Don’t Let Pest Animals Eat a Hole in Your Profits

The recent change in weather conditions has dramatically changed the game regarding pest animals. With an improvement of conditions comes more food for livestock but also pest animals. Now is the right time to think about pest management.

Wild dogs are a priority pest for north coast producers as they pose a significant threat to calves. Not just young calves but newborns to weaners can be impacted. Cattle prices are at record levels with weaners making over $4 per kg live weight and around $1000 per head in the sale yards, investing time on managing wild dogs can potentially make a big difference to farm income.

Some are predicting that prices will remain buoyant for quite a while. So it is essential to look forward to spring when most producers calve and start to manage wild dogs now. Don’t wait until just before calving or when calving starts. Based on the current sale process, every calf you lose to a wild dog will cost you $1000.

Wild dog control is most effective when neighbours work together on cross-tenure control programs; landholders will get the most benefit by carrying out a coordinated control program over the next few months.

Other pests like feral pigs and wild deer can cause a lot of damage at any time of the year, particularly to the horticulture and cropping industries. As we move into autumn and then winter, feed for these pests will decrease providing the best opportunity for control.

Remember being proactive about pest management may take up a little of your time in the short term, but waiting until you see impacts will undoubtedly cost you money.

All land managers can reduce risks from Wild Dog populations on land under their care and control by:

• participating in coordinated pest animal control programs
• undertaking management activities that incorporate both initial and follow up pest animal control
• reporting any wild dog activity such as sightings, signs of presence, impacts, attacks to neighbours and to Local Land Services
• ensuring potential food sources such as carcasses, offal and food scraps are properly disposed of.

Local Land Services help landholders by providing advice and assistance in eradicating pest species. Contact your nearest Local Land Services on 1300 795 299  or via https://www.lls.nsw.gov.au/regions/north-coast/contact-us and ask to speak to an Invasive Pest Biosecurity Officer and get on the front foot with pests.