Wednesday, 21 March 2012 10:00

Looking at Lepto losses in sheep and beef

Written by 

THE FARMER Leptospirosis Action Group (FLAG) has contracted Massey University researchers to find out if leptospirosis affects agricultural productivity.

FLAG is funded by Government's Sustainable Farming Fund, Agmardt and industry stakeholders. It's project team includes representatives from Rural Women New Zealand, the Deer Farmers' Association, Beef + Lamb New Zealand, Federated Farmers and the New Zealand Veterinary Association.

"Infection in deer herds has been shown to lead to up to a 6.4kg lower average live weight at slaughter and up to a 10 per cent reduction in weaning rate," says Massey EpiCentre associate professor Cord Heuer.

Disease control through vaccination has proven highly effective in eliminating such losses, he says, while dairy and pig farmers already tend to implement control methods, which are presumably behind a drastic reduction of human Leptospirosis since the 1990s, Heuer adds.

"But at the moment there is no information about what benefit, if any, these measures might have for sheep and beef farmers. We know that 97% of adult sheep flocks and 97% of beef breeding herds have evidence of infection, with more than 50% of animals in New Zealand being antibody positive.

"What we don't know is if there's a productivity decline associated with the infection."

Given the results from deer herds, Heuer expects the findings could be similar for sheep and beef, but research will determine whether that is the case.

"More conclusive evidence is needed for farmers to make an informed, science-based decision about leptospirosis control programmes."

As well as research, an extension programme will engage stakeholders and disseminate scientific findings related to the disease through a series of field days and seminars. These will target farmers and farm workers, veterinarians, other rural workers, rural medical professionals and other stakeholders.

FLAG member Neville Haack says the group will hold regular farmer field days and provide updated information for farmers when applicable.

"We will also enlist a number of demonstration farms that will provide information through blood testing and production monitoring."

Haack adds a Leptospirosis website is being developed with Rural Women New Zealand that will act as an information portal for the latest research and other updates from the group.

More like this

Farmers Lead Sustainability Push: Woodchip bioreactor cuts nitrate runoff in Manawatu

Claims that farmers are polluters of waterways and aquifers and 'don't care' still ring out from environmental groups and individuals. The phrase 'dirty dairying' continues to surface from time to time. But as reporter Peter Burke points out, quite the opposite is the case. He says, quietly and behind the scenes, farmers are embracing new ideas and technologies to make their farms sustainable, resilient, environmentally friendly and profitable.

Massey study tests impact of solar panels on grass growth

Many farmers have invested in solar energy for dairy sheds or houses, but little hard data exists on the viability of solar panels in open paddocks or the loss of drymatter this may cause. Massey University scientist Dr Sam Wilson is conducting research to get more information about this. Rural News reporter Peter Burke went to investigate.

From Nelson to Dairy Research: Amy Toughey’s Journey

Driven by a lifelong passion for animals, Amy Toughey's journey from juggling three jobs with full-time study to working on cutting-edge dairy research trials shows what happens when hard work meets opportunity - and she's only just getting started.

Featured

McClay: “Go hard, go fast!"

Opening a new $3 million methane research barn in Waikato this month, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay called on the dairy sector to “go as fast as you can and prove the concepts”.

$2b boost in NZ exports to EU

New Zealand’s trade with the European Union has jumped $2 billion since a free trade deal entered into force in May last year.

National

Machinery & Products

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Red faced

OPINION: The Greens have taken the high moral ground on the Palestine issue and been leading political agitators in related…

Cold comfort

One of the most galling aspects of the tariffs whacked on our farm exports to the US is the fact…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter