MANAGEMENT

It is very important to the stud to guarantee to our clients that our flock is low disease risk. No trading of sheep occurs at Wyambi to avoid the chances of disease introduction. The only sheep imports to the property are stud sires and occasionally small numbers of elite stud ewes.

The status of our sheep with respect to disease is as follows:

Ovine Brucellosis accreditation:

Kennedy Creek (previously Kelfeera) has held OB accreditation since inception of the program (Cert # 4).

Johnes disease accreditation:

Kennedy Creek is currently ranked MN3 V (Cert VS1411 – see http://www.animalhealthaustralia.com.au/APAV/UserInterface/JDMAP/JDMAPSummary.aspx?id=67651). This has entailed multiple blood tests on the flock from 2000, followed by faecal tests (last one conducted in 2005) and in 2006 all stock to be retained in 2007 were vaccinated with Gudair vaccine. All lambs are now vaccinated at (or soon after) weaning thus all stock for sale in 2008 will be vaccinates of vaccinated parents. All sale rams for 2007 were vaccinated as young rams post weaning. Sale rams currently carry 8 points on the OJD trading program.

Footrot:

Kennedy Creek stud has not had footrot.

Lice:

Kennedy Creek stud has not had lice in the stud flock (but all sale rams are treated off-shears with lice treatment as a further lice-free guarantee).

Worm resistance:

We have not performed a worm resistance test for approximately four years with previous tests showing moderate resistance to both white and clear drenches but no mectin (macrocyclic lactone) resistance. The stud uses up to three drenches per year on young stock and one to two drenches per year for ewes. A drench resistance test is to be conducted in 2007, but it is unlikely that there will be any mectin resistance given good performance of abamectin, ivermectin and moxidectin on the property in recent years.