Project No: ON-00540 Contract No: 4500011644 AWI Project Manager: Bridget Peachey Contractor Name: University of New England Prepared By: Dr Alison Colvin, Prof. Stephen Walkden-Brown and Dr Ian Reeve Publication Date: August 2020 Benchmarking Australian Sheep Parasite Control Published by Australian Wool Innovation Limited, Level 6, 68 Harrington Street, THE ROCKS, NSW, 2000 This publication should only be used as a general aid and is not a substitute for specific advice. To the extent permitted by law, we exclude all liability for loss or damage arising from the use of the information in this publication. AWI invests in research, development, innovation and marketing activities along the global supply chain for Australian wool. AWI is grateful for its funding which is primarily provided by Australian woolgrowers through a wool levy and by the Australian Government which provides a matching contribution for eligible R&D activities © 2020 Australian Wool Innovation Limited. All rights reserved. Contents Executive Summary ........................................................................................................................................................... 1 1. Introduction .............................................................................................................................................................. 7 2. Project Objectives ..................................................................................................................................................... 7 3. Success in Achieving Objectives ................................................................................................................................ 7 4. Methodology ............................................................................................................................................................. 8 Survey ............................................................................................................................................................................ 8 Statistical analysis ....................................................................................................................................................... 10 5. Results ..................................................................................................................................................................... 13 Q1 In which postcode is your reporting property located? ........................................................................................ 14 1.1 Location of respondents by MLA Reporting Region ......................................................................................... 14 1.2 Number of respondents by location ................................................................................................................. 15 Q2 Please indicate your recorded rainfall for 2018 and the average annual rainfall for your reporting property: ... 16 2.1 Recorded rainfall for 2018 and Average annual rainfall ................................................................................... 16 2.2 Recorded rainfall for 2018 as a proportion of Average annual rainfall ............................................................ 18 Q3 What is the size of your reporting property? ........................................................................................................ 19 3.1 Property size by Region ..................................................................................................................................... 19 Q4 What is the proportion of income from the various enterprises on your reporting property in 2018? .............. 20 4.1 Income on reporting properties by Region ....................................................................................................... 20 Q5 About what percentage of your reporting property is: Improved pasture, Non-improved pasture, Crop (Not for grazing) Fodder crops, Undeveloped, other. .............................................................................................................. 21 5.1 Land use on reporting properties by Region..................................................................................................... 21 Q6 How many cattle did you have at calf weaning time for reproducing herds or in November 2018 for non- reproducing herds? ..................................................................................................................................................... 22 6.1 Mean number of cattle run by respondents by Region .................................................................................... 22 6.2 Proportion of respondents who ran cattle by Region ...................................................................................... 22 Q7 In 2018, how many sheep of different types and classes did you have at weaning time in 2018 (or in November 2018 if you only run wethers)? Indicate if the total number you typically run is different to the number you had in 2018. ........................................................................................................................................................................... 23 7.1 Mean number of sheep DSEs and flock size run by respondents by Region .................................................... 23 7.2 Changes in typical sheep numbers over the last 5 years (2014-2018) ............................................................. 24 7.3 Proportions of classes as a total of sheep numbers ......................................................................................... 26 Q8 Choose the sheep enterprise you will refer to for the rest of the survey: ............................................................ 27 8.1 Proportion of respondents by selected Chosen enterprise and Commercial/Stud .......................................... 27 8.2 Chosen enterprise by Region and Enterprise type by Region. .......................................................................... 29 Q9 For your chosen enterprise, in which months did you lamb and wean in 2018? ................................................. 30 9.1 Month of lambing and weaning as a proportion of the total number - National ............................................. 30 9.2 Month of lambing by Region ............................................................................................................................. 31 9.3 Month of lambing by Chosen enterprise .......................................................................................................... 32 9.4 Month of weaning by Region ............................................................................................................................ 33 9.5 Month of weaning by Chosen enterprise ......................................................................................................... 34 Q10 In the last 5 years, which of the following treatments or techniques have you used for worm control in your chosen enterprise? Please indicate if these were effective. ...................................................................................... 35 10.1 Proportion of respondents who used techniques and treatments for worm control over the last five years (2014-2018) by Region ............................................................................................................................................ 36 10.2 Proportion of respondents who used these techniques and treatments for worm control over the last five years (2014-2018) by Chosen enterprise ................................................................................................................ 37 10.3 Effectiveness of worm control techniques and treatments by Region ........................................................... 38 10.4 Effectiveness of worm control techniques and treatments by Chosen enterprise ........................................ 39 Q11 If you monitored worm egg counts in 2018, please indicate in the table below which class of sheep you monitored in which month and if you requested worm species identification. If you monitored the same class of sheep more than once in a month please add the details in the comments box below. .......................................... 40 11.1 Proportion of respondents using faecal worm egg count monitors (WEC) in 2018 by Region and Chosen enterprise ................................................................................................................................................................ 40 11.2 Proportion of respondents who monitored faecal worm egg counts (WEC) in 2018 by Region ................... 41 11.3 Proportion of respondents who monitored faecal worm egg counts (WEC) in 2018 by Chosen enterprise . 42 11.4 Mean number of faecal worm egg count monitors of those respondents who monitored. ......................... 43 11.5 Proportion of respondents who requested worm species identification (Larval culture) with faecal worm egg counts in 2018 by Region. ................................................................................................................................ 44 Q12 If you used worm egg counts, who carried out the worm egg counts you listed above? .................................. 45 12.1 Which person or agency carried out worm egg counts in 2018 by Region .................................................... 45 12.2 Which person or agency carried out worm egg counts in 2018 by Chosen enterprise .................................