Three things to keep on top of this season

Following wet conditions in some regions of northern Australia, it's time to take action to safeguard your livestock’s health to maximise production into spring and beyond.

Read on for three ways to ensure your herd are set up for a successful season.

1. Vaccinate stock this first round muster

For producers in the north, who are bringing in cattle as part of first round musters, now is the time to take stock of your vaccination program and what livestock need vaccinating this season. Check that your vaccine supplies, equipment and storage are all ready to go.

MLA’s vaccination webpage is also available to provide tips, tools and practical information on vaccinating cattle, sheep and goats in a diverse range of production zones. Northern beef businesses can also source information on vaccination from FutureBeef’s vaccination page.

When vaccinating, follow the directions on the vaccine label and make sure you document and file all animal treatment details to meet your Livestock Production Assurance (LPA) requirements, if you are LPA accredited. Read more about your LPA requirements around conducting safe and responsible animal treatments.

2. Take action against tick fever

Tick fever is endemic in the cattle tick infested zones in Queensland, the NT and northern WA, with most tick fever outbreaks occurring in animals between 18–36 months of age.

To protect your herd from the disease:

• vaccinate calves aged 3–9 months old
• vaccinate any cattle moving from the Tick-Free Zone to the Tick Zone, preferably 60 days before their journey
• avoid grazing susceptible cattle (e.g. newly introduced cattle) on pastures with high tick larvae contamination
• use methods such as spelling or burning pastures to decrease pasture larval burdens
• select resistant breeds such as Brahman and other Bos indicus cattle
• take biosecurity measures (e.g. maintaining stock proof fences) to prevent spread of tick fever.

The MLA website contains more information on tick fever and how to prevent tick outbreaks.

You can also view the Queensland Government’s tick fever page, the NT Government’s AgNote for Tick Fever or the WA Government’s tick page for current cattle tick fever information and regulations for your state.

If you suspect livestock may have tick fever, you should contact a veterinarian for assistance as soon as possible, who will be able to assist you in treating the animal(s). This guide from Business Queensland contains eight tips to controlling a tick fever outbreak in cattle that may also help you minimise losses from the disease.

3. Stay on watch for three-day sickness

In northern regions – especially those regions that have recently experienced heavy rainfall – producers are encouraged to keep a close eye out for three-day sickness (bovine ephemeral fever, or BEF).

Spread by mosquitos and biting midges, clinical signs that would lead you to suspect three day sickness in your livestock include the following:

• depression
• lameness, muscle stiffness, shivering, twitching, droopy ears
• drooling saliva, watery eyes, runny nose
• recumbency (lying down/sprawling)
• reduced food and water intake.

Always contact your veterinarian for assistance if you suspect there is a case of three-day sickness on your property. Bulls, heavily pregnant or high producing cows and well-conditioned stock should especially require treatment.

Your veterinarian may recommend some of the following actions for the treatment of three-day sickness:

1. Ensure the affected animal has adequate shelter, water and food to minimise the impacts of heat on the animal.
2. Roll over handled stock several times a day to help avoid loss of circulation. However, for unhandled stock, keep in mind that constant handling such as rolling may adversely stress the animal.
3. Anti-inflammatory drugs and calcium injections to assist recumbent animals (animals lying down) to regain mobility.

Prevention of three day sickness relies largely on vaccination of your herd.