Think biosecurity and practice good hygiene

Consider the time and money you have spent keeping your flock healthy, in protecting your investment and the steps you might take to prevent the introduction of disease.

Agriculture Victoria senior veterinary officer Robert Suter said genuine closed flocks are uncommon as most producers have purchased or agisted livestock, including rams, at some time.

“With the current surplus of feed and good livestock prices, producers are keen to buy in sheep and cattle, but care needs to be taken not to introduce disease,” Dr Suter said.

“Diseases are commonly introduced into flocks by bringing in sheep, and once introduced, can have a major impact on the value of the flock, plus consume time, effort and money in control or eradication programs.”

“Farm biosecurity means keeping disease out and preventing the spread of disease from your flock to another flock.”

“If your flock is infected with an infectious disease or if you suspect the flock is infected, you have a duty of care to ensure that other flocks are not placed at risk of infection.”

“The risk of introduction of a disease can be minimised by obtaining a good history of the livestock from the vendor prior to purchase.”

“At a minimum a buyer should ask if the flock was bred by the vendor and request a declaration relating to the disease status of the properties on which the livestock have been kept.”

“The National Vendor Declaration should be examined for any potential warning signals, and you can request a Sheep Health Statement,” he said.

A quarantine period in a designated area can be a practical way of restricting the possible introduction of diseases and weeds and the opportunity to examine for disease and external parasites.

Dr Suter said having good fences is the front line in farm biosecurity, and the maintenance of boundary fences is essential to prevent the introduction of stray livestock from neighbouring properties.

Market report for 22nd and 23rd March 2017 Wednesday Fat Sale 470 head. Thursday Bull and Cow Sale, 21 bulls, 510 cows

An increase of 200 head this week for the fat sale and most of the increase was in the vealer section with an extra 150 head yarded. Top quality pens saw the top lift to 388 cents and the better rates remained steady amongst these pens. 18 bullocks were penned, an increase of 100 per cent on last week and sold to good demand. Heifer numbers were up and a lack of condition in some pens pulled the top and average back. A few extra steers sold to slightly easier demand, slipping 20 cents on average. 18 bullocks topped at 312.6 and averaged 260.9. 28 heifers topped at 295, back 37 and averaged 275.9, back 19. 51 steers topped at 312.6, back 35 and averaged 265.5, back 19. 373 veal topped at 388, up 3 and averaged 321.6, firm. Yard numbers were also up on Thursday for the bull and cow sale with 538 head yarded. 21 bulls sold to firm demand topping at 279.2, up 10 cents and the average was 24 cents better at 251.3. 510 cows sold to strong demand making to 295.6, up 19 cents on last week. The cow average was 15 cents up at 205.4, with this week’s yard average 13 cents better at 207.6.

7 LimXC&N Guy, Buln Buln 2 LimX J&C Langelaan, N/Sth 1 AngX G&N Stafford, Nayook 1 LimX D Fleming, Stradbroke 1 Lim I&A Hancock, Poowong 7 Lim R Moroney, Willow Grove

1 Ang 1 Ang 1 Ang

7 Ang 1 M/G

E Jones, Tanjil Sth A Moyes, Boolarra R&L Johnson, Jindivick

L&S Wakefield, N/Sth S&M Birch, Athlone

11 Ang A&W Sayers, Ellinbank 1 P/H P Norrie, Darnum Export Cows and Heifers 1 Char P Rosato, Moe 1 Lim Seaview Farms, Seaview 2 Lim I&R Awty, Narracan 1 Lim K Millar, Drouin East 1 Hfd I Jones, Benambra 1 S/H D Greenland, Jindivick Dairy Cows 1 Frn G&K Armstrong, Athlone 2 Frn H&D Spargo, Bona Vista Bulls 1 Lim 1 W/B 1 R/A 1 S/H P Williams, Trafalgar A Furborough, Tynong G&K Fankhouser, D/Sth D Greenland, Jindivick

3. Landmark, 4. Scotts, 5. Elders.

366 388.0 1420 368 387.2 1424 395 387.2 1529 385 386.2 1486 330 385.0 1270 365 382.0 1394

610 312.6 550 308.0 625 304.0

508 307.6 605 305.0

400 295.0 460 275.0

600 295.6 720 289.2 553 277.6 640 277.2 620 273.6 565 265.2

670 237.2 737 226.0

1906 1694 1900

1561 1845

1180 1265

1773 2082 1533 1774 1696 1498

1589 1665

850 279.2 2373 1025 276.2 2831 930 270.2 2512 915 268.2 2454 1. Gibbon, 2. SEJ,