Murray current advice

Spring advice for farmers in the Murray

• Consider planting wattles native to your area in your revegetation and direct seeding projects. Murray Native Seed Services ethically collects and stores local native wattle species.
• Free feed and water testing is now available for landholders. This program runs until 30 June 2026 for stock feed tests and December 2025 for stock water tests, or until test kits run out — so don’t delay.  
• Consider whether your farm would benefit from grain certification through Sustainable Grains Australia’s International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) program.
• Beware of coccidiosis and ‘Acorn calves’ in the east of the region. We believe these conditions are linked to the prolonged dry period we have been experiencing.   
• District veterinarians have recently diagnosed some cases of Mycoplasma ovis (formerly Eperythrozoon ovis) in lambs in the western part of the region.

Animal health conditions to watch out for

Coccidiosis - Coccidia is a parasite that causes diarrhoea. Scours often start as a yellow/brown colour and can progress to (or event start with) bloody diarrhoea. Animals often show signs of straining to defecate, and young lambs are often at increased risk of disease due to lack of prior exposure and immunity

Acorn calves - 'Acorn calves' or 'bulldog calves' are calves born with skeletal abnormalities including misshaped heads, spinal abnormalities and shortened and/or deformed legs. The condition is thought to be caused by poor maternal nutrition during gestation. Calves can survive but will stay much smaller and grow slower than their normal herd mates. We are looking to get a better picture of how many 'acorn calves' are being born this year. If you have noticed ‘acorn calves’ in your herd, please contact your Local Land Services District Vetrinarian.

Mycoplasma ovis - Several cases of Mycoplasma ovis have cropped up in the western Murray. The lambs in these cases have presented as weak, lethargic lambs that would sit down when the mob was being moved and were found to be anaemic (pale gums). If are concerned your lambs may be affected, please contact your Local Land Services District Veterinarian.