April 10, 2015

Cattle producers in the Great Southern should be alert for signs of a disease causing anaemia in cattle. Bovine anaemia due to the Theileria orientalis group (BATOG) is transmitted to cattle by bush ticks infected with a blood-borne parasite. Department of Agriculture and Food field veterinary officer Jenny Cotter said the bush tick was thought to be the main carrier, but other native ticks might also spread the disease. “The signs of BATOG vary and

ALEC has launched an animal welfare survey which is seeking community and stakeholder views on the livestock export industry’s animal welfare performance. Murdoch university is conducting the survey as part of an R&D project to develop indicators of animal welfare along the livestock export supply chain.To complete the survey, click here. For more information about the survey, click here. 

The fourth annual Honey Month is fast approaching and will be celebrated across the country, promoting Australian honeybees and their products to the wider public. Honey Month committee member Leilani Leyland, who is also the vice president of the WAFarmers Beekeepers Section, said a small scale festival proved to be extremely successful by attracting far more visitors than originally anticipated.  “The general public was excited to learn about beekeeping and honey,” Mrs Leyland said. “The