Page 1 A Message from the Chairperson! By the time you receive this, the National Show at Sydney will be over. Our congratulations go to all the participants, as well as the ribbon winners, and our thanks to South African Judge Kobus Lotter. We also thank everyone who has worked tirelessly behind the scenes to make the National another huge success. Full results will be available on the Sydney Show website: http://www.eastershow.com.au/ Type Results in the Search Engine then Boer Goats. This Newsletter includes the broad ribbon winners and photos. Other photos from the National Show will be available on website shortly. The breeder’s workshop for classification held on 25th April 2014 was well attended by 18 participants. A level 2 school and the Judges assessor’s training for classification were also held on the weekend with all participants passing their courses. A proposed classification process was also discussed with recommendations to be presented to the Board. Thank you to all who made to effort to attend and to Lynn Wickenden & Marz Andrew for allowing us to hold the courses especially after a busy week at the National Show at Carrington View stud. Vicki Mitchell, Chairperson. BGBAA National Show 2014 – Sydney Royal Easter Show: BOER GOAT BREEDERS ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA NEWSLETTER APRIL 2014 Inside this Issue Chairperson’s Message P1 Newsletter Contacts P2 Urinary Calculi P3-4 Website and Newsletter Advertising P5 BGBAA at Foster Show (Vic) P6 Around the Show Circuit P6- 17 Ever Cooked What’s in your Paddock? P18 Ask a Judge P19 MLA on farm audits (LPA) P22-24 Vitamins & Minerals P24-27 Managing Reproducing Goats in Autumn P28 - 32 Members List P33 Tracy Wood & Richard Zidarew, Pacifica Boer Stud with the Grand Champion Buck & Senior Champion Buck: Pacifica Barley Marie Barnes, Micathel Boer Stud with the Champion Doe Kid, Grand Champion Boer Doe& Supreme Boer Exhibit: Micathel Elanyi
Transcript
April 2014 Page 1
A Message from the Chairperson!
By the time you receive this, the National Show at Sydney will be over. Our congratulations go to all the participants, as well as the ribbon winners, and our thanks to South African Judge Kobus Lotter. We also thank everyone who has worked tirelessly behind the scenes to make the National another huge success. Full results will be available on the Sydney Show website: http://www.eastershow.com.au/ Type Results in the Search Engine then Boer Goats.
This Newsletter includes the broad ribbon winners and photos. Other photos from the National Show will be available on website shortly.
The breeder’s workshop for classification held on 25th April 2014 was well attended by 18 participants. A level 2 school and the Judges assessor’s training for classification were also held on the weekend with all participants passing their courses. A proposed classification process was also discussed with recommendations to be presented to the Board. Thank you to all who made to effort to attend and to Lynn Wickenden & Marz Andrew for allowing us to hold the courses especially after a busy week at the National Show at Carrington View stud.
Vicki Mitchell, Chairperson.
BGBAA National Show 2014 – Sydney Royal Easter Show:
Editors Note: Any text to web sites which is blue and underlined is a hyperlink. When clicked within this PDF file it will automatically go to that website.
Celebrating an event
An aged farmer and his wife were leaning against the edge of their goat-pen when the old woman wistfully recalled that the next week would mark their golden wedding anniversary. "Let's have a party, Homer," she suggested. "Let's kill a goat." The farmer scratched his grizzled head. "Gee, Ethel," he finally answered, "I don't see why the goat should take the blame for something that happened fifty years ago."
Urinary Calculi in Bucks and wethers: Urinary calculi (kidney stones) are caused by feeding concentrates which have an excessive amount of phosphorous or magnesium or an imbalance of calcium to phosphorous in an animal’s diet. The balance should be Calcium 2: Phosphorus 1. It most commonly occurs in bucks or wethers as they have a very long urethra (compared to a doe) which means they cannot eliminate stones as easily as does. The mineral salts build up in the urinary tract and form a hard mass which is extremely painful to the goat and, at worse, can lead to its death. Clinical signs: 1. Difficult urination/frequent attempts 2. Dribbling of urine may occur and animal is very vocal (in obvious pain) 3. Stretching out and/or kicking its belly 4. Off feed 5. There may be crystals evident in the hairs at the end of the penis The build up of pressure from not being able to urinate may cause the bladder to burst (water belly) in which case the animal will probably die. It is important to not let it get this far (it occurs over several days) by being vigilant and aware of the clinical signs above. If the animal’s belly has become extremely swollen a vet should be contacted immediately. Even then, there is no guarantee the animal will survive. Prevention: It is important to monitor an animal’s diet if they are being hard fed or supplementary fed to prevent the possibility of urinary calculi. Check the phosphorous/calcium ration on pellets. Avoid large amounts of soy meal or corn. Avoid pre packages horse feeds as these are not balanced for ruminants. Large amounts of lucerne hay are also not good for bucks because of the phosphorous/calcium imbalance. It is better to provide a good quality grass hay for bulk. Roughage will increase salivation and rumination which will increase the amount of phosphate excreted in the urine. Access to good quality water is also important for the animals to drink freely and flush out any possible stones. Bore water can be a problem as it has high concentrates of minerals. In drought conditions access to brackish water or low water in dams can also cause problems. Natural preventatives such as the addition of unpasteurised cider vinegar to an animal’s diet (as little as a teaspoon a day has found to be successful) and the immediate drench of cider vinegar or Vitamin C may help the animal to dissolve and pass the stones in the early stages of urinary calculi (Pat Coleby: Natural Goat and Alpaca Care, Second Edition, 2000 Collingwood) Be aware of the problem and don’t let it occur. Feeding animals is common sense, the same as feeding humans. Too much of any one thing is not a good diet. We have fed a mix of pellets, crushed corn, crushed lupins and a Molo mix chaff (combined lucerne and oaten hay with molasses
added) without any problems for many years. Bi carb soda is added liberally to the buck’s feed. The hard feed is always introduced slowly, the ration given based on the animals weight and the purpose (usually to condition before a major show), and the feed is reduced slowly prior to the animals going on to pasture alone (for joining). Young bucks are given initially about 1 cup of feed mix each and monitored to see who eats the feed. Once they all have a taste of it there is no problem with increasing the quantity but initially the monitoring is important to prevent the Mr Piggies eating more than the shy feeders and pushing them away. We find once animals have acquired a palate for hard feed they generally self monitor and will walk away when they have had enough. Grain poisoning (acidosis) usually occurs when animals are off hard feed and then given too much to start or accidentally gain access to a large amount of hard feed. So be aware of what you are feeding, be vigilant and ask breeders at shows what they have found to be successful for their animals, stud or commercial. The old saying prevention is better than cure is never more applicable than in the case of urinary calculi. Anyone who has suffered from kidney stones will agree! Judith D’Aloisio Further Reading http://www.sheepandgoat.com/articles/urincalc.html http://www.goatworld.com/articles/urinarycalculi/urinarycalculi.pdf
WEBSITE AND NEWSLETTER ADVERTISING The following chart lists the options for advertising in the Newsletter or the website. Prices include GST. A form is available on the website at the following link: http://www.australianboergoat.com.au/forms.php Any advertising can be forwarded to [email protected] (03)57973232. Members can login to the website and upload Classifieds in the Members Area. There is no charge for State Branches to advertise. A mail out to members can be done through ABRI, contact Barb O’Shea [email protected] Cost is $75 for members, $110 for non-members.
MEMBER OF BGBAA NON MEMBER OF BGBAA
ADVERTISING TYPES & COSTS Please complete details below Please complete details below Website – Classifieds For Sale
At the recent Foster Show, Yarragon Goats were given the opportunity to promote goat meat farming & Boer Goats as part of the "Avenue of Ag". The committee of the Foster Agricultural Show offered free stalls to farmers who could showcase a diverse range of farming operations. Garlic, Angora Goats, Rabbits, Truffles & much more were showcased with Yarragon Goats taking the opportunity to talk about the many uses of Boer Goats particularly on small acreages. We spoke with many people about our farm operations, how meat goats could add to existing farm operations, the role of goats in weed control and the specialised meat products we aim to sell at farmers markets. It was an enjoyable day explaining our farming methods and the differences of all the different types of goats to visitors. We were on the same road in the showgrounds as Alpacas, Beef Cattle Judging and sheep trials, so many visitors passed over the day. With us, we had one of our breeding bucks Craig and a young buck 'Blueback' who as a bottle fed baby was keen for pats and cuddles all day, and one luck young visitor even got to feed Blueback his bottle. As we spoke with guests, it was interesting how many had never been to Yarragon and so it was a good
opportunity to suggest they take a day trip over the Strez and see our town, a few have even lined up farm visits to see the goat operation and I'm sure will follow that up with afternoon tea in town. Thank you to the Foster Show Committee for the opportunity to promote Yarragon Goats, It was an enjoyable day and we look forward to the many people who said they were keen to know more learning more about Goat farming.
David “Wombat” Lyons Yarragon Goats
Around the show circuit
Full results for all shows are available on the National web site
www.australianboergoat.com.au
RESULTS MOUNT PLEASANT SHOW (SA) 15 March, 2014
Judge: Thomas Youlden (NSW)
Champion Boer Doe Georgell Boers 2 yrs and under 4 yrs
Reserve Champion Boer Doe Margaret Miller 1 yr and under 2 yrs
Champion Boer Buck Margaret Miller Over 2 years
Reserve Champion Boer Buck Margaret Miller 1 yr and under 2 yrs
Grand Champion Georgell Boers 2 yrs and under 4 yrs
GRAND CHAMPION BUCK: Brenton Park Boers –MACFF0029
SUPREME: Brenton Park Boers – MACFF0029
April 2014 Page 9
Dr Fred Homeyer (USA) to Judge at Cairns Show from 17th July, 2014...below is his profile
Dr. Fred C. Homeyer is a retired college professor of computer science and has been involved with the meat goat industry for 20 years. He has raised over 20,000 meat goats at his Antelope Creek Ranch in Robert Lee, Texas since 1994. At the present time he has over 400 registered South African Boer Goats at the ranch. He has judged over 120 shows in 31 U.S. states, 3 Canadian Provinces and 15 other countries around the world. Dr. Homeyer has judged over 20 National Shows in Brazil, Mexico, Austria, Bermuda, Barbados, Dominican Republic, Jamaica and Canada. Dr. Homeyer is the only person certified as a Boer goat judge by all three Boer goat associations in the U.S. (ABGA, IBGA, USBGA) as well as ABCBoer (Brazilian Boer Goat Association). He has written over 400 articles on goats and goat raising that have been published in over 30 magazines worldwide. He has presented over 200 seminars around the world and can give reasons for placing animals in the show ring in English, Spanish,
Portuguese and German. His current research interests included include increasing carcass yield in meat goat kids through herd sire selection as well as predition and extrapolation of physical traits through study of phenotype and genotype characteristics of meat goats and a study of caprine hair goats to determine meaningful physical selection traits. Dr. Homeyer strives to be a positive ambassador for Boer goats everywhere he travels in the world and is internationally recognized for his efforts in this regard.
http://www.antelopecreek.com
RESULTS TOOWOOMBA (QLD), Queensland State Show 27-29 March, 2014
Judge: Graham Reimers (Qld)
Full Results: http://www.toowoombashow.com.au/uploads/media/2014_Goats_-_Boer_Results.pdf
Champion group of 3 does Micathel 247 Marie Barnes Micathel
Res Champ group of 3 does Carrington 246 Lynn Wickenden Carrington View
Champion group of 3 bucks Micathel 251 Marie Barnes Micathel
Res Champ group of 3 bucks Kiabe 249 Margret Giles Kiabe
Best individual score – doe 9 Bacall Marie Barnes Micathel
Best individual score – buck 169 Cody Marie Barnes Micathel
April 2014 Page 16
Wanaka A & P Show March 2014 South Island New Zealand,
Geoff & Vicki Mitchell
On our approach into the Queenstown International airport on the
South Island, we were able to experience some of the best
panoramic views that New Zealand has to offer.
The mountain ridges rising from the ocean were rugged and snow capped even at the beginning of
autumn. The many lakes nestled between the mountain ranges were an array of vibrant blue colours
the like not seen in Australian lakes.
We settled into the tourist town of Queenstown taking in the breathtaking sights of the lake and
mountains. The following morning we headed off on a short drive along the grand ridge road to the
township of Wanaka which is also on the shores of a beautiful lake surrounded by mountains at the
top of the Cururtha Valley in the farming region known as Central Otago.
The Wanaka A. & P. show grounds are spread out on lovely parklands with a very large horse event
being undertaken in several rings within the local rugby union field. The majority of the show
grounds had been filled to capacity with agricultural trade sites and displays. It took us the best part
of our spare day to walk around and investigate the hundreds of exhibitors and to partake in some
of the local delicacies on offer.
The Boer Goats show ring was set up for showing on the Friday, with a large gazebo to house the
goats for the exhibitors, some of which had travelled more than 5 hours to attend the show.
On arrival at the showgrounds on Friday morning the exhibitors were madly rushing around to get
their animals ready for showing. They kindly stopped what they were doing to allow us to introduce
ourselves and have a chat to each of the competitors before the show commenced.
The first class for judging was Boer does under 12 months. After checking mouths and teats, we
looked back at the line up of animals and realized that there were over 20 does in this class. We
would have liked to split the class into 2 divisions, however as the does were very even and there
was no quick method to split the class it was decided to continue as it was.
It took some time for both Judges to work in tandem to place the goats in order. The depth and
evenness of the class was quite impressive with an eventual winner being found.
The next doe class was for 1-3 year olds and this had two distinct age groups, so it was decided to
split this class into 2 divisions. The final class was for some wonderful older does that displayed
classic Boer doe traits.
We then broke for some light refreshments before commencing to judge the junior bucks. This class
was again for Boer Bucks under 12 months and the high quality of these bucks had us working hard
to place them in order. The mid group bucks were judged next followed by some very good senior
Bucks.
April 2014 Page 17
The championship classes were a very close affair with the Senior Champion Doe completing back to
back Grand Champion Doe titles, whilst a very impressive Junior Champion Buck just nudged out the
Senior Champion Buck for Grand Champion Buck.
We were then asked to judge a new innovative class of 3 junior Boer goats bred by the same sire
using meat carrying capacity and uniformity as the judging criteria.
Once the judging was concluded, the broad winning Boer goats were
paraded to highlight to all the exhibitors and spectators the wonderful
Boer Goats that were on display at the 2014 Wanaka A. & P. show. The
Boer goat section was then awarded a special achievement medallion by
the show society for its contribution to the 2014 show.
The usual end of show pack up did not occur as we had to pull down the
show ring and pens as the cattle show was being set up for the next day
on the same arena. Everybody jumped in and assisted, so it did not take
too long. Goats were relocated to the nearby gazebo setup to house them
overnight as most exhibitors were staying overnight to attend the
exhibitor’s dinner held at a local restaurant on the shores of the lake.
The dinner menu was designed in consultation with the Shingle Creek
Chevon creative chef and consisted of a choice of 2 main dishes. On the
menu was the choice of either Chevon rack of goat in a beetroot sauce or
Chevon goat back strap with couscous. A cracking evening was had by all and just as well there was
to be no showing the next day.
On the Saturday it was a leisure day to wander around the show grounds whilst most of the
exhibitors were on site to chat with many of the interested public who were keen to learn more
about Boer Goats. We were also able to sit down and swap stories about goat farming with the
exhibitors. It was interesting to be shown some of the young Boer goats that are the progeny of the
genetics from some of our Australian studs.
The 2 main Boer Goat show sponsors trade sites were well attended and the popularity of goat
meat and meat goat farming is on the rise in this area of the South island. The guys from Shingle
Creek Chevon had plenty of inquiries for both meat and processed meat sales and several good leads
from farmers wanting to run meat goats and supply goats back to the company.
Finally, we both would like to thank the organisers of the Wanaka A. & P. for the opportunity to
judge in tandem and consequently being able to meet and spend time with some enthusiastic New
Zealand breeders. We all agreed that our two associations and members should work closely
together in the future. The South Island has some wonderful areas for goat farming and the industry
should continue to grow.
April 2014 Page 18
Ever cooked what’s in your paddock??
Goat meat (Chevon) will lose moisture and can toughen quickly due to low fat content if it is exposed to high, dry cooking temperatures. Therefore, two basic rules are:
1. cook it slowly (low temperature) 2. cook it with moisture (use marinades)
Tenderness of meat cut determines the method or methods of cooking. Tender cuts of meat are usually best when cooked by a dry heat method such as roasting or frying. Less tender cuts are tenderised by cooking with moist heat such as braising and stewing.
Tender cuts of goat meat are the legs, ribs, portions of the shoulder cut, the loin, roast and the breast. Less tender cuts of goat are stew meat, riblets and shanks. In general, it is advisable to cook the meat slowly. Cooking any meat at low temperatures results in a more tender and flavourful product with more juice. Oven bags are ideal and use any slow cook recipes for lamb especially leg or shoulder recipes.
Try the following recipe below from MLA (There are many more recipes on this site!)
3+ pound goat leg 2 teaspoons salt 2 teaspoon cracked black pepper 2 teaspoons ground coriander 3 onions, chopped 2 teaspoons crushed garlic 1 cup beef stock 16 ounce can diced tomatoes 16 ounce can butter beans, rinsed and drained 4 carrots, chopped 16 green beans, trimmed and halved Method Rub the leg of goat with salt, pepper and coriander. Heat a little oil in a pan and brown the meat all over. Transfer to an ovenproof dish. In the same pan that the meat was browned in, fry the onions and garlic until golden. Add stock and tomatoes and mix well. Add to meat. Cover and roast at 350°F for 2 hours. Add the remaining ingredients and cook another 30 minutes or until the vegetables are cooked and the meat is tender. Serve with risoni and steamed vegetables.
NOTE: If you have any favourite recipes please share by emailing [email protected]
Following your encouraging advice in the February Newsletter I have decided to take my young doe to her first show in September this year. I have attended a few shows to have a look and I noticed that the exhibitors have trimmed their goats beforehand. Could you please advise what preparation I need to do before my first show to have my doe looking her best?
Aspirationtoshow
Dear Aspirationtoshow,
I have written up a timetable for show preparation which may help you….
Show Preparation and Timetable
6-12 months before:
Plan what shows you would like to attend and note the closing date of entries;
Select your animals and note the classes they will be eligible to enter based on their birth date at the date of the show;
Only select animals which meet the breed standards;
Assess the condition of your animal and feed accordingly. Show animals require more condition than paddock fed animals but should not be fat as this will be penalised by the Judge. Conditioning may require hard feeding, remember to start early and introduce slowly;
Accustom your animal to molasses flavoured water if you do not intend to take your own water, particularly if it is overnight or a larger show over several days. Some animals, for example, will not drink chlorinated water; Vitrate can also be added to the water to encourage rehydration especially after a long trip in the trailer;
Start getting your animal used to being handled. To teach a goat to lead begin at an early age with a collar and lead and direct the animal in the direction you want to go by pushing on its rear end with the other hand. Never pull on the tail. Using a small amount of feed or a “treat” also helps;
It also needs to accept being tied up for grooming, having its legs lifted for teat inspection, having someone inspect is mouth, being led to and from the ring, accept being touched by a stranger and accept its feet being “positioned” so it will stand correctly and quietly in a line up which will maximise its appearance. Handling is best introduced at an early age.
3 months before
Monitor the condition of your animals and adjust feed accordingly;
Be aware of BGBAA requirements for entering shows and check that the animals are registered, double tagged which includes a permanent tag or tagged and tattooed;
Be aware of completion of any heath requirements for the show, some paperwork may be required to be signed by a Government Vet;
Ensure worming and lice control programs are current;
Re check closing dates for entries and make sure all paperwork is ready to go or has been forwarded.
April 2014 Page 20
2-3 weeks before
Closing dates for smaller shows are usually 2-3 weeks prior. Check your entries have been submitted;
Check you have all essential grooming equipment. This will consist of: normal scissors with long handles, small sharp scissors, thinning scissors, hoof trimmers, dog grooming aids to strip the coat, electric clippers with different size blades, washing gear (buckets, towels, sponges, shampoo etc);
Trim feet. If this has been done on a regular basis during the year a touch up will just be required. Avoid hoof trimming very close to the competition as your animal may end up “footsore” and will not present well on an unfamiliar ring surface or may end up lame.
Begin a trim on your animal so that the final few days before the show just require a “touch up”. This also allows time for “errors” to grow out a bit!
Begin a trim on a clean goat, wash and brush thoroughly. Remove loose hair and any winter cashmere with a dog grooming brush (Mars Coat Kings are excellent). With both bucks and does it is important for the eye to be able to sweep in an unbroken line from the nose to the horns and back to the tail, so any whorls or tufts of hair should be removed with the dog brush or thinning scissors;
For Does: the key is to enhance their femininity. The feathers on the feet of a doe are trimmed and its tail is trimmed
The tail is trimmed straight down from the flag to the base equally on both sides but not down to the skin. A sharp pair of scissors can be used for this. Depending on the age of the goat this can be anywhere from 0.5-2cm. The idea is just to neaten the tail so for first timer “showies”, less is more. For the head, the “roman” profile of the goat should be accentuated by creating a rounded line from nose to horns. Use thinning scissors to trim the long hair on the brow until you gain experience and confidence and then sharp scissors or clippers can be used. You can “cut out” the hole between the horns and behind them and trim above the eyes to accentuate them, again thinning scissors are recommended initially. The inside of the ears can be trimmed of long hairs. With more experience clipper blades can be used under the neck and down the insides of the legs and around the hooves. The dew claws can be tidied up which has the immediate effect of making the pasterns appear more upright. Buff horns to give an even appearance;
For Bucks: they need to appear “masculine” and therefore are not as trimmed to the same degree. The tail and feathers are usually not done however the head is trimmed to accentuate the “roman” profile the same as a doe. Any long hairs, whorls are also tidied to create an unbroken line with the eye. Urine stains can be washed with a laundry or kitchen detergent however it is not necessary to have the bucks legs pristine white or they don’t look like they are working!
Both bucks and does benefit from a “purple” wash with a horse shampoo specifically for grey horses.
April 2014 Page 21
1 week before
Give your animal a wash early in the week if it is excessively dirty or it is an older buck which may need to be washed twice in this week;
A number of Shows, particularly State Shows prohibit the wearing of any apparel which shows your Stud logo and may require a white “dust coat”. Make sure you are familiar with the Shows Rules and Regulations which are printed in the Schedule when you enter and you have time to get the required dress.
Day before
Wash animals again, do any “tidy up” required with the trim if the judging is the next day, pack the car. Avoid the animal getting chilled by rugging or using a dryer. Be sure to clean the nose, ears, knees, and under the tail. If the hooves are dirty, scrape and wash them.
On Show Day
Arrive early to settle your animal; On arrival your animal may be inspected for foot conditions (lameness, scald, footrot) and
for lice. The animal may also be identified to ensure it matches the details on its registration paper;
Check your animal for last minute stains. Wipe horns with a light oil to highlight the natural colour. Brush your animal to remove all loose hair and give the animal a slick appearance.
Be on time for your classes; The judge is judging the animal and not you. Ensure that the judge has a good view of your
animal and never put yourself between the judge and the animal; In most case the Judge will ask to see the animal moving freely and unassisted. If you have to
lead the animal, use as much of the ring when moving your animal as possible without hindering other exhibitors;
Be a good sport - do not dispute the judge's results. If you feel you have been disadvantaged speak to the judge quietly, out of the ring and after the completion of the judging of all classes. If you are also unsure as to why your animal has not been placed speak to the Judge at the conclusion of the competition and ask for advice;
When the judge is looking at each individual animal, relax until it is your turn. When he is looking at the whole class, ensure that your animal is shown at its best. Hold your hand under the animals chin to encourage it to lift its head and try and square its feet;
Do not speak to the judge unless he has directly asked a question which you should answer clearly and politely. If you have a problem or need help speak to the Ring Steward.
Finally… Enjoy the experience and the camaraderie of fellow “showies”. Learn from watching how others prepare their goats and present them in the ring!
Happy showing!
Vicki Mitchell,
Level 3 Judge.
April 2014 Page 22
BGBAA NEWSLETTER PUBLICATION DATES AND DEADLINES 2014
PUBLICATION DATE DEADLINE
Wednesday, April 30, 2014 – DELAYED TO MAY Friday, April 25, 2014
Monday, June 30, 2014 Friday, June 27, 2014
Friday, August 29, 2014 Wednesday, August 27, 2014
Friday, October 31, 2014 Wednesday, October 29, 2014
Wednesday, December 23, 2014 Friday, December 19, 2014
RATHLUBA BOER GOATS FOR SALE
Forced sale of herd due to family illness.
23 Full blood registered animals and older
unregistered does suitable as commercial
breeders.
Genetics primarily Davel bloodlines.
Also Maremma dog “Buddy” for sale.
Contact: Robyn or Sarah Maher, 8 Woodrow Way, East Maitland, NSW 2323 (2 hours North of Sydney) M: 0450 137 775 (Robyn) 0413 837 126 (Sarah) E: [email protected]
MLA LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION ASSURANCE: On Farm Audits
BGBAA members need to be aware that MLA has recently been undertaking annual on farm audits
of Goat Breeders. One member highlighted the huge difficulty with using non compliant drenches
which made it impossible for many goat breeders to get a “clean bill of health” from MLA. Penalties
can range (for incomplete audits) from a revisit to check paperwork has been corrected and updated
to a “ban” on using your PIC code which means no sale or movement of animals.
Here is more information from MLA: http://www.mla.com.au/Meat-safety-and-
On farm audits are conducted each year to ensure the management systems introduced by livestock producers are complying with LPA rules and standards.
All LPA accredited producers – from large scale operators to hobby farmers – may be audited. Audits are selected at random from the database of all LPA accredited producers, including producers with just a few livestock. Approximately 7,000 audits are conducted each year.
It is a condition of accreditation that LPA producers agree to participate in the audit process. Refusal to participate may result in LPA accreditation being withdrawn.
Qualified auditors from AUS-MEAT conduct the on-farm audits for LPA. The audit program is overseen by the LPA Advisory Committee.
Audit process
If selected for an audit, producers receive an LPA Audit Advice pack with information to help them prepare for audit. Reviewing on-farm practices against the checklist will identify any areas that may need attention before the audit. The more preparation that is done before the audit, the smoother the process is likely to be.
An auditor will contact the producer to organise a mutually convenient time for the on-farm audit.
On the day of the audit, the auditor will check how records are maintained and food safety-related management is being carried out. The auditor may accompany the producer on an inspection of property facilities relating to food safety. Parts of the farm that have been identified as contaminated with persistent chemicals may also be visited to review the management systems implemented at these locations.
If issues are identified
The purpose of the audit is to ensure compliance with the rules and standards of the LPA program. Issues related to on-farm practices that do not fully comply with LPA requirements may be identified during the audit.
If the issue is minor, the auditor may record an ‘observation’ which means that the producer should consider taking action to improve the relevant practice.
If the issue is more significant, the auditor may raise a ‘corrective action request’ which means that the producer needs to do something to ensure compliance with LPA requirements, and this action will be followed up.
If a ‘corrective action request’ is raised, the auditor and the producer will agree to the necessary activities that need to be undertaken to rectify the problem, and a timeframe for completion.
The results of an audit determine what steps need to be taken. Producers can seek help to change their practices, where required. Failure to address problems identified may lead to a producer losing their accreditation. Where a critical issue is identified, producers can be suspended immediately.
It is crucial therefore that record keeping is diligent. You can download a 68 page Record keeping
Following is a summary from MLA: http://www.mla.com.au/Meat-safety-and-traceability/Livestock-
Production-Assurance/Record-keeping
How to keep records
There is no perfect formula to record keeping. Some producers find that keeping clear notes in a diary works well for them, others use spreadsheets on their computers. Regardless of the method, it is important that all relevant management activities be accurately and clearly recorded and there are dedicated tools that can help with this.
Key aspects of management that should be recorded include:
Livestock treatments - including date, identification of mob, number of stock, product, batch number, expiry date, WHP/ESI and date safe for slaughter.
Grain and fodder treatment record - including date, silo/storage identification, amount, product, batch number, expiry date, WHP/ESI and date safe for use.
Crop, pasture and paddock treatment record - including date, paddock identification, area, product, batch number, application rate and method, expiry date/ date of manufacture, WHP/ESI, and the date paddocks are safe to graze.
Record of purchased or introduced livestock - keeping the sender copy of the LPA NVD/Waybill, which records the date, LPA NVD/Waybill number, number of stock, identification, breed, sex, age, agent/sale, vendor (name and address) and Property Identification Code (PIC).
Livestock feeding record - including date, commodity vendor declaration (CVD) number, origin of feedstuff, description of feedstuff, amount, storage location, identification of livestock fed and time of feeding (start and finish dates).
Records of livestock sold - keeping a copy of the LPA NVD/Waybill as this records the date, LPA NVD/Waybill number, number of stock, identification, breed, sex, age, purchaser/ agent/ sale, date and time of yarding, transport company and vehicle registration number.
Property risk assessment - conducting a property assessment and record any possible contaminated sites, the reason or risk identified, results received (if soil samples were conducted), description of how the site is managed to eliminate the risk of livestock contamination.
So, be prepared for that phone call by first having a look at the LPA Audit Checklist and then making
sure that your record keeping is accurate and up to date for all livestock and on farm management.
REMEMBER, IT MAY NOT HAPPEN TODAY OR TOMORROW, BUT IT WILL HAPPEN!
Vitamins and minerals are usually present in very small amounts in feeds. Mammals do not need a large amount of them. However, they are extremely important to animal health. Too much or too little of them can make an animal sick.
A - is produced in the goat’s body from beta-carotene which in turn is found in green plants. The goat stores vitamin A in its liver and fat and uses this source if green feed is lacking. A goat is unlikely to suffer a vitamin A deficiency unless it goes without beta-carotene for a long time. Good green, leafy fresh hay is an excellent source of beta-carotene unlike old, weathered hay. Vitamin A helps your goat to have good eyesight, be fertile, and fight infections. It also helps keep the surfaces of her skin and internal organs healthy.
B - unlike us, goats do not need to be fed the B vitamins. This is because all of the B vitamins can be manufactured by micro-organisms in the rumen. However, if the goat gets a digestive problem like acidosis from eating too many concentrates, the healthy micro-organisms that make Thiamine (Vitamin B1) may be killed off. Thiamine is so important that if the goat is not quickly injected with it, she may start staggering, convulsing and die from a metabolic disease called polio encephalomalacia.
C - this vitamin is also made by goats. It is made in their body tissue!
D - this vitamin is produced in the skin of goats that are out in sunlight. It should be provided in the diet of goats that are kept indoors. Fresh, sun-cured hay is an excellent source of vitamin D. Vitamin D is needed for proper bone growth and health. Rickets in goat kids (weak, small bones resulting in a stunted, hunchback look) and brittle bones in adults are possible signs that vitamin D is lacking (deficient) in the diet. The goat needs the proper balance of the minerals, calcium and phosphorous, and adequate vitamin D in order to have healthy, strong bones.
E - works with the mineral, selenium, to allow normal growth. “White muscle” disease is a degeneration of the muscle tissue that affects young kids. It can be prevented or improved with vitamin E and selenium treatment.
K - is made by the micro-organisms in the rumen. It is also plentiful in many feeds. It is needed to help your blood to clot.
Minerals
Calcium (Ca) - is critical to the goat and must be supplied by his feed. Like other minerals it cannot be manufactured by rumen micro-organisms. It has many uses in the body and is crucial for bone health and growth. Calcium is constantly being added to and removed from bones so it must always be present in the goat’s diet. Legume hays like alfalfa are higher in Ca than grass hays like timothy.
Phosphorous (P) - is also important on a daily basis. It must be fed in the correct proportion to Ca in your goat’s feed. The ratio of Ca to P should never drop below 1.2: 1 and vitamin D must also be available. Calcium and P are very important for lactating does and growing kids. They require a Ca:P ratio of @ 2:1 (two times as much Ca as P). Too much P compared to Ca can lead to urinary calculi in wethers. Pregnant does should not be fed a Ca:P ratio that is very high in Ca as this can predispose them to a metabolic disease called milk fever. In contrast, a doe needs a high Ca to P ratio once she is milking. This is because she is excreting lots of Ca every day in her milk. Most grains are high in P and low in Ca.
Sodium (Na) and Chlorine (Cl) together make common table salt. Salt is an important supplement for goats, although just like humans some goats will eat more salt than they really need. Salt is important for many bodily functions.
Potassium (K) - is present in good, fresh forages so you usually don’t have to add it to goat feed.
April 2014 Page 26
Iron (Fe) and Copper (Cu) are important ingredients in blood. A lack of either can lead to anaemia. Usually the small amounts of these minerals present in a goat’s regular diet are enough. Therefore, deficiencies are rare except occasionally in those goat kids that are fed exclusively on milk for a prolonged time. This is because milk is lacking in iron. If needed, iron can be given in an injectable form. Some soils are very deficient in Cu. Goats grazing on these soils may become anaemic and have dull, washed out coats. These goats may benefit from Cu in their trace mineral blocks. However, sheep and goat kids can be easily poisoned by too much copper especially if they are getting very little molybdenum (another mineral) in their diet. Avoid giving these animals a salt block containing Cu that has been made for horses or dairy cattle. It may contain too much Cu. Instead give them a sheep trace mineral block. Adult lactating goats have a greater tolerance for Cu and can generally tolerate a cattle block.
Iodine (I) is deficient in some soils in the US. It is needed by the thyroid gland which produces hormones to help regulate the body. Iodized salt can be fed in deficient areas.
Sulfur (S) is an ingredient or component of many proteins. Rumen micro-organisms need it to build proteins. Most feeds contain sulfur but if you are feeding urea or some other non-protein nitrogen source, you may not be providing enough sulfur to your goat.
Magnesium (Mg) - there is usually enough Mg in goat feeds. However, lush, fast growing, green pastures that have been heavily fertilized with Nitrogen and K or are high in nitrates because of cool, wet, overcast conditions can become very deficient in Mg. This can lead to a condition in goats called grass tetany or grass staggers. The goat will become very excited and may convulse and die. Grass tetany is treated with intravenous injections of Ca and Mg. Too much Mg can predispose a wether to urinary calculi.
Selenium (Se) - most soils in NY are lacking in Selenium. Selenium and vitamin E work together to prevent white muscle disease, retained placentas and to reduce susceptibility to worms and disease.
Zinc (Zn), Manganese (Mn), Fluoride (Fl) and Cobalt (Co) are all needed in trace (very tiny) amounts by goats and are usually sufficient in a regular diet. However, Co is deficient in many soils
of central NY. Cobalt may need to be added to the goat’s diet in her salt or concentrate. Without Co, the rumen micro-organisms cannot make the B vitamins, vitamin C or vitamin K.
Senior Doe: Micathel Oheo Champion
Marie Barnes Micathel Stud
Reserve Champion Senior Doe: Terraweena Whitney
Chris & Ron Andrews Clearday Park
Champion Doe Kid: Micathel Elanyi
Marie Barnes Micathel Stud
Reserve Champion Doe Kid:
Cedar Ridge Serenity
Roslyn Gough Cedar Ridge
April 2014 Page 27
A lot of breeders will use mineral blocks to provide goats
with essential mineral needed. Talk to breeders in your
area to see what blocks they use as soil deficiencies vary.
Iodine may be given as a drench to ensure all goats
actually receive it. The article to the right provides more
information.
If you use mineral blocks and are a handyman you might like to construct the mineral block holder below which doubles as a jumping stand for the goats!
Current members Directory is now available. Contact Barb O’Shea for a PDF or hard copy.
Disclaimer: The articles contained herein are individual views and ideas, not necessarily those of the BGBAA Board or members. Where any suggestions are made with respect to health issues, it is advised
