Sheep lice

Background

It is estimated lice costs NSW producers $150 million a year in treatment costs and lost production.

Lice can seriously reduce woolgrower profits by causing breaks in fleeces on infected sheep and encouraging the animals to rub and damage their wool, as well as impacting on prime lamb production. Lousy sheep may be denied access to saleyards, stock routes and agistment.

Sheep lice policy under review

A recent increase in lice numbers across the state has prompted the Livestock Health and Pest Authorities and Industry & Investment NSW to review the sheep lice policy in NSW with the aim of developing a more coordinated approach to lice control.

The current review which began in March is in response to the growing need for a better sheep lice control program throughout NSW.

The sheep lice review aims to improve advisory activity to better promote a range of management strategies to producers and to provide ongoing training and technical support for LHPA and I&I NSW staff. Any effective lice control program will depend on producers being prepared to implement these management strategies and not just rely on chemical treatments.

Initiatives discussed at sheep lice review meetings include:

• the creation of lice groups and lice surveys in authorities where lice are a greater risk;
• promotion of the new lab testing service;
• standardised sheep inspections at saleyards;
• a standardised approach for following up saleyard breaches at the property of origin; and
• a centralised reporting system to capture information on lice prevalence.

Sheep lice survey

Feedback from sheep lice survey at the Australian National Field Days highlighted the importance of on-farm biosecurity practices.

The survey results showed an increase in lice infestations each year since 2006, with producers citing stray lousy sheep from neighbouring properties as the leading cause of lice spreading to their flocks. Respondents indicated that the other cause of lice infestation in their flocks was from sheep brought in from outside the property.

The results show that practising good farm biosecurity is essential in preventing the spread of lice on sheep properties:

• all new and returning stock brought onto the property including rams must be quarantined and monitored closely for signs of lice
• stray sheep also pose a high risk of introducing lice - it is important to maintain boundary fences
• around 92% of survey respondents only had one shearing per year - an indication that most producers have the opportunity for effective lice treatment at shearing

The survey results covered a wide cross-section of the states sheep producers, with respondents from four authorities (Tablelands, Central North, Central West and Lachlan) and flock sizes ranging from 100 to 14,000 head.

The results from the survey have been passed on to the sheep lice review committee to assist with their development of a more effective lice policy in NSW.

Preventing and controlling lice

For advice on preventing and controlling sheep lice, speak to your local LHPA vet who can assist you in developing management and treatment strategies tailored to your enterprise.

Further information on treating sheep lice is available on the Industry & Investment NSW website and from this Wool Producers Australia factsheet.