Becoming Local Land Services on 1 January 2014

Lachlan landholder newsletter

Landholder priorities remain a focus of Local Land Services
Local Land Service employing staff with specific skills in biosecurity, agricultural extension, and natural resource management. The LHPA is proud of the significant contributions it has made to the State Government reform to Local Land Heather McLeod (Boorowa Community Landcare), Ron Duggan (LHPA Services, representing our Ranger) and Felicity Roos (DPI) announcing the winner of the recent ratepayers to ensure your Boorowa Fox lotto project involving the CMA, LHPA and Landcare, one of many joint projects between the LHPA and CMAs. needs were acknowledged and considered. Livestock Health and Pest Authorities Thank you to all of those people will become Local Land Services on 1 who contributed to the community January 2014. An information brochure consultation which also helped shape about the new organisation is included the final decisions. with this newsletter and your 2013 As this newsletter goes to print, the Land and Stock Return and you are Independent Pricing and Regulatory encouraged to read it to find out more. Tribunal (IPART) is developing a rating Its been a challenging two years for model for Local Land Services. IPART the LHPA as it underwent the State will present its final recommendations Governments Ryan Review and then to the Minister by the end of November months awaiting the Governments 2013. LHPA rates will be payable decision about the future of the in 2014 and you will still be sent a organisation. We are proud to have 2014 rates notice as determined by continued to provide important livestock information submitted on your 2013 health and pest management services, Land and Stock Return. management of the States 600,000 I congratulate all LHPA directors and hectares of Travelling Stock Reserves, staff for the commitment and loyalty administration of stock identification they have shown over the last two and tracing systems including Property years. We are now looking forward Identification Codes, and immediate to working with the Catchment and effective response in times Management Authorities and of emergency. Servicing you, our Department of Primary Industries ratepayers, will continue to be a priority for the LHPA until 1 January 2014 when agricultural services in the new Local Land Services will take over these organisation, and of course you; our ratepayers and NSW landholders. roles. Last month, the Minister for Primary Industries Katrina Hodgkinson MP announced key decisions around Local Land Services. We are confident in the fact that the current services we provide to you will continue, with each regional For more information about Local Land Services, please visit www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/locallandservices Ian Donges, Chair, LHPA State Management Council 1

JUNE 2013

Contents
Landholder priorities remain a focus of Local Land Services Contact us Drench resistance Lodge your return online 1 1 3 4

But I only have a few head of stock 4

FMD training in Nepal - see 2

Contact us
Forbes (district main office) 46 Sherriff St, FORBES NSW 2871 Ph 02 6852 1688 Condobolin 32 Bathurst St, CONDOBOLIN NSW 2877 Ph 02 6895 2152 Young 93-93a Main St, YOUNG NSW 2594 Ph 02 6382 1255 Email admin.lachlan@lhpa.org.au

Foot and Mouth Disease training in Nepal

By Belinda Edmonstone, Lachlan LHPA District Vet

The Lachlan LHPA drench resistance picture

In September 2011, the Lachlan LHPA received funding to investigate how well our commonly used drenches are performing. The trial was based on testing 64 different properties across the Lachlan LHPA district using three different drench protocols. Each farm provided 60 weaner sheep which were divided into four treatment groups:
Abamectin (ABA) e.g. virbamec, abamectin oral,

At 10-14 days after drenching each group, we did a Worm Egg Count (WEC) and larval differentiation test. The main worm species that cause production and disease issues in sheep are Barbers pole worm (Haemonchus), Black Scour worm (Trichostrongylus) and Small Brown Stomach Worm (Teladorsagia). All these species were well represented in our study so we have good information on how all of these species may be responding to our drenching tactics. A drench is considered no longer effective (e.g. resistance has developed) if it fails to reduce the original worm egg count by less than 95%. In the table below, the number of properties in each category where the drench performed less than 95% effective is divided by the total number of properties which had that worm species active at the time of testing.
Nap/BZ/LEV 0/35 = 100% effective 21/55 = Likely resistance 8/56 = Likely some resistance ABA/BZ/LEV 1/35 = 97% effective 2/56 = 96% effective 0/56 = 100% effective

LHPA district vet Belinda Edmonstone undertook Foot and Mouth Disease training in Nepal recently.

firstmectin, paramect etc; Naphthalophos/Benzimadazole/Levamisole (Nap/BZ/ LEV) e.g. Rametin + Switch; Rametin Combo; Combat + Oxfen etc; Abamectin/Benzimadazole/Levamisole (ABA/BZ/LEV) e.g. Hatrick, Pyramide, Triguard etc; and Control group that was left untreated. and exporter of livestock products. In 2010-2011 livestock and livestock products were worth $19 billion of which $13.4 billion was exports. It has been estimated that a three month outbreak of FMD could cost $7.1 billion increasing to over $16 billion for a 12 month outbreak. In 2011 the Matthews review of Australias preparedness for FMD noted there was a strong possibility that an incursion of FMD might not be rapidly detected in Australia. This was due in part to the fact that relatively few Australian veterinarians or stock handlers have had first-hand experience with animals infected with FMD. The main aim of the training I undertook in Nepal is to increase the likelihood of early detection of FMD by vets, livestock handlers and producers. This is paramount if we are to minimise the economic loss the disease would have on our industries. I am available to do a presentation or training to any producer groups or groups involved in the livestock industry on recognition of the disease. As livestock managers it is important that you observe your stock regularly and that you report any signs of a new or suspicious disease. If you have any concerns contact the LHPA or the Emergency Disease Watch Hotline on 1800 675 888.
Abamectin (ABA) Barbers Pole worm Small Brown Stomach worm Black Scour worm 15/34 = Likely resistance 9/54 = Likely some resistance 2/55 = 96% effective

Recently I was fortunate enough to be part of a team of livestock veterinarians sent to Nepal for Real Time Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) training. This is thanks to the combined efforts of the LHPA, Food and Agricultural Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) and Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF). FMD is by far the most significant biosecurity threat to Australias livestock industries. An outbreak in Australia could have devastating consequences to our community in lost production, trade and tourism. Australia is a significant producer

Conclusion:
It is very likely that approximately 50% of Lachlan producers have abamectin resistant Barbers Pole populations. This will be a very real problem in wet warm seasons. It is very likely that approximately 30% of Lachlan producers have abamectin AND Naphthalophos/BZ/Lev resistance in the Small Brown Stomach worm population. So far, most of these drenches are effective against Black Scour worm populations BUT there are signs that abamectin resistance is starting to develop. There is huge individual variation across properties so this data can only be used as a guide and to really know what is happening on your farm, you have to do this type of testing. So for producers in the Lachlan LHPA, one message is clear from this survey Do you know how your drenches are performing? If not, it might pay to find out!

Get involved in feral pig control

Ideal breeding conditions over the past few years has led to a significant rise in numbers of feral pigs throughout the district, and as they are a declared pest animal, landholders must implement effective measures to control them. Feral pigs have a large home range and therefore individual landholder control efforts are less likely to have any long term benefits. As with all pest animal control, its the coordinated group efforts of landholders and agencies that are the most effective. Control methods include baiting with 1080 poison and using traps, which are available from the Forbes, Condobolin and Young LHPA office. Landholders wishing to use baits must be accredited to do so, and the LHPA provide short training courses on a regular basis in 1080/Pindone to certify them. Its important to remember that the effectiveness of any pest animal control program is determined by the number of animals that are left, not the number of animals that are killed. Those left will continue to breed and be your ongoing future problem. Actively monitoring for the movement of remaining feral pigs and targeting any isolated pockets that might remain are critical components of any program. LHPA rangers are available to coordinate feral pig control programs which landholders are encouraged to get involved in - local groups have been established recently at Boorowa and Cookamidgeria.

In other news...
Fox Baits Fox Traps
The Lachlan LHPA have fox traps available to assist smaller landholders who may not be able to bait contact your local LHPA office for further information. accreditation for the use of 1080 and Pindone products. The course cost is $45.00 per participant. Enquiries can be made at any of our offices in Forbes, Condobolin or Young.

1080/Pindone course
Landholders are reminded to contact LHPA rangers 24 hours prior to any baits being issued. 1080 baiting continues to be closely monitored by government authorities and the strict protocols surrounding the issue of baits must be complied with. Office staff can no longer hand over baits if prior arrangements have not been made. Rangers from the Lachlan Authority continue to conduct the 1080/Pindone training course to allow landholders to use 1080 and Pindone baits on their properties. The three hour course gives landholders a clearer understanding of 1080 and Pindone use and their legal obligations. Landholders who participate receive a five year

Outstanding Rates
Rate payments are now well overdue and in the coming weeks we will be handing over accounts to our debt collection agency for further action. If your rates are still unpaid and you are experiencing financial difficulty please contact the General Manager to make arrangements. This will ensure you avoid the added legal costs that are charged once the debt collection agency becomes involved.
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Landholders recently attended the Cookamidgeria pig group formation meeting, arranged by LHPA rangers Gabrielle Wright and Kevin Smith.

But I only have a few head of stock...

By Eliz Braddon LHPA Senior District Vet It does not matter if you have one sheep or cow or 100 of them, the same rules apply in NSW! Since September 2012, there has been new legislation in NSW that requires all land where stock is held to have a Property Identification Code (PIC). That includes one cow, one sheep, one horse or donkey, one camelid (i.e., alpaca, llama), or 100 or more poultry. This is a requirement to improve our traceability of stock in the event that we have to trace livestock movements. Remember horse flu? Tracking movements of horses was very difficult at times during the outbreak but the new legislation with the expansion of PICs enables more efficient traceability. So if you have a few lawn mowers or just trade a couple of head of cattle every few years that you have hand raised, you still need a PIC. And when you go to sell them, you will also need a National Vendor Declaration form. Here is a simple check list of what bookwork you need to keep stock these days: A Property Identification Code (PIC) obtained from your local Livestock Health and Pest Authority office or online at www.lhpa.org.au/ identifying-and-tracing-livestock/ property-identification-codes A National Vendor Declaration Book (NVD) if you intend to sell that stock at saleyards, abattoir or even privately. Meat and Livestock

Australia provide these books for sheep, cattle and goats. Australian Pork Limited has them for pigs. You will need to know your PIC before your register for a NVD book. A NLIS database account if you intend to have sheep, goats or cattle. You may also need a NLIS database account to monitor and register the movements of your stock. This particularly applies if you move them around from property to property or buy stock privately. More information on the database can be found at www.nlis.mla.com.au or on www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/ livestock/nlis. NLIS tags electronic ear tags or rumen boluses for cattle; visual plastic tags for sheep and goats. These tags have the property PIC stamped on them and must be in place before any animals leave their property of birth. Record livestock movements when sheep/goats/cattle move from one property to another, that movement must be recorded on the NLIS database. If you use a saleyard or direct to an abattoir, they will do it for you. If you move stock privately, then it is the responsibility of the buyer to ensure that movement has been recorded on the NLIS database. It is best to organise the PIC well before you purchase any stock as you will need to be able to record your stock against this PIC when you buy. And you need to organise the NVDs well before you sell if you want to avoid angry agents, price penalties due to reduced bidding, and general frustration. For further assistance, please contact your local LHPA office.

Why have I been sent a land and stock return?

The information you provide in your Land and Stock Return helps us build a statewide picture about agricultural usage and livestock numbers. Along with the stock ID and traceability systems we manage, this information is invaluable in the event of an emergency disease outbreak. Even if you have no stock, it is important for you to complete a Land and Stock Return. Unless you complete a return, we automatically apply an animal health charge to next years rates. It is also a legal requirement that you lodge a return under the Rural Lands Protection Act 1998. Remember, your 2013 Land and Stock Return should be lodged online or received by us by 31 August 2013.

3 simple steps to online lodgement of your return

There are three simple steps to online lodgement: Look at the top-right hand 1 corner of the enclosed Land and Stock Return for your

Holding reference number and online password. Visit www.lhpa.org.au/ landandstock and log in using your Holding reference number and unique online password. Fill in your land and stock details.

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For more information

visit our website

www.lhpa.org.au/districts/lachlan