Riverina ovine brucellosis testing yields results

The Riverina Livestock Health and Pest Authority is delivering results with its ovine brucellosis eradication program.

Ovine brucellosis is an important sheep disease as it causes considerable economic loss in many flocks through ram wastage, low lamb-marking percentages and extended joining causing drawn-out lambing seasons.

Senior district vet with the Riverina LHPA, Dan Salmon, says that the program has identified varying levels of infertility in flocks across the district.

"We initially started the program in the Moulamein area and recently our district vet at Hay, Colin Peake, has continued the program around Hay," he said.

"Our tests have found brucellosis infection in about 30 per cent of flocks and some flocks had very few sound rams."

There is no effective treatment for brucellosis. Infected rams are a source of infection to the rest of the flock so they should be culled as soon as possible.

"Where we have completed the program, lambing percentages have increased in the order of 10 to 30 per cent. This has been achieved using fewer rams over a shorter joining period," Dr Salmon said.

"An intensive fox-baiting program, which we started at about the same time as the current brucellosis program, has also helped to reduce lamb losses. This has meant that as well as more lambs being born, more of them are surviving."

Sheep producers should conduct a physical examination of their rams prior to joining and have any rams with abnormalities checked by their local LHPA district vet or private vet. Usually a blood test will be enough to confirm an infection, but sometimes others tests, including post mortem examination may be required.

Before purchasing new rams, producers should check that they come from a flock which is accredited free from ovine brucellosis.

For more information on ovine brucellosis testing contact your local office of the Riverina LHPA.

Media contact: Kylie Dunn 6391 3720 / 0428 465 378