Tasmanian Livestock Health Report - September 2024

The Tasmanian Livestock Health Report summarises information on livestock diseases and conditions observed by rural service providers across Tasmania. 

See www.animalhealthaustralia.com.au/tas-health for previous reports and to register for a free email subscription, or join the Tasmanian Livestock Health Facebook group.

Funding is provided by Animal Health Australia (with support from Sheep Producers Australia and WoolProducers Australia) and by NRE. Private veterinarians coordinate the project. 

Seasonal Disease Alerts 

Arthritis in lambs: If you have a significant number of cases it may be worth asking your vet about testing for Erysipelas. There is a vaccine for Erysipelas. 

Campylobacter and Toxoplasmosis abortion in sheep: If you are unhappy with your lamb marking %, blood tests on dry ewes at marking or weaning can detect Campylobacter and Toxoplasmosis antibodies as evidence of recent infection. Talk to your vet. 

Barber’s pole worm: could start to build up from now on. Watch for anaemia, exercise intolerance, high worm egg counts. Black scour worms: high egg counts are being seen. Monthly worm egg counts on weaner sheep are recommended. 

Bloat: has been seen in lambs on lucerne on misty overcast days. 

Body lice: in sheep are still common. Now is a good time to inspect. 

Brown stomach worm: resistance to macrocyclic lactone (ML) drench family is common. Could become more dominant with warmer, dryer weather. 

Drench resistance: resistance to white, clear and macrocyclic drenches is relatively common and any other drench can also fail. 

Footrot and scald: are actively spreading now. 

Hypocalcaemia (milk fever) in ewes: can be seen in ewes (especially 5 years old plus) rearing twins, especially on lush cereal, short rotation ryegrass or pasture – feed some hay and/or a calcium/magnesium/salt dry lick. Have calcium injection on hand. 

Johne’s Disease (JD) in cattle: will also show up now in stressed cows. 

Liver fluke: Eggs can be present in Fluketests now if animals have not been treated since last autumn, but immature fluke will start migrating through livers soon, so blood tests may be the best way to detect liver fluke in live animals. 

Lucerne red gut: seen as sudden death with a very bloated carcase on lucerne or clover. Offering roughage such as hay, straw or alternating between pasture and the lucerne/clover can help prevent cases. 

Milk fever: can be seen in lactating dairy cows, especially older Channel Island breeds. 

Phalaris staggers: cases can show up for up to 4 months after removal from toxic pasture. 

Pleurisy: is common, slowing prime lamb growth rates and resulting in trimming at the abattoir. Check MLA’s myFeedback to see if there is any data on your flock. 

Pulpy kidney (PK): Make sure lambs get a booster if going onto rich feed such as clover or lucerne, 3-in-1 is cheaper than 5- or 6-in-1 and gives the same PK immunity. 

Chorioptic mange in cattle: most cases self-cure as the weather warms up. 

Ovine Johne’s disease (OJD): ls showing up in 6-tooths and older sheep under stress. 

White muscle disease: If lambs get stiff and stop walking when mustered, suspect white muscle disease.