A webinar to be held on Tuesday December 13 will attempt to unravel the causes behind what was, for many Western Division sheep producers, a very challenging season with low lambing and marking numbers. 

NSW Department of Primary Industries livestock officer Allie Jones has organised the event so producers can join an online discussion from their office or home computer.  

“It’s a bit of a mystery at this stage as scanning results were generally good,” Ms Jones said. 

“One property had scanned 120 per cent foetuses per ewe yet marked only 30 per cent – it’s not a fertility issue or lamb loss at lambing, so we’re trying to uncover exactly where and how those lambs were lost.” 

Factors which could have contributed include: 

• worms – a major problem this season, they reduce body condition making sheep sick and in severe cases causing death
• a combination of heat and humidity can cause heat stress which can produce small lambs with less chance of survival at birth 
• mosquitoes and other biting insects can transmit viruses and infections which could directly affect unborn lambs, or indirectly through their mother’s increased body temperature 
• increased fox, pig and wild dog populations could be impacting on lamb survival 
• sheep spending extended periods in waterlogged pastures, leading to foot and skin infections. 

NSW DPI veterinarian, Greg Curran, will take part in the webinar to discuss the evidence with producers and provide technical insights. 

The webinar will commence at 1pm Eastern Summer Time. 

To register for the webinar, producers should contact the NSW DPI Bourke office (02) 6830 0000 or Allie Jones (02) 6830 0001, 0409 368 563 or allie.jones@industry.nsw.gov.au 

Digital photographs are available bernadette.york@industry.nsw.gov.au

Media contact: Bernadette York 6391 3936 or 0427 773 785