the western division of nsw peppin-shaw ‘revs’ up …...grazier, john vagg’s story on how he...

January/February 2007 1

jjkgJan/Feb 07

Produced for landholders in the Western Division of NSW

Number 115 www.agric.nsw.gov.au/reader/wdn

ISSN 0314 - 5352

In this issue ...

Continued on page 4

Book a seat on the bus now to see some of the best ewes in the Hay district – call Hay Travelscene ph: (02) 6993 4444 or enquiries to President Greg Rogers ph: (02) 6993 8151

HAY MERINO BREEDERS INC

17th Peppin-Shaw Riverina Ewe Flock

Competition

February Tuesday 13 and Wednesday 14 2007

The reputation of the Riverina and Western Division’s sheep spreads far and wide, for not only their quality but their constitution.

That depth of breeding and the resilience of the sheep – and their owners – will be on display next February when the Peppin-Shaw Ewe Flock Competition is held again.

Despite terrible seasonal conditions in much of the region, entrants have given excellent support to this contest, which is widely regarded as one of the biggest Merino judging competitions in the world.

And the 2007 Peppin-Shaw will have a true

Merino breeder Andries Piennaar sharing the judging honours with return judge David Kellock, from South Australia.

Speaking from South Africa, Mr Pienaar said he was looking forward to the role.

‘We (our family) are passionate about Merinos and believe they have the best

he said.

Peppin-Shaw president Greg Rogers said he commended those who had entered their sheep in next February’s competition.

‘The committee all understand how

many entrants put their names forward,’ he said.

‘We would now like to see a big crowd follow the judges around and take the chance to see the latest crop of young

Peppin-Shaw ‘revs’ up again

In the yards at Peppin-Shaw

The 2006 winners and committee members celebrating at the presentation dinner

by Fiona Wragge, Committee

ewes from commercial operations in the Riverina and Western Division.’

Legal Road Network Project

Moving 100% into goats

Further education – it isn’t what it used to be!

Enterprise Based Conservation Program wins Gold Award

Lachlan CMA scholarships

Wild Dog Destruction Board report

‘Sharpening the saw on a grazing business in the semi-arid rangelands’

$2.02 million for Western Catchment land managers

New management tool for Barrier Range landholders

Cattle producers warned of lead poisoning risk

Barkindji people graduate with land management skills

Pressure Trial

Stock water – what’s left in

Harvesting kangaroos in NSW

2 Western Division Newsletter2 Western Division Newsletter

the Department of Natural Resources with funding assistance from the Department of Environment

Editorialby Sally Ware

NSW DPI, Hay

I hope you enjoy reading this issue. As I have said many times, landholder contributions are always welcome, so it is wonderful to have the Whyte and Ingram families’ story in this issue. Titled ‘Sharpening the Saw on a Grazing Business in the Semi-arid Rangelands’,

the paper was presented by Angus Whyte at the Rangelands Conference held last September. Also in this issue is Ivanhoe grazier, John Vagg’s story on how he has moved out of merino sheep completely and into goats.

In the last issue we included some FAQ’s and answers and we hope they provided satisfactory responses to the issues raised so far.

Currently the Legal Roads Network Project is in the process of collecting information from landholders to allow for the registration of a plan of the Silver City Highway from Broken Hill to Fowlers Gap or a distance of approximately 120 km north of Broken Hill.

possible scenarios:

1. If the highway passes through your property and a track on your property is used by a neighbour as the primaryaccess to their property, then that

be required to contact you to obtain your agreement to the access easements location and your endorsement of the application for its creation. Action to amend the area after withdrawal of the road and the removal of the access condition from your leases can progress after the easement is established.

2. If the highway passes through your property and no neighbours use a track on your property for their primaryaccess to it, then the only actions affecting you will be the amendment

by Rex Miller & Jason BrouffLegal Roads Network Project Team, DNRFar West Region, DubboPh: (02) 6883 3015 or (02) [email protected]@dnr.nsw.gov.au

Legal road network projectof the area after withdrawal of the road and the opportunity to remove the access condition.

3. If the highway does not pass through your property and you use a track over a neighbour’s property to provide your primary access to it, then you will receive correspondence, including a diagram showing existing access tracks and an application that you will need to discuss with that neighbour (the burdened party). Action to remove the access condition can progress after the easement is established.

It is important to remember when responding to our requests for

primary access that only existing tracks can be nominated and only one legal access will be provided per property unless the Commissioner agrees

primary access to your property is via another route/road then please wait until that access is the subject of the projects investigation before nominating your primary access.

We understand that this process has the potential for confusion and if you have any concerns please don’t hesitate to contact me or Jason on the numbers above.


Background

John has been involved in the merino industry all his life and at the peak of the wool industry was shearing up to 10 000sheep on Orana.

What factors made you think about a change?

the early 1990s was a major factor in my losing faith with the wool industry. I was also selling up to 2000 feral goats off Orana per year anyway and they were bringing a reasonable return with no input costs. As a single operator, I was

in merinos. I was also aware that the vegetable matter content of my wool was always too high for the good quality wool types and I knew this would always limit the price I would receive for my wool. In addition, I made some enquiries about the export goat meat market and I was informed it was a large expanding market. I was told that two thirds of the world’s

that with good marketing, the rangeland goat would become a valuable commodity. Finally, I had a woody weed problem on Orana and I thought running goats would help me reduce this problem.

How did you start to make the change?

area central to the property in 1996. I put hinged joint onto an existing paddock of

Moving 100% into goatsAs told to Sally Ware, (NSW DPI, Hay) by John Vagg, Orana, Ivanhoe

4000 acres. I started by placing the better feral does into this paddock. The 2002 drought meant I had to sell 50% of my sheep and cattle. As the drought became worse, I noticed how well the goats were managing due to their ability to browse whilst the sheep were getting weaker and weaker despite being lightly stocked. I watched while the does kept double kidding every 6 months through the dry conditions. My doe herd was building

What happened next?

I was successful in applying for some WEST 2000 Plus funding and this allowed me to stretch my funds to complete some more goat fencing. Once the fencing was completed I could increase my goat herd. I started to learn how to handle goats and I initially set up the cattle yards with

yards. I started selling the entire males at weights 8 kg upwards into the Broken Hill abattoir. The return per head for the goats was becoming very attractive. I worked out it was costing me about $17/head to run my sheep for the year and very little to run my goats. The goat enterprise was looking

country.

John Vagg in a typical paddock on Orana which is ideal for goat production

Editor’s note: This article is one of a number of articles that will be printed in the Newsletter that allows individual Western Division landholders to tell their story about

on their property. This is John Vagg’s story about his move into goats on his property Orana, which is situated near Ivanhoe.

The Whyte and Ingram families’ story is also included in this newsletter.

4 Western Division Newsletter

Ten years later

As the goat income increased, I was able to spend the money on building up my infrastructure for the goats. I now have nine main paddocks and numerous small paddocks. I only have 11 000 acres yet to be fenced. I have completed all the fencing myself. I mainly sell my goats to the local depot which is located not far from Orana. I have an excellent relationship with the depot. The truck picks up the goats and I get paid live weight per head on the property within a very short time-frame with no selling charges. The goats breed quickly as I have the bucks in all year. I now run 3500 does and I turn off the entire males at nine months of age

Despite this current drought, the goats remain in good condition and the kidding percentages remain over 240% each 12 months. The high kidding rates are a result of the does’ ability to kid twice a year and to have multiple births, usually twins. The maiden does kid at about eight or nine months of age.

Have you started to improve your goat genetics?

I have started to select feral does and males with good body type plus I have infused

the progeny are becoming more robust and the males are achieving heavier body weights at an earlier age.

I have also established a poll herd that I have built up to 1000 does. I am

in this operation, in particular some hermaphrodites are appearing. I am hoping that this problem will disappear with select breeding. The big advantage with poll animals is their ease of handling in the yards and the major reduction in carcase bruising.

How does your country look?

My property has never looked better as the goats prefer to browse or eat weeds such as ward’s weed. The goats also eat most of the woody weeds at seedling stage. This is probably because the woody weeds are more palatable as a seedling. I have good stands of perennial grasses in each paddock and very good ground cover. I have found the goats will eat the perennials grasses down to their crown but not eat the crown out, so crowns reshoot quite quickly when it rains.

Any regrets?

Not at all. I have accepted that goats suit my country and I am very pleased with the returns I receive from them. I sold my last mob of sheep in October 2006. I am happy to talk to other landholders, with similar country, who are considering moving out of sheep and running a goat enterprise on their property.

Note: John can be contacted after hours on telephone (02) 6995 1333.

Mr Rogers said everyone who attended the Peppin-Shaw gained knowledge about the sheep industry.

‘Our catch phrase is that it is a forum in the sheepyards and I guarantee that those who attend will learn,’ he said.

‘This is by no means a closed shop or a select group and we, and the entrants, wholeheartedly welcome visitors to join the bus trip, visit the properties and participate in the discussions.’

Some of the highlights of the 2007 Peppin-Shaw include a visit to the massive Tupra woolshed, near Oxley, NSW, and the return to the 2006 winning-property Gundaline, where 37 000 Merino ewes are joined annually.

The 2007 Peppin-Shaw will be held on February 13–14. For more information contact Greg or Helen Rogers on (02) 6993 8151.

‘Peppin-Shaw ‘revs’ up again’ continued from page 1

‘Moving 100% into goats’ continued from page 3


Years ago, most formal education was done in a classroom or lecture theatre,

completing the requirements for one level before progressing to the next. This learning pathway is often shown as a linear

below). The pathway highlights the link between Vocational Education and Training (VET) and Higher Education (HEd) and the opportunities for further education that this link presents.

Today, you can learn in many ways (e.g. face-to-face, with peers, on-line),

point where you enter or the route you take to move along the Learning Pathway

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL),

Further education – it isn’twhat it used to be !by John A Taylor, Rangelands Australia, University of Queensland Gatton Campus, Gatton Qld Diploma without actually completing a

taught course/program through a TAFE or Agricultural College. This happens when the training system recognizes the skills and knowledge you have gained through work experience and life experience, and

matching those skills. Short courses may also be considered in RPL, such as MLA’s EDGEnetwork or Rangelands Australia-developed courses, where the course outcomes have been mapped across the competencies in various rural training packages.

However, for mature-aged people who have VET-level awards (either taught or by RPL) and are interested in moving further along the pathway, the step – ‘Bachelor degree’ – can be a huge practical and psychological barrier, and especially if it requires leaving home and committing to 3–4 years full-time or 6–8 years part-time study.


It is now possible to circumvent the ‘Bachelor degree’ step and gain entry to a postgraduate program by coursework

if you have several years of managerial-

page 5). Such new pathways for entry into Postgraduate coursework programs open up opportunities for further education that you may never have thought of or thought were impossible. Furthermore, you can do a postgraduate coursework program from home by distance education. You can also study part-time, which means that you don’t have to give up your ‘day job’, and can still enjoy a high quality learning experience as you are guided by experienced facilitators and stimulated by interactions with practical people also living and studying in pastoral regions across Australia.

So, it’s pretty clear that education today isn’t what it used to be, and living in remote areas is no longer a barrier to learning for better management decisions,

better understanding of the current and

sustainable pastoral enterprise.

For more information on postgraduate-level courses, RPL, enrolment, etc contact Rangelands Australia ([email protected]) for an information pack or visit our website (www.rangelands-australia.com.au).

‘Further education – it isn’t what it used to be’ continued from page 5


The WEST 2000 Plus Enterprise Based Conservation program recently won the Gold Award in the Environment and Natural Resources category of the NSW Premier’s Public Sector Awards.

The purpose of the Awards is to showcase the public sector’s commitment to quality, dedication to excellence, and provision of better service to the community. In winning the Gold Award, the Enterprise Based Conservation program has demonstrated innovation, collaboration both with other government agencies and the community, and positive outcomes.

to balance conservation and production outcomes on their properties. Approximately 70 000 ha are being actively managed by landholders, with individual conservation areas ranging from 200 ha to 23 000 ha.

Regular payments are made to landholders

activities such as weed management, feral animal control, and the removal of feral goats in order to reduce total grazing pressure. Landholders also have the option of removing domestic stock, or retaining them and managing for a target level of groundcover.

The ten landholders that are involved in the innovative program are located throughout the Western Division and are conserving a variety of landscapes, threatened species and their habitats, riverine corridors, and Aboriginal and European cultural heritage sites.

The receipt of this award is a timely recognition of the positive outcomes that the individual landholders have achieved as a result of their change in land management. The willingness of

Enterprise Based ConservationProgram wins Gold Awardby Renee Shepherd, Program Manager, WEST 2000 Plus

the landholders to be involved in this innovative program and try ‘something different’ has been one of the major reasons for the success of the program.

Renee Shepherd and Graham Morphett of WEST 2000 Plus receiving their Gold Award from Premier Morris Iemma

The Western Lands Branch of the Department of Natural Resources, in conjunction with the Western Lands Advisory Council, is currently undertaking a review of the fencing conditions within the Western Lands and Dividing Fences Acts. The review is in regard to standards and maintenance of boundary fences on Western Lands Leases.

The review of fencing conditions has been requested due to the increase in ‘exotic’ animals in the Western Division, particularly the increase in Dorper and Damara sheep numbers. A working party, consisting of Western Lands staff and Advisory Council members, has been formed to consider the matter. The contact person for this issue is Sharon Hawke, Manager, Land Management, Western Lands Branch, Department of Natural Resources, Dubbo (ph: (02) 6883 3065; [email protected])

Western Lands News – updateon the boundary fencing issue

for exotic breeds


Our Catchment Our Community

Educational scholarship program now available for students of the Lachlan Catchment

The Lachlan Catchment Management Authority has initiated an exciting partnership with Metalcorp Steel which

Lachlan Catchment area.

Minister Macdonald, Minister for Natural Resources, launched the education scholarship program recently at Parliament House, Sydney. The Program is the result of the unique partnership between the Lachlan Catchment Management Authority (CMA) and Metalcorp Steel.

A number of organisations were approached by Lachlan CMA to seek

resources to establish a scholarship fund. Metalcorp Steel was the organisation that demonstrated the most interest and the ‘Steel yourself for a greater education’ program has been developed.

‘The Lachlan CMA and Metalcorp have negotiated an arrangement where for every $1000 worth of Australian made

Metalcorp product that is purchased within the Lachlan Catchment, Metalcorp will contribute $10 towards the scholarship fund,’ Lachlan CMA Chair Mr Robert Gledhill said.

Metalcorp have got right behind the partnership and have committed to paying into the fund from all steel products purchased in the Lachlan Catchment, not just those involved in Lachlan CMA projects.

‘Metalcorp have given this scholarship fund a $5000 kickstart to ensure we can offer a scholarship to a student to commence studies in 2007. The Scholarship encourages youth with an

to become more involved in research, education and decision making in natural resource management’, LCMA Chair Robert Gledhill stated.

This partnership agreement means that the young people of the Lachlan Catchment will have greater opportunity to pursue studies in agriculture or natural resource management.

Lachlan CMA provides the community with advice, support and funding to manage the natural resource base in the Lachlan Catchment and look forward to the opportunity to work together with Metalcorp to increase the level of education and training within our rural community.

To receive Scholarship Application Forms

about the other Scholarship programs available, contact your nearest Lachlan

Coordinator on 1800 885 747.

Catchment Management Authority and its Natural Resource Management Programs

Pictured handing over a cheque for $5000 to kickstart the Scholarship Program recently at Parliament House, Sydney, are Mr Cec Fox, General Manager of Metalcorp, The Hon Ian Macdonald, Minister for Natural Resources, and Mr Rob Gledhill, Chair of the Lachlan CMA.

by Donna-Lee Ible, Lachlan CMA


contact your local Catchment Management

– www.lachlan.cma.nsw.gov.au

Educational scholarship program now available for Aboriginal students of the Lachlan Catchment

The Lachlan Catchment Management Authority and the Lachlan Regional Aboriginal Reference Group has announced an exciting Scholarship

Aboriginal youth from across the Lachlan Catchment area.

Chair of the Lachlan Regional Aboriginal Reference Group, Mr Ian Woods, said ‘This Program will provide more scope for Aboriginal youth of the Lachlan Catchment to study in the areas of agriculture and natural resource management. The Lachlan Regional Aboriginal Reference Group is committed to giving youth of the Catchment an opportunity not only to study, but to bring their skills back to the Catchment.’

The LCMA – Lachlan Regional Aboriginal Reference Group Scholarship is to be awarded annually, commencing in 2007, to an Aboriginal student from the Lachlan Catchment who displays strong personal, community and educational commitment to rural or regional areas, with particular reference to the Lachlan Catchment.

Lachlan CMA Chair, Robert Gledhill, stated when announcing the Program recently, ‘This Scholarship Program will enable the Aboriginal youth of this Catchment the opportunity to advance their

management; the long-term effects will be

Scholarship recipient, the community and the Catchment.’

Lachlan CMA provides the community with advice, support and funding to manage the natural resource base in the Lachlan Catchment and looks forward to the opportunity to work together with the Lachlan Regional Aboriginal Reference Group to increase the level of education and training within our rural community.

The Lachlan Regional Aboriginal Reference Group was established in 2005, to act as an advisory group to the Lachlan CMA to assist Aboriginal people in their engagement in natural resource management and to also provide Aboriginal people with a voice in the Lachlan Catchment.

To receive Scholarship Application Forms

about the other Scholarship programs available, contact your nearest Lachlan

Coordinator on 1800 885 747.

Catchment Management Authority and its Natural Resource Management Programs contact your local Catchment Management

– www.lachlan.cma.nsw.gov.au

Pictured on the day of the

Educational Scholarship Program are Rob Gledhill, Chair LCMA; Russell Hill,

LCMA and Ian Woods, Chair of Lachlan Regional Aboriginal Reference Group

Drought Updateby Danny Byrnes, Drought Support Worker, NSW DPI, Hay

A Professional Advice and Planning Grant is now available through Centrelink. This Grant provides eligible farm enterprises with access to up to $5500 (GST inclusive) worth of professional advice and planning assistance including developing a business plan and reviewing drought management practices. In order to be eligible for the grant, the farm enterprise needs to be EC declared for more than 3 years and the total off-farm assets of all members of the farm enterprise must not exceed $485 000. There is no income test.

For all drought assistance questions including household support assistance measures see a Rural Financial Counsellor or contact your local Drought Support Worker for help.

Danny Byrnes 0428 973 141 Lyn Leigo 0427 265 810


The Board acknowledges the announcement of the NSW Government again paying the rates for 2007 as the drought continues to affect us all. It is a great relief for rate payers not to have to fund the ongoing maintenance of the fence and the Board has sent letters of appreciation to the Premier and appropriate Ministers.

The early announcement by the Government of these rates being paid will allow the Board in its November budget meeting to map out 2007 with the knowledge that the funding is there and not just a hope.

The annual fence inspection was conducted during July; three Directors, Richard Conners, Ken Turner and Neil Leigo and the new Supervisor of the fence, Tony Mayo met in Hungerford. The Directors were all impressed again at the continuing good condition of the fence and the fact that not one spot was noticed in the 580 km of the fence where a dingo could get through – with the ongoing drought conditions this is a great credit to those who maintain the fence, to Tony also, who is adjusting into his new position and with wife Karen seem to be settling in well at Smithville.

Obviously the areas of the fence in the sand hill country are being closely watched as sand drift is always a problem in these areas and of course worse in drought years – Tony has had Northern Earthmovers pushing up areas around Hawker Gate on the South Australian fence between the

gone well with enough moisture from the July rains to hold the soil. This claying

to dry and the allocated amount has been used.

The dramatic fuel price has affected the Board like everyone else, with an annual fuel budget of $120 000 per year the Board tried to source cheaper Queensland fuel but with no success.

Wild Dog Destruction Board reportNov. 2005 – Nov. 2006

The Board has not had a Chairperson for the last four months and this is of concern to the Board. A letter has been written to Minister Macdonald informing him of the Board’s concern at the time it has taken to replace Geoff Wise as Western Lands Commissioner. Under the Wild Dog Destruction Act the Chairperson of the Board is the Western Lands Commissioner or their representative.

There has been a vacancy at Toona Gate for 6 months but this position has now

now employed, 14 in all.

Water is still an ongoing problem to the Boundary Riders and of course so bad over the last 5 years of drought. The new bore at White Catch is working well; there was no luck with drilling at Wompah. Wompah has had some slight relief with a small run-off into their catch tank during July; Smithville house tank has been dry for nine months so is on bore water.

The Board would like to express its thanks to Geoff Wise for the great work he did as Chairman of the Board for a 10-year period, in his capacity as Western Lands Commissioner. Geoff had a sound knowledge of the Western Division, was well known and well-liked and it was with sadness that the Board became aware of Geoff being removed as Western Lands Commissioner. One wonders why the changes for political reasons need to be made when the system was running so well and no complaints were coming from the Wild Dog Board.

No new heavy machinery has been purchased for this year; the usual change over of fence vehicles has taken place. A smaller tractor has not been purchased as yet but Tony will purchase this item soon. All other machinery is operating well.

The Board met in February, May, October and November in Broken Hill with a teleconference on the 20th July.

by Richard Connors, Director, Wild Dog Destruction Board


Abstract: We would like to explain our

positive changes in our businesses and has put us in a great frame of mind to move ahead. We guess that if the changes were easy then they would not have been

We hope that others that are thinking of changing or have changed to a rotational

able to offer us some advice and/or support for the road ahead.

Introduction: This presentation endeavours to map out the steps that two families took in order to move their business ahead and also to adopt a rotational grazing system in the semi-arid rangelands of far western N.S.W. ‘Sharpening the Saw’ is the metaphor that we have used in order to show how to not only turn a business around and

‘culture’ (or system) to keep that business

all of our problems’, more the strategic change of direction that would take the businesses forward. We are very grateful to Resource Consulting Services P/L (RCS) for providing the education and ongoing training that has opened our eyes up to the possibilities that can exist if we make them. The sort of training and continued challenges that RCS provide for us in their

for constant business improvement that we use.

Economic Analysis: ‘sharpen up’ our businesses was to do some economic analysis to identify the

‘Sharpening the saw on a grazingbusiness in the Semi-arid Rangelands’– a paper presented at the Australian Rangeland’s Conference in Renmark in September 2006

A & K. Whyte* & K. & R. Ingram#*Wyndham Stn Via Wentworth NSW 2648#Aston Stn Via Wentworth NSW 2648*EMAIL [email protected]

(or throwing out) and also what parts of

we could build on. Both businesses are predominately merino based and have had no need to change essentially as the reason

returns from our stock. The problems in our

(high labour costs, repairs and maintenance and general vehicle expenses), these were dragging our businesses down and had to be addressed so that we could reach our

costs this required a redesign of our business and when you require such a large change then there are many other factors to take into consideration and this certainly needs very good communication.

Communication: As there is more than one person involved in both of the businesses whatever changes were going to occur had to be agreed upon by all parties and the direction (or vision) of the business needed to be ‘owned’ by everyone involved. The direction of the business will be guided by the values that the business adopts and then there will need to be some goals set along the way so we can be sure that our decisions are taking us the right way. This can only come about through

The Whyte family: Mitchell, Kelly and Angus


a number of strategic meetings involving all partners and the meetings work well if they are held off-farm so that no-one worries

just concentrate on planning. These sort of discussions are very

they own and what position they have in the business, when this involves more than one generation a succession plan may need to be constructed.

Succession: A succession plan is a vital part of any business – however, none more so than in a family farming business. In order to put together an agreed and workable succession plan the

that comes with a good reputation of being able to provide the right atmosphere for the business/family to come up with the plan. This meeting, being strategic needs to be held away from the business in a venue where no one feels they are favoured over any others (a neutral venue). At Wyndham we had ours in Adelaide at a boardroom where the whole family could sit around a table and be involved and valued. Meeting in a major centre also made

us to reach a great outcome. This succession planning meeting

doubt generate some actions and decisions and so this will start the business plan.

Business Plan: The main components of a short business plan are; who is involved? (This will come from your succession plan), Where are we now (This will be using the economic analysis). What do you want to achieve? (This is the vision of the business) How are we going to do it and by when? (This will be in the form of goals and targets). In order to expand the business plan to a really useable strategic document then you will need to put in some policies to describe how the risks in all aspects of the business will be managed and how the opportunities will be exploited. Both Wyndham and Aston have business plans that contain policies and strategies on the management of all aspects of the business. A well-documented business plan can cover the risk of losing the main people in your business as now it is a conscious decision of ours to work in the

someone else could run our businesses for us and still be successful.

Aston & Wyndham: The sorts of goals that we set were along the lines of:

Increasing ground cover

Increasing perennial grasses

Decreasing run-off

Increasing carrying capacity

Lowering overhead costs

Reducing workload

More time for family and hobbies

More controlled total grazing pressure

Increasing off-farm investments

In order for us to achieve these goals we looked to an option based around a customized rotational grazing system reducing our workload and costs by having our stock concentrated in large mobs and using the stock to repair our landscape.

Rotational Grazing: Both Aston and Wyndham are very long and narrow blocks of land with the homestead and woolshed at one end, so some form of rotational grazing was already practised in order to have all of the sheep shorn. This, however, wasn’t measured or monitored for the impact it was having on the land, only by how smoothly the sheep came in for shearing! Under the rotational grazing system that is currently in place we have a minimum number of mobs (around 2–3) and so only having that amount of waters on at any one time, this reduces time spent checking waters by at least 50%. The focus has now moved to repairing our land and using our animals to harvest the production and create seedbeds, while also generating the income required for the business to thrive. Though our training with RCS we have also been given the skills to use ‘grazing charts’ that allow us to objectively measure our stocking rate and rainfall to match our carrying capacity. These allow us to forecast a dry period ahead (help us make decisions about when and how

pasture growth wise, that might allow us to increase our stock numbers. We have also set up monitoring points to help us monitor our pasture growth and see if there has been a decline or an improvement and

Wildlife are in the paddocks that the stock aren’t.

Control and Well Being: Stressfulsituations and decision-making are

Business Plans and Policies. We can minimise the effects of potential crises by managing the risks associated with the people, livestock, landscape and


controlled grazing regime that is used and the regular monitoring that goes with the system, issues such as lack of rain or weeds become controllable and can even be positive. Regular meetings ensure all members of the family are aware of and have contributed to the future strategies and opportunities of the business.

Conclusion: The order in which we have placed these steps isn’t exactly the way they occurred for us, we are just trying to

demonstrate the thought and seriousness in which the decision was taken. The message for you to take home is that a shift in management from a ‘set stocking’ system to a rotational grazing system can

is well thought out and the risks managed. The change in thinking is like learning a new language, so there are new challenges all the time and that is all part of the excitement of the journey.

The Western Catchment Management Authority (CMA) has provided $2.02 million in grants to help land managers in the Western Catchment undertake on-ground works or training to improve natural resource management in their area.

52 applicants received funding through the Western CMA’s 2006 Annual Major Incentive Round. The funding is part of the NSW and Australian Government’s combined $23 million commitment to the Western Catchment over a four-year period.

The funding goes towards projects which meet the CMAs natural resource management targets, which include native pasture recovery, riverine habitat, pest management, sustainable agriculture and water quality.

The projects include:

• $1.1 million committed to 20 applicants for native pasture recovery. Land managers will use fencing, trap yards, saltbush plantings and other strategies to encourage native pasture on a total of 1725 km2, which is the roughly the same area as the Paroo-Darling National Park.

• $239 200 awarded to seven applicants for riverine habitat improvements. 59 alternative watering sites have

been installed to stop stock accessing waterways and 170 km of waterway has been fenced: equivalent to the distance by road between Mungindi and Walgett.

• $272 400 was committed to ten applicants to undertake works to improve water quality, including the protection of 6635 hectares of wetlands.

• $68 900 was committed to seven applicants to encourage sustainable agriculture. Landholders from 14 properties in the Cobar district have undertaken a training course to improve their property management. Two seeding machines have been converted to direct drill, resulting in 2720 hectares of cropping land converted to no-till agriculture.

• $330 800 was awarded to 12 land managers for pest management. Works to control feral goats, pigs and rabbits will be undertaken on an area of 25 000 km2, which is double the size of all National Parks, Nature Reserves, Historic Sites and Aboriginal Areas in the Western Division combined.

The funding matches the more than $2 million allocated in 2005. It will be used by local landholders for local projects that will continue to improve the way natural resources are managed in the western catchment area.

$2.02 million for WesternCatchment land managersby Rory Treweeke, Chair of Western CMA


Greg Church (Bushley Station) hosted

4 November. More than 100 people travelled from all over Australia to attend the day.

people interested in the goat meat industry to meet and exchange knowledge and information.

Much interesting discussion was generated

were interested to hear from Greg Church about the management of his farmed goat enterprise and to see the goat handling facilities at Bushley.

Results of a two year trial conducted on Bushley station were presented. The trial investigated Boer buck survival and performance in pastoral areas and was funded by MLA’s PIRD program.

Field participants heard presentations on a number of topics including the latest market information and industry outlook, pastoral goat production, value-adding, targeting consumer requirements and traceability in the goat industry for effective response to exotic animal disease or chemical residues.

Buronga Organics showcased goat meat by supplying a selection of delicious goat meat dishes for lunch.

Bushley Stationby Trudie Atkinson, Livestock

Bruce and Greg Church, Bushley Station

Greg Church of Bushley Station and Greg Curran, NSW DPI, Broken Hill

Below (L-R) Stephen Obst Kerridale International, Waikerie; Rick Gates, Burndoo, Wilcannia; Chris Barnes, Hazel-Dell, Menindee

Below right: David and Mary Booth, Buronga Organics


Landholders in the Barrier Ranges now have an extra tool to gauge the health of their properties and the results of their management practices following a recent training session in Landscape Function Analysis (LFA).

The Future of Australia’s Threatened Ecosystems Program (FATE) provided the training to members of the Barrier Area Rangecare Group (BARG) in mid-November.

The training was one of 52 successful projects in the Western Catchment Management Authority’s (CMA) 2006 Annual Major Incentive Round, which saw a total of $2.02 million committed to help land managers with natural resource management.

The incentive program is provided through the NSW and Australian Governments and is part of a combined $23 million commitment to the Western Catchment over a four year period.

The course was delivered by Mr David Tongway at Fowler’s Gap Research Station to approximately 15 landholders and staff from the Western CMA, Natural Resources Commission and NSW Department of Primary Industries.

Mr Tongway developed Landscape Function Analysis whilst at CSIRO. He has applied the methodology throughout the world in rangeland environments for both ongoing monitoring and for rehabilitating degraded habitats.

‘Landscape Function Analysis enables landholders to assess the outcomes of their management actions and identify priorities for further action,’ Mr Tongway said.

‘It provides data about the way the landscape responds to changes in grazing pressure and other management

New management tool forBarrier Range landholders

interventions more quickly than other techniques and is relatively easy for landholders to learn and apply,’ he said.

Landscape Function Analysis is a tool that allows people to take into account a wide

Landscape Function Analysis challenges the notion that vegetation equals a healthy landscape as it acknowledges and provides a tool for examining soil condition as the basis for plant growth.

The most common methods of landscape analysis, such as step-pointing and photo-points, concentrate on vegetation within a sample area as the major indicator of landscape health.

Landscape Function Analysis extends that analysis by initially determining whether the sample site is stable or unstable. Eleven

including whether rain-splatter protection, litter, annuals or perennials, crusts and cryptograms are present and by conducting

Michelle Mannion, David Tongway and Paul Mannion


into a LFA computer program to provide a score based on the soil’s stability, nutrition

seeds.

Landholders can then compare the score for each sample area over time and with other sample sites.

This monitoring system can complement existing vegetation-based monitoring such as the Rangeland Assessment Program,

which operates extensively throughout the Western Catchment, and can provide more detailed information, particularly in the area of soil health.

Michelle Mannion from Nundora Station, 180 km north of Broken Hill, said the

an insight into how soils function and their productivity.

‘I would recommend this course to all landholders in the Barrier Ranges as it has certainly increased my knowledge of soil health and its direct link to groundcover productivity,’ she said.

Jim O’Connor of Milpa Station, 200 km north of Broken Hill, also advocated the LFA training session.

‘I now have a much better understanding of how soil is related to the types of plant species that will grow. In some cases there may be a lot of plant growth, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that the soil is productive. Sometimes plant performance

soil,’ he said.

‘I believe the skills that I have learnt at this

management practices and once weather

place what I have learnt.’

Jim O’Connor testing soil and clay content

Cattle producers warned of lead poisoning riskby Dan Byrne, NSW DPI Technical Specialist Residue Management, Tamworth Phone: (02) 6763 1103

Cattle producers forced to graze livestock close to machinery areas, farm rubbish tips and farm sheds are being warned of the risk of lead poisoning, which can be fatal to cattle.

Dry conditions and spiralling feed prices have resulted in stock being grazed in areas that are not normally used for grazing. These areas present the highest risk of lead poisoning. Old car and tractor batteries have been the main cause of recent poisoning cases.

Lead poisoning can also occur where stock lick old lead-based paint off buildings or eat old linoleum and there have even been

reports of cattle being poisoned by sump oil which can contain toxic amounts of lead.

While lead poisoning can occur in other livestock, cattle are at greater risk because they are curious and tend to ‘taste test’ new

lead and arsenic, seem particularly attractive to cattle.

often very docile, appear blind and walk aimlessly – including through fences. In rare cases affected cattle may become aggressive or manic. Continued on page 20


Fifteen Aboriginal people from the Broken Hill area graduated from the Planning for the Future land management course on November 16.

The participants are members of the Wilyakali Aboriginal Corporation who operate Poolamacca Station, 70 km north of Broken Hill.

The Wilyakali Aboriginal Corporation received funding for the training course through the National Landcare Program, which is administered by the Western Catchment Management Authority (CMA).

The group have studied the elements required in running a successful grazing enterprise over the past eight months,

exercises.

The course has given the local Barkindji

effectively manage their property.

The Western CMA has been established to enable local people to manage natural resources more effectively and this is one, very practical, way of encouraging on-ground improvements.

The course has covered all aspects of grazing business operations from land condition and management including rangeland, water soil, vegetation and landscape issues to pasture and stock management.

Barkindji people graduatewith land management skillsby Rory Treweeke, Chair of the Western CMA

It also included enterprise development

resources workshop that allowed participants to identify areas for future skills development and training.

for indigenous people to ensure it is delivered in a culturally sensitive way and is aligned with national training competencies.

I congratulate all the graduates and look forward to watching the success of Poolamacca Station.

Back row (left to right): Raymond O’Donnell and Peter Marin and David New from Rural Solutions SA (training providers)Front Row (left to right): Maxine O’Donnell, Dot Stephens (Western CMA), Raylene O’Donnell, Maureen O’Donnell and Jade O’Donnell

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held again on Saturday 5 May, 2007. The event is held every two years and is looked forward to by all the community.

Planning is well underway for another big day with some new events being introduced next year. A new event that will attract a lot of spectator interest is the ‘Innovations & improvements’ section. Participants will have the opportunity to show onlookers new inventions they have made or improvements to existing equipment or products that make life easier.

Another new event for commercial sheep breeders is the ‘pen of 4 lambs’ competition. Any sheep breed will be accepted. Lambs will be weighed then scanned for fat score and eye muscle to determine the best overall pen of lambs.

are:

• The Tri-State Blade Shearing Title with competitors able to gain points for the National Title Selections, (these are to be held in Warnambool 26 October, 2007). A total of $1500 in prize money is up for grabs at Pooncarie.

• Sheep Dog Trials – Station and Novice categories. Come and have a go. (Due to the Toowoombah National Titles

Put this date in your diary now!– Pooncarie Field Day May 5, 2007

being held the same weekend the local competitors will be able to battle it out amongst themselves). $1000 worth of prizes to be won.

• Goat Dog Trials – $500 in prize money.

• Fleece Competition and Pastoral Wool Show – sponsored by the Australian Wool Network. A very popular event that attracted over 80 entries in 2005.

• Pen of 4 Lambs – to be judged on carcass size, weigh, general quality.

• Property Invented or improved Innovations – have you invented or improved on a useful item on your property, please bring your idea to the

& Pollock Insurance.

• ‘The Darling Challenge’ Tug-a-war – round up that team of 8, and take on the best of the Darling.

• Ute Muster – prizes galore for that mustering bus, plus categories to include on road utes

• Well-worn Akubra Competition – sponsored by Quality Wool

• Whip Cracking – various age categories

• Photo, Art and colouring competitions

• Lucky Gate Prizes

• Best Exhibit Prize

Music, entertainment for the kids, full bar facilities and many food stands will be provided. The day is a great family day out. Our aim is for a low cost and fun day for all the family. For further details please contact either the Angus Whyte or the Rachel Strachan.

Chairman: Angus WhyteWyndham Station, via Wentworth 2648Phone: (03) 5027 0230 Email:[email protected]

Secretary: Rachel StrachanTulney Point Stn, via Wentworth 2648Phone: (03) 5027 90209Email: [email protected]

Pooncarie Field DaySaturday May 5, 2007Pooncarie Race Course• Tri-State Blade Shearing Title

• Sheep and Goat Dog Trials

• Fleece Competition and Pastoral Wool Show

• Pen of 4 Lambs

• Property Invented or Improved Innovations

• Entertainment + more events

Contact: Gus Whyte ph: (03) 5027 0230

or Rachael Strachan ph: (03) 5027 9209


Kalyanka Western TGP trial. Mark Etheridge and Mog Davies became involved in the West 2000 Plus funded Western TGP project in 2000. They implemented a large scale/commercially managed trial. The objective of the trial was to quantify the unknown contribution that kangaroos make to grazing pressure when sheep stocking rates are reduced. The trial design and the treatments are represented in the map of the trial site.

important observation made during the trial. Even thought there were two factors

kangaroo monitoring technique meant that the effectiveness of the fence and therefore the exclusion treatments could not be adequately established. Also the stocking rate treatments had to intermittently cease, three times during the trial due to severe drought conditions.

Fence effectiveness

Kangaroo movements on Kalyanka are very episodic and seem to relate to rain events some distance away. Understanding the impact and effectiveness of exclusion fencing (26 km of 7-90-30 hinge-joint with a top barb) has been complicated.

The presence of feral goats in the paddocks meant that the step-point transect method for estimating kangaroo populations (relative to the known sheep population) proved unreliable, mainly due to an inability to distinguish sheep from goat dung.

There has been no obvious difference between the observed kangaroo numbers within the exclusion area and the outside

The Kalyanka Total GrazingPressure Trialby Mark Etheridge and Mog Davies, Kalyanka, Trudie Atkinson, NSW DPI, Broken Hill

area. The commercial kangaroo shooter has been able to continue to harvest in both areas.

To gain more information about the effectiveness of the fence, a remote video unit was used to observe a single section of fence, about 150 m in length, over several weeks. Approximately 45 hours of video footage, representing several hundred kangaroo encounters with the barrier was recorded. Although kangaroos frequently tested the fence by pushing against it, and by attempting to push under it, individuals (all western greys) jumped the fence on only four occasions and no kangaroos breached the barrier by pushing underneath it.

Further, it appears the placement of kangaroo exclusion fences may impact on how effective they are and the level of maintenance required. It appears that the exclusion paddocks were placed in an area where kangaroos tend to move from a swamp in the southern most trial paddock through to the base of a stony hill north of


the site. Pressure from kangaroos on the southern and northern fence lines was extensive, however in comparison there was only minimal pressure on the eastern and western fence lines.

Maintenance required on the fence has

under the fence. Approximately half a day, every two months was spent carrying out maintenance and repairs on the fence.

Animal Production

Limited animal production was collected due to the intermittent cessation of the treatments due to severe drought conditions. The wool data collected in 2004 indicated a response to reduced stocking rate in terms of greasy cut per head and yield, as well as a slight impact on lambing percentage in 2003. Obviously these measurements would have to be continued over a number of years to be able to draw solid conclusions. Due to the limited

to estimate the effect of reduced kangaroo density on animal production.

Mark and Mog observed that extra waters and cutting up big paddocks into smaller ones is advantageous. Stock water better, are less inclined to run at the troughs and to hang at waters and the paddocks are easier to muster (one person versus three).

Vegetation

The mean canopy area and density (number of plants per 100 m x 2 m belt transects) of chenopod shrubs (mainly Black Bluebush Maireana pyramidata)was monitored from autumn 2002 to autumn 2005. Data indicated a decline in mean density of perennial shrubs ranging from 44.6% to 72.2% from autumn 2002 to autumn 2005 in the four trial paddocks. The biggest decline in density was due to shrub death in the severe drought conditions occurring between autumn 2002 and autumn 2003. The change in mean shrub density in each of the trial

the ungrazed exclosure sites. This suggests that the presence or absence of grazing did not affect the response to drought.

Group work

working with the other western TGP participants. The knowledge within a group is huge but it tends not to come out until a group forms and has a common vision. The Western TGP participants all had ownership of the project; this made them a cohesive and trusting group who were prepared to work hard at making the trials work.

‘Cattle producers warned of lead poisoning’ continued from page 16

Treating livestock for lead poisoning

unsuccessful – particularly if the animals are already seriously affected.

Prevention is the best cure.

batteries (and other risks) in the farm rubbish tip or around machinery shed so it is essential that these areas are well fenced.

If possible get rid of old batteries from your property, making sure that any broken battery cases or spilled contents are collected as well.

It is also worth having a look at other potential stock poisoning risks – including chemical stores, chemical handling areas and even the storage of treated seed grain.

Keeping stock out of these places will reduce the risk of accidental poisoning as well as helping to ensure that stock stay contaminant free.

Check for all of these hazards before putting stock onto new country.

Lead can stay in an animal’s liver and kidneys for months after they are exposed – even in stock that weren’t obviously sick.

All animals in mobs affected by lead poisoning are withheld from slaughter until they are assessed as suitable for human consumption.

Slaughter restrictions are usually put in place with the full cooperation of the

agreement between the owner and the District Veterinarian or Board Ranger.

‘The Kalyanka total grazing pressure trial’ continued from page 19


With the threat of some landholders not having enough water in dams to get through this potentially long dry period and the possibility of limited stock and

for the rest of the season, it is timely to provide some information on how to go about working out what amount of water is be left in dams in paddocks and how much water stock will need.

What size is the dam and how much water does it hold?

To work this out you need to estimate the volume of the dam in cubic metres. To do this, measure the width and length to work out the surface area of the dam. Next multiply the surface area by the estimated depth. An example is given below:

Step 1: the dam measures 30 m in width and length

Surface area = 30 m x 30 m = 900 m2

Depth = 4 m

Surface area x depth = 900 x 4 = 3600 m3

(the volume of the dam)

Step 2: Take the calculated volume and multiply by 0.4 which is a conversion factor that takes into account the slope of the sides of the water storage

3600 m3 x 0.4 = 1440 m3 or 1440000 litres

Step 3: estimate the capacity of the dam at present as most dams will be below 100%.

e.g. say 60% capacity: 1440 x 0.6 = 864 m3

or 864000 litres in the dam

What water will be available to stock?

Unfortunately, 40% of the water in the dam maybe unavailable due to the following:

• Sludge in the bottom of the dam can account for 15% of total capacity (15% of 100% capacity)

Stock water – what’s left inyour dam?

• Evaporation can take 25% of the water over the summer months (25% of 60% capacity)

Step 4: remove the sludge and evaporation amount from the estimated volume

e.g. 1440000 litres (use the 100% capacity) x 0.15 = 216 000 litres

864000 (use the estimated capacity) x 0.25 = 216000 litres

864000 – 432000 = 432000 litres available for stock

How much water do my stock need?

The amount of water required by stock will depend on a number of factors including the type of stock, the type of country they are grazing, the climatic conditions and the type of water they are drinking. A rough rule of thumb is dry sheep will need about 6 litres per day on grass in the heat or up to 12 litres per day on saltbush whilst lactating cows will need 70 litres per day or up to 140 litres per day on saltbush. However, water consumption by stock can increase substantially in extreme heat wave conditions and if their water contains more than 2000 ppm of total dissolved salts.

Working out how long the water left in a dam will last is now just a matter of dividing the amount available by the amount per day the stock will drink.

e.g. 1000 dry ewes drinking 6 litres per head per day need 6000 litres per day.

432000 litres left in the dam divided by 6000 = 72 days of water available

NSW DPI now has a Primefact dated October 2006 called StockWater – a Limited Resource that is now available through the Hay

if you would like a copy sent to you. This Primefact has a table that lists the water requirements for different classes of stock for both sheep and cattle. Also, do not forget that water test kits are available if you need to test a water source for pH, salinity or chloride levels. The kit is easy to use and the cost of the test is $64.55 per sample.


Kangaroos can only be shot in NSW under a licence issued by the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) for either commercial or non-commercial purposes. The commercial take of

while non-commercial licences are available across the whole state.

A Kangaroo Management Program exists in NSW to regulate the harvesting of eastern grey, western grey and red kangaroos and wallaroos.

The Program’s primary goal is to ensure the taking of kangaroos is ecologically sustainable, through the application of the best

program aims to ensure kangaroos’ long-term survival through

As part of the Kangaroo Management Program, a quota limits the number of kangaroos that can be shot commercially. The quota is calculated annually based on population estimates of kangaroo numbers.

These estimates are devised by a range of methods including the counting of kangaroos from aircraft. The estimates provide a

as well as during wet years allowing the quota to be adjusted accordingly.

Landholders who wish to remove kangaroos from their property but not sell the carcase can apply for a non-commercial licence instead, which is assessed the same as other permits for removing protected fauna – on a needs basis, not on a quota.

Some frequently asked questions about the Kangaroo Management Program:

Q: What is commercial harvesting?

Commercial harvesting allows the carcases of the kangaroos to be sold for either pet food or human consumption.

Commercial harvesting gives landholders the opportunity to engage licensed professional kangaroo shooters (called ‘trappers’) to remove kangaroos from their properties. This reduces the cost of kangaroo control to landholders.

Commercial harvesting ensures that the kangaroos are killed by professional shooters who have been accredited by the NSW Firearms Safety and Training Council, and are appropriately licensed. Shooters must adhere to the Code of Practice for the Humane Shooting of Kangaroos.

Q: How is the commercial harvest regulated?

The quota limits the number of kangaroos that can be shot commercially in any kangaroo management zone. The quota is

Harvesting kangaroos in NSWcalculated each year from population estimates, and is approved by the Commonwealth Government for that calendar year.

Every step in the kangaroo supply chain is licensed and monitored. All types of licenses have conditions attached, and all licensees are required to submit activity reports to DEC for monitoring purposes.

Q: How is the quota allocated?

The commercial harvest zone is divided into kangaroo management zones. Within each of these zones, the quota is allocated

quota has been fully utilised.

each application, and may contact the

concern about any of the information on the application.

Q: Who can shoot kangaroos commercially?

Only people who are licensed by DEC as ‘Professional Trappers’ or ‘Occupier Trappers’ may shoot kangaroos and sell the carcases. Carcases must be sold only to licensed Fauna Dealers, and must only be transported and stored in correctly registered vehicles and premises.

Q: What is the role of the landholder?

Trappers must have the landholder’s permission to shoot kangaroos on his/her property. This is done by the landholder completing and signing a Commercial Occupier’s Licence application form, on which he/she nominates one licensed trapper to undertake the harvesting. For commercial licences, landholders cannot shoot the kangaroos themselves unless

Trapper licence or an Occupier Trapper licence.

Q: What if I want to shoot kangaroos commercially on my own property?

Landholders can apply for an Occupier Trapper licence if they want to shoot

Editor’s note: This article was prepared by staff of DEC following a request by Rosemary Barnes, Councillor, Western Division Council, NSW Farmers’ Association


kangaroos commercially on their own properties. This is similar to a Professional Trapper licence in that the carcases can be sold. However, shooting is restricted to properties owned or occupied by the licensee, which are nominated on the Occupier Trapper licence. The training requirements are the same as for a Professional Trapper licence.

Q: Where can kangaroos be shot?

Kangaroos can be shot only in accordance with a Commercial Occupier’s Licence (Section 121 of the NPW Act). Tags are issued for the number of kangaroos

used on that property before the licence expires. It is usually the nominated shooter who pays for and receives the tags. Commercial use of kangaroos is prohibited within National Parks and other reserved areas, and can only be undertaken

on private landholdings with the permission of the landholder (owner or occupier/manager). The licence states which Professional Trapper may shoot the kangaroos, how many may be shot, when the licence expires and what conditions apply.

Q: Where do I get application forms and tags from?

administrative centre for commercial kangaroo licensing. Non-commercial licences and tags are available from local DEC Area

Q: What about public liability?

Public liability insurance is the responsibility of the landholder and the Professional Trapper. DEC has no role in regulating this.

It is the responsibility of landholders and trappers to arrange for commercial shooting to be undertaken. Due to privacy constraints, DEC is not able to provide contact lists for landholders and trappers wishing to undertake commercial kangaroo harvesting.

For more information: http://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/npws.nsf/Content/Kangaroo+management+program

Madam: I will be 90 next birthday. I started work in grazing in the Western

in December 2000. There is much to learn and try – a challenge.

Alf Wither’s letter in the Newsletter No.112 and the reply by Ian Evans, Sheep

There are many ways of dealing with pest problems in sheep, and as mulesing is about to go out in 2010, other methods have to be used or tried. Body strike can be controlled to almost nothing by culling any sheep that have it, in a few years. I did

never used a knife, only shears. I was never impressed with what I saw done with a knife.

I would like someone to try and breed

can be done.

Tom E Cullinan, Mildura Vic 3500

PS Cannon ball (silver burr) is a good summer feed from light showers if it is managed properly.

Tom: It is wonderful to hear from a gentleman with your experience. I agree entirely that breeding and selection is the

There is plenty of evidence, as you have found with your experience, that ruthless

There are also breeding trials taking place which will select for more ‘easy care’ sheep with less wrinkle and more bare skin on the breech. The main problem will be maintaining wool cut, I imagine.

Trials of other techniques to replace mulesing, such as plastic clips, are also underway. However, at this point in time,

The majority of contractors in NSW have now completed the National Accredited Mulesing Training course, plus many landholders across western NSW. At least now we can demonstrate to our overseas wool buyers that the mulesing operation is being performed, by the majority, to a consistently high standard.

Ian Evans

NSW DPI, Deniliquin.

Letter to the Editor


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To the Landholder

P O S T A G EP A I D

A U S T R A L I A

The editors of the WDN welcome contributions

115 Jan–Feb 1 December 2006 NSW DPI

116 Mar–Apr 1 February 2007 PO Box 393, Hay 2711

117 May–June 1 April 2007 Fax: (02) 6993 2177

118 Jul–Aug 1 June 2007 Phone: (02) 6993 1608

119 Sep–Oct 1 August 2007 Email: [email protected]

the western division of nsw peppin-shaw ‘revs’ up …...grazier, john vagg’s story on how he...

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