ON FARM SHEEP Team effort to stopSimon said he’ll probably never knowBiosecurity not infallible lice in their trackswhere the lice came from. “In terms of biosecurity, we try to maintain good boundary fences and Arecent sheep lice have a closed Merino flock – the only infestation on Simon animals we bring in are prime lamb sires and they have a strict induction process and Penny Foster’s farm – but there are a few location-related in Tasmania’s midlands risk factors,” Simon said. reinforced the benefits of taking a team approach to animal health This includes a shared boundary with and biosecurity. the local town, where people run small mobs of sheep, and 9km of public road In May 2019, one of the Fosters’ two running through the property. full-time employees noticed signs of “We sometimes see the odd sheep on rubbing on two sheep in a mob of the road and we don’t know how they wethers. He took immediate action, get there – they’re not our neighbours’ yarding the sheep and alerting Simon. sheep, so maybe they jump out of trailers. After inspecting the sheep, Simon “The road is fenced, but sometimes called his veterinary advisor Paul Nilon people driving along see a sheep and, (see story opposite) to alert him to their thinking they’re doing the right thing, suspected lice issue. put it into one of our paddocks. “I asked Paul to have a look and confirm “We can’t do much about that, so we’re the problem, then make treatment Sheep producers Penny and Simon Foster. better to get on, deal with the issue, recommendations,” Simon said. eradicate it and then stay vigilant.” ■ Paul’s recommendation was Diligent application two-pronged: They applied the long-wool and Simon Foster 1.Immediately treat the affected mob off-shears treatments using backline E: sifoster@bigpond.com with a long-wool product to get them products, with a diligent approach to applying the chemicals. LiceBoss through to shearing in August. liceboss.com.au 2. Shear all sheep within a short period “We made sure we had too much labour of time and treat them all with an rather than not enough, so people off-shears product. weren’t rushed,” Simon said. LESSONS The Fosters usually shear ewes first “We brought in a representative from LEARNED followed by the wethers about a the chemical company to demonstrate month later. correct application.” > A good team – including on-farm staff and off-farm expertise – “This time we didn’t have that break Seeking expert advice is a common is important. between shearings so we could get all practice in their business. > Be diligent in checking sheep for the sheep shorn and treated as soon as “Whenever we have an animal health animal health issues. Don’t live possible,” Simon said. issue, we get Paul in to go through in hope. “We were meticulous about it with us and our staff so we all > If you suspect there’s a problem, getting clean musters and understand the disease, as well as the call in an expert and make ‘why’ of the treatment,” Simon said. evidence-based decisions. managing sheep movements so there was minimal With no sign of further lice infestations > Make sure everyone on the farm during random flock inspections in understands the issue and how crossover between woolly autumn, Simon said it’s now just a case you’re going to deal with it. and shorn or treated mobs.” of ongoing monitoring. SNAPSHOT:Simon and Penny Foster , ‘Fosterville’, Campbell Town, TasmaniaSl Area: Enterprise: Livestock: Pasture: Soil: Rainfall: 7,800ha Self-replacing Merino 24,000 sheep Native pastures, Highly variable, 450mm flock, Merino ram (10,000 improved phalaris ranging from breeding, first-cross Merino ewes) and sub-clover deep sands lambs, irrigated cropping 800 Angus x pastures to black (grass seed adnpoppies), Hereford cattle cracking clays beef cattle 23