Dedicated to bust brucellosis in sheep

By no means a one-man battle, the quest to make all sheep flocks clean of this insidious disease has been ongoing for many decades. Mr Derrick, who runs Karoola Downs Poll Merino stud, between Gundagai and Adelong with wife, Sheryl, began his campaign three years ago after taking on the breed’s top state position.

Now he has handed over those official duties Mr Derrick says he’s more keen than ever to have brucellosis accreditation added to the National Vendor Declaration (NVD).

“This would reduce the current practice of on-selling potentially diseased rams at saleyards and dispersals,” he said.

“Owners have an obligation under the Stock Diseases Act not to sell diseased rams.”

Mr Derrick said all that was needed was the insertion of a line asking a yes or no question if the rams were accompanied by an Ovine Brucellosis accreditation (number, expiry date, or a negative blood test).

To add impetus to the quest Mr Derrick has garnered the support of Victoria’s Merino Breeders Association president, Michael Collins, “Mt Bute”, Linton, Vic, who sits on Animal Health Australia through Wool Producers of Australia.

“I aim to go through the Australian Association of Merino Breeders then Michael and I will take it from there to try and get it included on the NVD,” Mr Derrick said.

On his campaign list Mr Derrick’s points include education and an industry-driven control of a “costly disease”.

“No rams to be sold for breeding purposes unless accompanied by an accreditation or at the very least a negative blood test based on a 90-day isolation,” he said. 

“All other rams to be sold for slaughter only and all straying rams should be considered diseased and disposed of humanely.”

It is the responsibility of the owner to prevent straying stock.

Mr Derrick said all stud Merino breeders have to be accredited before being accepted as members of the NSWSMBA .

“Brucellosis can heavily affect the lambing percentage of infected flocks, and I would have thought that to be a primary driver of a profitable business,” he said.

“Buying accredited rams is the only sure way of knowing purchased rams do not have OB.”