Seed contamination of carcases
Seed contamination causes significant financial losses for the sheep industry. Awareness of seeds and how to manage issues involving them are essential to profitability.
Issues with seeds
Seed contamination can reduce:
- Sheep and lamb production
- Product quality and animal health
- Financial returns
Seed infested carcases can be downgraded by $1/kg.
Seeds are picked up in the animal's fleece and within days can penetrate the skin and move into the carcase. This can cause the animal discomfort, reducing productivity and lead to downgraded product.
Major weed contaminants
Grass seed management strategies
A four point plan has been developed to assist producers understand grass seed issues and how to attack it. This includes:
- Develop an awareness of the grass seed issue and its impact on the sheep industry.
- Determine the impact and cost of seed to your business.
- Develop and implement a grass seed management strategy.
- Obtain feedback, monitor and review your management strategy and make changes where required.
Management options
There are many options to manage seeds, but they must be used together in a strategic approach for the most effective and profitable outcome.
While seeds only pose a threat to livestock over a few months of the year, the control program needs a year-round focus.
Common seed management strategies include:
- Grazing management, stocking density and grazing rotation.
- Agronomic management, pasture manipulation, confinement crops and fodder conservation.
- Stock management, feedlotting, genetics and time of lambing.
- Target market and turn-off time.
The whole farm does not have to be seed free, just enough clean paddocks (2-3) to get lambs through to turn-off - or to carry them through to stubble or other clean feed.
Management strategies should focus on tackling the problem directly and eliminating weeds. This can be achieved via strategic use of seed reduction and long-term strategies, with the support of short-term and avoidance strategies in the interim.
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