trip for delegates to the Arid Zone Research Institute and Old Man Plains (the research station only taken into Northern Territory Government management in 2003. The tour thoroughly embraced

the theme of the conference and provided numerous demonstrations of the use of technology and innovation in pastoral businesses. One such example was the use of the Remote Livestock Management System the research team are using to monitor the weight gains of animals before they are send south for slaughter and MSA grading. There was also a demonstration of how remote sensing technology can assist in monitoring land condition and how drones may be used on stations for infrastructure monitoring purposes. The trip ended with a visit to Rocky Hill Grape Farm, Undoolya Station, where Richy Hayes is producing table grapes very successfully thereby demonstrating how diversification can be achieved

through innovation.

Twenty-two of the conference presentations were filmed and are now available on YouTube, including Jane Tincknell and Joanne Craig’s presentation titled “Indigenous Pastoral Businesses” (http://bit.ly/1QooLgH) and Robyn Cowley’s presentation “Fire in Savannas” (http://bit.ly/1EUJr9v). Other presentations readers might find of interest are Jen Silcock’s “Degraded or Just Dusty” which won People’s Choice Award http://bit.ly/1K8Qke5, and Dean Revell’s “Rangeland Self Shepherding” http://bit.ly/1RIIQRw about encouraging cattle to change their grazing patterns to the advantage of pastoralists. All papers are available on-line at http://bit.ly/1QrmpxG.

For more information about the gems of knowledge shared at the conference, be sure to look up #ARSConf2015 on Twitter which trended second in Australia during the event, or contact your local extension officer. Remoteness is no longer a boundary to information sharing – Innovation in the rangelands at its best!

Glen Oliver, Technical Officer at the Arid Zone Research Institute, tells the crowd about the strengths and opportunities of the emerging date industry in

Chris Materne, Pastoral Production Officer, presenting the history of Old Man Plains

http://bit.ly/1QooLgH

http://bit.ly/1EUJr9v

http://bit.ly/1K8Qke5

http://bit.ly/1RIIQRw

http://bit.ly/1QrmpxG


Turning the paddock into the classroom: Rangeland Management Courses on the Barkly

Helen McMillan, Livestock Industry Development, Tennant Creek

The first week of March rolled around quickly for the extension team this year with us packing up our

books, laptops, pipe cleaners and Freddos and heading out to Brunchilly to hold a Rangeland

Management Course (RMC). This year we not only had the Brunchilly and Helen Springs crews but the

Rocky Downs crew decided to join in on the fun too! They dazzled us with their willingness to learn and

even the returners had us amazed with what they remembered from last year’s course. Our 23

participants took to plant identification like cows to green pasture learning about the difference between

an annual, a perennial and a forb, and how these species change depending on the soil type.

Katherine Beef Extension Officer Jodie Ward helped describe the digestion tract of cows and the

difference between wet and dry season lick. Meg Humphries, our local weeds officer, had us all tied up

explaining a typical food web on the Barkly and the importance of biodiversity in the rangelands.

Jodie Ward (DPIF) showing off her grass identification skills

Participants from Helen Springs, Brunchilly & Rockhampton Downs Stations

Participants from Alexandria, Gallipoli & Soudan Stations

The end of March brought along slightly cooler weather and we again packed the utes, this time

destined for Alexandria and Mittiebah stations for NAPCo week! Stephen mustered in the out stations

and we had 20 participants in total from Gallipoli, Soudan and Alexandria. We shared a lot of laughs and

for such a big crew we managed to keep them entertained with only a few getting ‘heavy-eyelid’

syndrome. Jane Douglas gave them a run through some basic fire-fighting skills and taught them that fire

is actually an important part of a healthy rangeland ecosystem. Again we were lucky to have Meg join us

and she gave a demonstration on spraying woody weeds and some keys to identify the prickly weeds

that could be around.


We left Alexandria and went onto Mittiebah with a very small group of four participants, who proved that

quality over quantity is certainly a winner.

Our next stop on the RMC roadshow will be Avon Downs and we are all looking forward to meeting the

crew out there and getting them interested in the rangelands because GRASS GROWS PAYCHEQUES,

CATTLE ARE JUST THE CONVERTERS!

Barkly Beef Dinner 2015 $80 Ticket - Friday 10th July

* Sporties Club * * Live Entertainment *

* 3 course meal * * Prizes *

* Presentation for show cattle *

Enquiries please contact

Haylie Hill | Ph. 08 8964 4660 | [email protected]


The Territory loses another legend…Tony Moran

Jane Douglas, Livestock Industry Development, Tennant Creek

Anthony Gerard Moran, or Tony as he was known to family and friends, was the fifth child of Kevin and Anne. Tony had four older siblings, Kerry, Helen, Denise and Rita and a younger sister Trish.

Tony attended primary school in Bell and Jimbour on the Darling Downs and later high school as a boarder at Downlands College in Toowoomba. In 1972 he went to Emerald Pastoral College where he studied Animal Husbandry. Well, he played football, had a good time and perhaps did a little bit of study. He was always athletic – was a sprinter at Downlands and at the age of 15 played in the Pastoral College “First Fifteen” and was often named “Man of the Match” playing as an adult.

His first job was at Hornet Bank Station at Taroom. In 1976 Tony moved to the Northern Territory, and began work at Kiana Station, and later moving to Alice Springs.

In 1981 Tony was appointed Stock Inspector with the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries. He was based in various locations in the Northern Territory including Lake Nash, Borroloola, Daly Waters, Katherine and Kidman Springs. Kidman had a very special place in Tony’s heart. For 34 years Tony was dedicated to a job that he loved. It gave him the opportunity to pursue his passion of working with cattle and horses, engage with those who shared his passion and share his knowledge and skills through mentoring his team.

In addition to his two younger sons Tennyson and Boyd, Tony has an older son Stephen who in recent times has been welcomed into the family. Tony has often commented how proud he was of his boys – and with good reason. Tony’s sons remember holidays driving to Queensland, going to the stations and Tony being Tone sneaking them in to the helicopters when they were shooting ferals. In the words of the boys he taught them right from wrong – and they thought they could get away with it but when Tony came back to town they’d get into trouble. As Boydie says, “it’s all in the blood”.

Tony’s love of horses started at a very early age. Riding every day, getting the cows in, mustering, checking the water and droving cattle between Holmwood and Tara’s Hill or in drought time feeding the cattle on the side of the road. Tony took on a lot of responsibility early in life droving cattle on his own while still in primary school. This follows in the footsteps of his father who as a 12-year-old was boss drover moving stock.

Tony was a very generous person who loved life and pushed the boundaries, a wonderful brother. He was a great leader and a true friend. He will be missed by all who knew him.

Tony Moran had an undeniable passion for horses and campdrafting.


Tony Moran

Read by Tom Stockwell, of Sunday Creek Station, at Tony’s funeral service

Tony Moran was a gentle man, a stock inspector too, And with the straightest face could he properly bulldust you.

He would play at looking cold & hard, that blank and distant stare But the eyes would give that twinkle & the smile begin to share.

That look that lured the fillies, equine or human kind

It was strength of character, perhaps with weakness lined. But the heart was good and empathy for people of the land

Was at the very centre of the Tony Moran brand.

He reckoned that he’d to get assigned to work with all the stations, Run by people who were different or, indiff’rent to legislation.

“Deserved” I thought, but didn’t say, and remembered that the folk Put in charge of running Tony, were also oft to play the joke.

He stockied on the Plenty, out east of Alice Springs,

On the Barkly, Lake Nash Stn., with the BTEC in full swing From there to Borroloola where scrub and characters were thick

To the Courthouse, Daly Waters, Tony’d finally won a trick.

He had room for all his horses and the house was on the tar Good people on most the stations - fifty metres to the bar.

Pubs & tourists right there on tap – but BTEC busy – there’s the rub Making time and an impression he rode the mare right in the pub.

As a stockie of the old school he was straight and he was fair,

Did the time on ground, in choppers, and of shooting did his share. Long days in needling cattle, tagging ears and banging tails

Checking fences & reactors, “watch out- scrub bull!” climb the rails.

His gear was neat and tidy, well maintained and in its place, There was pride in his appearance at the draft, or by the race.

Well respected by the stations and the chopper pilots too The old captain speaks in grateful tones of jobs done by the two.

He “flew beneath the radar” recalled the Barkly DVO

Of course he’d have played some tricks coz all of ‘em had a go, I caught Freddy driving old Slot’s trucks when the testing job was slow

But Tony just did the job and the rest I didn’t know.

He didn’t know for instance that in the BTEC catcher, Fred and Tony managed scrubbers not worried by the scratches, More accurately described as scalping, by the nurses at the Loo

“Falling panels” said the paperwork the bosses got to view.

Dr. Death the Katherine DVO, called him “The Diplomat” “Got on well with station people, never complaining where he sat”. His station people were close to him –they knew that Tony tried, While families wept at funerals, he too was caught damp-eyed.


But with the end of BTEC, the stockies’ work was in decline So Tony thought it must be time to chase a different line.

If Old Jack & Bruno Hogan could pull the research strings, He was sure that he could handle the crew at Kidman Springs.

There were horses, cows and pastures - it all seemed that much greener

A bonus for the drafter was the new “Don Cherry Horse Arena” Young staff and district visitors all keen to learn the trade

Talk fondly of the manager and the impression that he made.

Team Biosecurity: Back L-R: Neil Dickenson-Jones, Bluey Lewis, “Ticky” Mick Bainbridge, Jack Wheeler, Greg Scott, Pat Barry, Geoff Newton, Dave Gutte, Bruno Hogan, Front: “Fox” Mark Lumsden and Lorna Melville

2015 Tennant Creek & District Show

Cattle Section / Friday 10th July

Classes:

1. Pen of 2 Bulls (2013 season) 2. Single Local Bull (older than 2013) 3. Pen of 2 Mature Breeding Cows 4. Pen of 2 Heifers 180-250kg 5. Pen of 2 Heifers 250-350kg 6. Pen of 2 Heifers 350-450kg 7. Pen of 2 Steers 180-250kg 8. Pen of 2 Steers 250-350kg 9. Pen of 2 Mickeys 180-250kg 10. Led Calf

Start drafting off your prize winning cattle now!

Nomination forms and further details will be sent out soon. Contact Jane Douglas 8962 8843 [email protected]

mailto:[email protected]


Stations of the Barkly- ‘Helen Springs Station’

Casey Collier, Livestock Industry Development, Tennant Creek

Helen Springs Station, located 140 km North of Tennant Creek in the Northern Territory is owned by S. Kidman and Co and managed by Chris and Sally Towne. Luke Giblin is the Assistant Manager and is based at the Helen Springs outstation, Brunchilly.

Helen Springs and Brunchilly cover an area of just over 10,000 km2 or approximately 2.5 million acres and have a combined carrying capacity of 55,000 head of cattle.

The Cattle Operation

Helen Springs and Brunchilly run mainly Charbray cattle but are also trialing a Coolibah composite that is made up of Murray Grey, Tuli, Charbray and Brahman cross.

The main breeding priority is first and foremost to concentrate on fertility, closely followed by breeding polled cattle. By using the company bred Santa Gertrudis bulls that all have Estimated Breeding Values, Chris is able to pick the best suited bulls to put over his cows.

Helen Springs and Brunchilly have been using a herd management system for the past fifteen years. Each female is pregnancy tested and segregated into three-monthly calving groups. This allows Chris to get a true measure of how the herd is performing. It also allows for easier mustering as they are able to target the paddocks for weaning and know that all cows should have finished calving and all calves will be around the same age. This is also handy when the cattle prices are good and any cows that aren’t producing a calf every year can be sold as ‘empties’.

Social life on Helen Springs

During the dry season (March to November), between 28-34 staff call Helen Springs/Brunchilly home with every staff member a valuable asset to station life. A day in the Helen Springs stockcamp is never boring and can include mustering on horseback, branding, tagging, weaning, tailing or preg-testing. The staff are dedicated and most days begin before the sun rises and end after the sun sets, but they do it because they love it. It’s not all work and no play though. The social calendar fills up quickly; between campdrafts, rodeos, races, horse schools, the local shows and the annual Helen Springs/Brunchilly Melbourne Cup luncheon, staff have plenty to fill their social calendar. Early in the year when there is still plenty of water around and the mustering season

hasn’t quite kicked off yet, the Helen Springs crew will often head up to Lake Woods near Elliott and enjoy a day skiing, tubing and relaxing by the water, often catching up with the Newcastle Waters Station crew.

Emily enjoying a knee board at the local skiing waterhole

Cattle waiting to be preg-tested on Helen Springs Photo: Claudia Hunter


Chris and Sally Towne

The Towne Family

Chris and Sally have four children, 10 year old twins, Jack and Chloe, 8 year old Bell and 7 year old Emily. The children grew up on Stanbroke’s Augustus Downs Station, in the QLD gulf but have called Helen Springs home for the past 4.5 years. Schooling is done through Mount Isa School of the Air and all four kids love school. When they aren’t in the school room, you won’t find the Towne children watching movies or playing video games; they are outside playing sport, riding horses or feeding the poddies. While Jack loves being outside and fishing, it’s his

three sisters who are horse mad, with all four kids often competing at campdrafts and gymkhanas.

The Barkly

When asked about living on the Barkly, Chris comments on the strong community orientated feeling working on the Barkly brings. Having such large stations and only a small number of people, there is a strong working bond between the stations and regular consultation on the regional issues affecting cattle production. Between committee meetings for the Northern Territory Cattleman’s Association, Barkly Landcare, Barkly Research Advisory Committee and the Barkly Weed Advisory Committee to name a few, there are plenty of things to get involved in.

See more photos of Helen Springs and the crew in ‘Around the Traps’ on page 26

The Towne family

Annabelle Towne competing at a junior draft in Katherine

Annabelle and Chloe Towne are both horse mad


Non-pastoral use activities

Annette Duncan, Department of Land Resource Management, Palmerston

On 1 January 2014 amendments to the non-pastoral use (NPU) provisions of the Pastoral Land Act were enacted. The NPU amendments enable the Pastoral Land Board to issue permits for NPU activities on pastoral land for a term of up to 30 years and to register the permit to the lease, allowing transfer with change of ownership.

NPUs promote opportunities to diversify activities on pastoral properties to help generate alternative income streams. These opportunities could include tourism, horticulture, forestry, aquaculture and broad scale agriculture activities.

To further encourage pastoralists, the Northern Territory Government has launched the Pastoral Business Development program, an innovative assistance package designed to support pastoralists to engage professional advisors who will work with them to decide whether diversifications activities will suit their specific operations.

In this issue you will find information on “Pastoral Business Development” then over the coming issues there will be further information on “NPU and Native Title”, “Pastoral Land Act Amendments” and “Frequently Asked Questions”.

If you missed the last editions which featured “Where are the Opportunities” and “Land Suitability” or if you would like further information please contact the Department of Land Resource Management, Director Pastoral Lease Administration, Annette Duncan on 0400 576 418, email: [email protected] or visit www.nt.gov.au/npu.


http://www.nt.gov.au/npu


.


Welcome Lil Stedman Welcome to the newest member of the Animal Biosecurity Team, Veterinary Graduate Lil Stedman. Lil grew up in Darwin, before moving to New South Wales to start her veterinary degree. You may have met Lil in May 2013, when she spent some time in Darwin and Katherine for her uni practical placement.

After graduating from Charles Sturt University, NSW in 2013, Lil moved back up to Darwin to start work at Howard Spring Vet Clinic. As Howard Springs is a mixed practice, Lil was able to work on a number of different animals during the 18 months she worked there, including racehorses.

Lil is currently located in Darwin; however she will be spending time in all of the regions throughout the year. Lil is looking forward to getting out to properties to meet people and take part in numerous disease investigations. Please remember to report any suspicious livestock illnesses or deaths to your Regional Veterinary Officers or Livestock Biosecurity Staff for investigations.

Lil is looking forward to getting out and about around the Territory

Requirements for Moving Horses The start of a new season seems an opportune time to remind everyone of the requirements for moving horses within, out of and into the NT. All horses entering the NT are required to be accompanied by an NT health certificate (for horses only) which can be found on the DPIF website

http://www.nt.gov.au/d/Primary_Industry/index.cfm?header=Moving%20horses%20into%20NT.

The health certificate needs to be endorsed by a stock inspector or equivalent from the state of origin and sent to the Regional Livestock Biosecurity Officer of the destination property (contact details are on page two of the health certificate).

Horses moving within the Territory are subject to requirements only if they are moving into the Free Zone from the Parkhurst infected or Infected Zone. In which case they are required to have a clean inspection and supervised treatment from a livestock biosecurity officer. There are no requirements for horses moving within the Parkhurst and Infected Zones.

IN THIS ISSUE

Welcome Lil Stedman

Requirements for

moving horses

Selenium Poisoning

http://www.nt.gov.au/d/Primary_Industry/index.cfm?header=Moving%20horses%20into%20NT


Horses travelling to Queensland or Western Australia are required to be accompanied by a Queensland or WA Health Certificate. Health certificates will need to be authorised by a livestock biosecurity officer, even if no treatment is required. Horses travelling through Alice Springs to South Australia, Victoria or New South Wales will not require a health certificate; however they will be required to have a clean inspection and supervised treatment from a Livestock Biosecurity Officer.

Charges are now in place for endorsement of health certificates. The cost of $32.19 is per health certificate, not per horse. A charge per horse is only incurred if horses are sprayed on a weekend. The cost of spraying horses on a weekend is $144.30 call out fee plus $1.11 per head, as well as the fee for the health certificate.

To find out more information about fees, please visit our website: http://www.nt.gov.au/d/Primary_Industry/index.cfm?header=Animal Biosecurity Services - Fees or call your local Livestock Biosecurity Staff.

Selenium poisoning Sudden illness and mortality was noticed in a mixed mob of 250 yearling Brahman cross cattle south of Darwin in early February. The mob was given an injection of a common trace mineral injection for cattle, however the vaccine gun had broken and delivered the wrong dose to approximately 60 head. Three heifers died over the next four days, while 12 more were noticed to be depressed and lethargic, but these recovered over the next week. Minimal signs were seen on post-mortem however lab samples showed severe liver damage and high levels of selenium. Selenium is a component of many trace mineral injections and can be fatal if dosed incorrectly.

This case highlights the potential for even non-prescription products such as vitamin and mineral supplements to be dangerous when administered in the wrong circumstances. Before using any injection, drench or backliner, always read the labelled instructions.

http://www.nt.gov.au/d/Primary_Industry/index.cfm?header=Animal%20Biosecurity%20Services%20-%20Fees


Dosage: check the volume each animal is to receive. If scales are available, weigh stock instead

of estimating weight. Always have another person double check dosage calculations before

administering to stock.

Route: check if the medication should be given under the skin, in the muscle, by backlining or by

mouth.

Equipment: check drench and vaccine guns are working properly before using them on stock.

Ensure the correct volume is being delivered. Have spare equipment on hand.

Hygiene: ensure that all equipment is clean and dry (leftover soap and water can stop some

vaccines from working), and that clean, sharp needles are used and changed as needed. To

minimise the risk of tetanus, never leave needles on the ground.

Product: ensure the product is within the expiry date, kept at the correct temperature and is

mixed well so it doesn’t settle. Some products are sensitive to light so check the label.

Always consult your vet before using any new medication or supplement. If you have any suspicious livestock deaths or illnesses please contact your Regional Veterinary Officer or Livestock Biosecurity Staff.

While the sale of a property may include the stock, the brand cannot be sold to the new owners.

1. If an agreement is made in the sale contract to transfer the brand to the new owners, an application to Transfer Brand must be lodged with the Registrar.

or

2. If the registered owner of the brand no longer wishes to use the brand, it may be cancelled. An Application for Cancellation of Brand must be lodged with the Registrar.

or

3. If registered owner of the brand wishes to keep the brand, but move it to a new property, a Request to Change of Run must be lodged with the Registrar, together with original certificate/s for amending. If not registered owner of new property, Owners Permission to Use Run form is required and must be lodged with the Registrar.

BRANDS ARE NOT TRANSFERRED AUTOMATICALLY BY A PROPERTY SALE OR BY A WILL

Check out our websites www.dpif.nt.gov.au/animalhealth or contact your RLBO for assistance

Darwin Region Katherine Region Tennant Creek Region Alice Springs Region

Ian Doddrell (RLBO) Josh Haigh (A/RLBO) Tom Haines (RLBO) Greg Crawford (RLBO)

Ph: 08 8999 2030 Ph: 08 8973 9767 Ph: 08 8962 4458 Ph: 08 8951 8125

Further Animal Health Information

Want information on a particular animal health topic? Requests for articles on topics of interest are invited. Please send requests to:

Renae McLean Ph: 08 8973 9765

E: [email protected]

http://www.dpif.nt.gov.au/animalhealth



Why are fees being introduced?

The introduction of Biosecurity fees was announced by the Minister for Primary Industry and Fisheries in December 2012. Animal Biosecurity Branch provides a range of inspection, treatment and certification services to the livestock industries to facilitate market access and meet regulatory requirements within the Northern Territory and to interstate and overseas destinations. These services have historically been provided free of charge, however as the individual businesses and livestock industries receives the direct benefit from these services and not the general public, the Northern Territory Government will charge a fee to support continued delivery of these services. The fee is not full cost recovery.

When will fees be introduceded?

Fees for Animal Biosecurity services will be introduced on 1 January 2015.

What services will fees be charged for?

Fees will be charged for:

Tick inspection and supervised treatment of livestock

Horse inspection and treatmen

will only be charged for if done on weekends and public holidays

Issue of Interstate health certificates

Authorisation of Property of Origin (POO) certificates for exports

Investigations regarding breaches of the Livestock Act

How much will the fees be?

Service Fee (no GST) Weekend and Public Holiday Surcharge

Cattle tick inspection and supervision of treatment *

$44.40 set visit fee +$1.11 per head

$55.50 extra

Supply health certificate for interstate livestock movement

$32.19 per certificate $64.38 per hour extra (half hour minimum)

Supply Property of Origin health declaration $32.19 per certificate $64.38 per hour extra (half hour minimum)

Weekend horse tick inspection and treatment (No fee for weekday)

$144.30 set visit fee + $1.11 per head

Fees only apply for weekends

Investigations to follow up breaches of the Livestock Act

$66.60 per hour N/A

*If a tick inspection is for interstate movement a health certificate charge will also be added

Animal Biosecurity Branch

Fees for Services Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)


D

How do I pay?

Horse owners and livestock owners who use Animal Biosecurity services infrequently will be required to pay by credit card on the day the service is provided. Producers and exporters who use Animal Biosecurity services regularly will be invoiced monthly. A receipt will be issued following payment.

Why are there no charges for horses during the week?

Horses are a secondary host and low risk species for cattle tick. Inspection and treatment for cattle tick is undertaken to protect the cattle industry. Horses are moved frequetly within the Territory for work and events and will still be required to undergo inspection and treatments to meet movement requirements. Fees will only be charged for inspection and treatment of horses on weekends and public holidays.

Disclaimer:

While all care has been taken to ensure that information contained in this information sheet is true and correct at the time of publication, the NorthernTerritory of Australia gives no warranty or assurance, and makes no representation as to the accuracy of any inf ormation 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 wit out obtaining independent and/or professional advice in relation to your particular situation.FISHERIES


Department of Mines and Energy News


What When & Where

June 2015

ABC Race Club Campdraft, Rodeo, Races

18-21st June Brunette Downs

July 2015

Alice Springs Show 3rd July Alice Springs

Tennant Creek Show and Beef Dinner

10th July Tennant Creek

Katherine Show 17th July Katherine

Barkly Herd Management Forum

27-29th July Avon Downs & Brunette Downs

August 2015

Pussycat Campdraft, gymkhana, Murranji Challenge

6-9th August Pussycat

Borroloola Campdraft 14-16th August Borroloola


Around the Traps

Have you taken a good photo? Send it into [email protected]

Mustering on horses is a common practice on Helen

Springs and Brunchilly Station. Photo courtesy of Claudia Hunter

Chris and Jack Towne enjoying some boy time on Helen Springs Station

Sally and Emily Towne

Brunchilly Station from the air

Photo: Claudia Hunter

The Helen Springs classroom

The Barkly Photo: Claudia Hunter

Jack and Chris Towne

Chloe Towne playing dress-ups with her horse Husky.


Barkly House Staff List

BARKLY HOUSE First Floor, 99 Paterson St PO Box 159, Tennant Creek, NT, 0861 Fax: (08) 8962 4480

Department of Primary Industry and Fisheries

Regional Management

Executive Officer Helen Kempe 08 8962 4484

Administration Officer Skye-Lea Ries 08 8962 4488

Animal Health

Regional Stock Inspector Thomas Haines 08 8962 4458 M: 0401 113 445

Stock Inspector Greg Maguire 08 8962 4492 M: 0457 517 347

Pastoral Production

Pastoral Production Officer Casey Collier 08 8962 4493

Pastoral Production Officer Jane Douglas 08 8962 4483

Pastoral Production Officer Helen McMillan 08 8962 4486

Barkly Landcare & Conservation Association

Landcare Facilitator 08 8962 4494

POSTAGE PAID

AUSTRALIA

If undeliverable, please return to:

Department of Primary Industry & Fisheries

PO Box 159 TENNANT CREEK NT 0861

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