ON FARM NATIONAL LESSONS LEARNED INVASIVE SPECIES > Vietnam is a fast‑growing economy with an expanding appetite for quality Reporting back beef, but there are challenges. > Measuring live weight gain inVietnamese feedlotswould demonstrateon rabbits economic benefits of Over the next few editions, This will help improve the effectiveness longer feed programs. of future control programs. Feedback is putting the > Longer feed programs spotlight on invasive could enable northern The RabbitScan website or app can also Australia to export animals and the tools available be used to report evidence of potential year‑round. to help manage them. rabbit disease in your area via the Rabbit First up is rabbits. To ensure a Biocontrol Tracker. coordinated approach to ethical pest If you find a dead rabbit you suspect has “We’ve seen this work so well control, MLA’s investment in rabbit died from a virus, record the details on in Indonesia and other Asian management is largely through its the app, request a sample kit, then freeze countries. There’s no reason support of the Centre for Invasive the dead rabbit until the kit arrives. why it couldn’t work here,” Species Solutions. he said. This will help researchers understand Industry action how viruses are spreading and which He said new opportunities Australia has invested in successful rabbitones are proving most effective in your could also open up for biocontrol programs for more than 70 area, providing valuable information to northern Australia to supply years, with benefits estimated at $70 billion.help them get the most out of current year‑round, rather than only The program evolution has included: and potential biocontrol agents. ■ from the wet season to June, • 1950 – release of myxoma virus if Vietnam’s feedlots could Cameron Allan extend the length of time • 1996 – release of first rabbit calicivirus E: callan@mla.com.au cattle are on feed. (RHDV1 – Czech strain) • 2017 – release of calicivirus Centre for Invasive Species “It’s pretty much impossible (RHDV1 K5 – Korean strain) Solutions: invasives.com.au to have fat cattle past June in northern Australia unless • 2018 – investigation of exotic calicivirus Tools and resources they source them from strain (RHDV2 – discovered in Australia 1.RabbitScan app and southern Queensland, and in 2015) and its potential to complement website, including the Rabbit then the added transport and boost impact of existing strains. Biocontrol Tracker: costs begin to make us feralscan.org.au/rabbitscan Biological control is by far the most uncompetitive. cost‑effective large‑scale management 2. For tips on improving your rabbit “Vietnam’s price tolerance option to stay on the front foot with control, visit: youtube.com and for slaughter cattle is US$3/ rabbit control, but it can’t be relied on search ‘howto use RabbitScan’ kg landed. If we exceed that, in isolation. 3. PestSmart has a rabbit they look for other options control toolkit at: The viruses and their hosts constantly pestsmart.org.au/pest-animal- within Asia or elsewhere.” co‑evolve, so conventional control methods (baiting, warren ripping, species/european-rabbit Despite the challenges Dan 4. Download PestSmart’s Glovebox saw first‑hand, he encouraged fumigation, shooting and trapping) are industry to support MLA’s also needed for long‑term results. Guide for Managing Rabbits to effort in Vietnam. help plan your rabbit control Biocontrol is best timed for around strategy: pestsmart.org.au and “It will take time to develop February and March, as there are more search ‘glovebox guide’ but the market there has vectors to transmit the disease and fewer huge potential,” he said. young rabbits, which are less susceptible to the disease. For more information on Read more about MLA’s planning your rabbit control strategy, activities in Vietnam on download PestSmart’s Glovebox Guide page 48. ■ for Managing Rabbits (see ‘tools and resources’ on right). Dan Lynch E: danlynch@bigpond. Report your rabbits com Producers are encouraged to record Michael Patching and map rabbit activity, plus on‑farm E: mpatching@mla. and community control activities, via com.au the rabbit section of the FeralScan app or website. 33