Latest News• Add My News • Search Old News Gippsland › Latest news › Department of Primary IndustriesEwe Genetics Workshop At Elmore"What does the best ewe flock on your farm look like?" asks Tim Demeo, DPI Sheep and Pastures Officer based at Epsom. Do they produce 140 per cent of live lambs per ewe joined, with all lambs marketed at 16 weeks of age and producing 6 kilograms of 20-micron wool? Does your best ewe have 170 per cent of live lambs per ewe joined, with all lambs meeting export weights at 6 months of age? Tim says that learning what is possible from Merino and crossbred ewes is the focus of a workshop to be held at the Elmore Machinery field day site, Midland Highway Elmore, between All farmers are welcome to attend the workshop, which will deliver clear breeding strategies to maximise returns from wool and lamb production - not now, but in 5 years' time. The three first-cross ewe and lamb mobs will be a feature of the day, highlighting that achieving greater than 140 per cent lambing is possible. The third and final year of the trial compares three different breeds of first-cross ewes and the results indicate that there is a $5,000 difference between the best and worst mobs. Dr Rob Banks from Meat and Livestock Australia will address the significant role of the Merino industry in the lamb food chain and its potential to grow. Robert Mortimer from Centre Plus Merinos at Tullamore in NSW will talk about his Merinos, which are already delivering 130 per cent Merino lambs, cutting 7 kilograms of wool at 20 micron. Alan Wilson from 'Wongajong' $uperBorder$ and Gervaise Gaunt from DPI will discuss the maternal rams which are now capable of delivering high-performance first-cross ewes. For more information contact Tim Demeo on 5430 4427. A NEW APPROACH TO BOVINE JOHNE’S DISEASE Under new arrangements, many herds that previously could not trade because of Johne's disease restrictions now have the opportunity to do so through participation in the Johne’s Disease Calf Accreditation Program (JDCAP) and the revised Johne’s Disease Test and Control Program (TCP2). JDCAP is a calf rearing program designed to minimise the risk of spreading Bovine Johne’s disease (BJD). Calves raised under an accredited rearing system have a lower risk of having BJD than non-accredited calves. The aim of the scheme is to prevent calves from having contact with manure and dairy effluent from adult cattle and reducing exposure to potentially contaminated milk. A new subsidised Johne’s disease testing program (TCP2) has also been launched. All Johne’s disease infected herds can participate in the new testing program, providing they are in the JDCAP. Effective disease control using JDCAP will enhance trading opportunities. Cattle from infected herds participating in the Johne’s Disease Test and Control Program, who have reached tested low prevalence (TLP) or restricted (RD) status and suspect (SU) herds, will be able to sell JDCAP reared cattle to most dairy herds in Victoria without affecting the Johne’s disease status of the recipient herd. All Victorian dairy farmers should work towards participation in the JDCAP. In addition, any herd infected with BJD should seriously consider participation in the new Johne’s Disease Test and Control Program. When purchasing cattle, consider the BJD status of the vendor’s herd and their calf rearing practices. Purchasers should request a Johnes’s disease vendor declaration with every consignment of cattle purchased. Further information on programs for Bovine Johne’s disease control in ONION GRASSOnion grass, also known as Onion grass is a small perennial herb that survives the summer as a corm or bulb. After the autumn break the corm sends up a single, green shoot which grows throughout the winter. The tough, grass-like leaves resemble pine needles. The flowers, 10-20 mm in diameter, are borne singly in spring on short stems. They are usually pink with a yellow centre. In spite of its name and appearance, onion grass is not really a grass but is actually a broadleaf member of the family Iridaceae, which includes the noxious weed Onion grass is a weed of run-down pastures, which thrives on soils low in phosphorous and/or plant nutrients. If improved pasture species are present in the pasture, adequate fertiliser will encourage them to more vigorous growth which will usually suppress the onion grass to an insignificant level. The plant can cause acute intestinal obstructions when fibrous balls of the ingested material build up in the gut of grazing animals. Onion grass can be controlled with chemicals, but they need to be applied early in the season. Source: http://gippsland.com/ Published by: news@gippsland.com
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