August 2015 ParaBoss News

From the Editor

Wet winters dominated much of the southern half of the country, while the northern regions were dry. There is also much talk about the predicted El Niño weather event and what effect the expected lower minimum and higher maximum ground level temperatures (as opposed to air temperatures) will have on the longevity of worm eggs and larvae on pasture.

Keep these few simple principles in mind at the start of a new season:

1. Don't guess—test for worm burdens with WormTest (WECs)

2. Don’t guess—test for drench effectiveness with a Drench Resistance Test, otherwise relief could be very short lived.

3. Don’t guess—use the proven Drench Decision Guide for your region.

Seek professional advice if you are at all uncertain or have resistance issues.

If you intend using capsules in your sheep I recommend you read Dr Paul Nilon‘s comments (last paragraph Tasmanian State Outlook). His experience of seeing the result of a truly awful application technique will convince you to become familiar with the manufacturer’s recommended procedure.

I encourage you to complete the polls on each of the web sites to inform ParaBoss about current practices and issues.

Congratulations to the winners of the ParaBoss News subscription competition, and thanks again to the sponsors:

• Riverina Stockfeeds prize: Iain McDermid, Cowra, NSW
• Allflex prizes: Greg Sinclair, Naracoorte, SA; Don Reynolds, Young, NSW; Kerry Glasser, Goondiwindi, Qld; Grant Simpson, Braidwood, NSW.
• ACTA Mouseoff prizes: Glenn Nix, Boyup Brook, WA; Andrew Campbell, Mooralla, Victoria; Allen Kelly, Manoora, SA; Robbie Tole, Cressy, Tasmania.

ParaBoss News Editor, Maxine Murphy

Feature articles

Barbervax®—a vaccine to protect against barber's pole worm

by Deb Maxwell, ParaBoss Operations Manager

A year after its release, is the Barbervax vaccine the answer to problems with barber’s pole worms?
>> Read more.

Is it better to treat for flystrike on the same date every year, or to wait and see?

by Brian Horton, Senior Animal Scientist, University of Tasmania

There is no best answer, but there are a few rules you can use. 
>> Read more.

Sheep ked, nasal bot fly, itch mite and sheep scab

by Deb Maxwell, ParaBoss Operations Manager

Four parasites that are either suppressed by other management, nearly gone, or eradicated from Australia; making sheep production easier and more profitable. 
>> Read more.
 

The quick quiz

A 3-question quick quiz about sheep parasite control. 
>> Take the quiz.
 

This month's polls

Polls are at the top right hand corner of each web site. 
WormBoss: Do you have drench resistance on your property?
FlyBoss: In high flystrike-risk periods, how often do you check mobs for flystrike?
LiceBoss: Which of the following lice control strategies do you feel least confident about?
>> View results of previous polls