NSW Farmers: Sheep health statements are crucial

The sheep health statement is a crucial step in protecting your flock, and with new biosecurity legislation in force, it’s critical in ensuring you’re carrying out your general biosecurity duty.

On-farm biosecurity is an obligation we carry out every day, and should be at the forefront of our minds. While sheep industries are booming, sometimes it’s easy to forget that biosecurity is also a long-term strategy to care for our flocks. Preventing the establishment and spread of disease is more cost-effective than dealing with the consequences after an animal is infected.

One of the most important sheep diseases to protect against is ovine brucellosis, a bacterial disease that occurs throughout NSW in all breeds. It can cause ram wastage, low lamb-marking percentages and extended lambing periods, and can result in rams becoming infertile.

All rams should be examined every year. If a ram shows clinical abnormalities, ensure they are blood tested and free of ovine brucellosis. It’s important to examine all rams before you purchase any, and consult a veterinarian for advice.

DPI advises that producers should only buy from studs that can demonstrate freedom from ovine brucellosis. Avoid purchasing rams from saleyards. You can help boost awareness of ovine brucellosis and prevent it spreading by checking your own rams and participating in the NSW Ovine Brucellosis Accreditation Scheme.

It’s important to ensure that stray rams are prevented from entering other flocks, and to prevent disease-free flocks from mixing with agisted sheep. Make sure your boundary fences are secure.

Be vigilant in preventing the disease; there’s no vaccination available, so prevention is the only cure.