Resources and Factsheets
Learn to ensure the welfare of your livestock and run a biosecurity safe farm whether you are thinking of owning a small farm, big farm, are a hobbyist, lifestyler, or anything in between.
Information specific only to Cattle, Sheep & Goats. These resources have been created and curated by the VFF Stock Sense team.
Featured
Everything you NEED to know.
New Trespass Laws
Changes to the Livestock Management Act simplified. Find out what you need to prosecute trespassers on the spot!
Two Essential Systems
The LPA and NLIS systems work together to ensure food safety and traceability. Learn how they work together.
What is a Biosecurity Plan?
Learn more about the 6 key parts and download templates.
Emergency Animal Diseases
Emergency Animal Diseases (EADs) can have serious implications on the livestock industry. This is a guide on how to identify them and how to deal with them.
New to Farming?
Thinking of buying livestock and unsure where to begin? Stock Sense have created booklets with key resources and information on how to get prepared.
Peri-urban packs can be mailed out upon request. Contact the Stock Sense team for more information.
Cattle
Sheep & Goats
Introducing New Livestock
Need a quick guide? Each time you introduce new animals onto your property there is a risk of introducing pests or diseases. Learn what you need to do before the animal arrives, and what to do after they have arrived on your property.
Factsheets
Learn more about the diseases and welfare issues your livestock might face.
Please be aware of graphic imagery.
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- Cattle
- Sheep
- Goats
Caprine Arthritis Encephalitis (CAE)
This viral disease is known by many names including "Big Knee" or caprine retrovirus (CRV).
Anthrax
Anthrax is a serious infectious disease that can affect a range of animals, as well as humans.
Assessing Your Pastures
Selecting the right pasture species that can thrive in your region is crucial in ensuring high quality feed for grazing livestock.
Foot & Mouth Disease (FMD)
FMD is a notifiable disease. An outbreak in Australia will mean devastating impacts on the industry.
Lambing
Lambing is a critical period of the year that requires careful planning and management from joining, gestation and pre-lambing to ensure the health of both ewes and lambs.
Flystrike
Caused by flies, flystrike can cost the Australian sheep industry $280 million a year.
Grass Tetany
Grass tetany is a fatal metabolic disorder which is caused by low levels of Magnesium (Mg) in the blood.
Heat Stress
Extreme heat temperatures in summer can cause significant stress on livestock. Learn how to manage the symptoms and how to prepare.
Mineral Deficiencies
Trace elements are required for animal growth and production. Copper, selenium and cobalt (Vit B12) are common deficiencies in Victoria.
Pain Relief
Pain relief is recommended for a number of husbandry procedures such as castration, tail docking...
General Sheep Vaccines
Protecting your flock from production-limiting diseases involves a coordinated flock health program, including a vaccination plan.
Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD)
LSD is a devastating disease of cattle and has a relatively low mortality but high morbidity. However, there is no evidence that it can be transmitted to humans.
Common Goat Worms
Unlike sheep and cattle, goats put their evolutionary efforts into developing a browsing strategy of eating so they have a lower tolerance to worms.
Milk Fever
Also known as hypocalcaemia or parturient paresis, is a common metabolic disorder that occurs in cattle, sheep, and goats.
Bovine Johne's Disease
Bovine Johne's Disease is a notifiable disease. It is an infectious incurable wasting disease of cattle.
Liver Fluke
Liver fluke usually occurs in areas with high rainfall (more than 600mm) and irrigated areas of eastern Australia.
Yards & Loading Facilities
Whether you own one animal or thousands, you must have some form of yarding equipment and loading ramps, or access to these facilities.
Facial Eczema
Facial eczema or “Photosensitisation” is a type of sunburn affecting exposed areas of pale skin in livestock.
Pinkeye
Pinkeye is a contagious eye infection that causes aggressive inflammation often resulting in short term or permanent blindness in cattle.
Bluetongue Virus
Bluetongue virus (BTV) is an infectious, non-contagious, vector-borne viral disease and Victoria remains BTV transmission-free.
Lamb Marking
Lamb marking refers to husbandry procedures including tail docking, castration of males, ear tagging, mulesing, and vaccination.
Wooden Tongue
Also referred to as “action”, woody tongue is an infectious bacterial disease most commonly seen in cattle.
Cattle Vaccines
Protecting your herd from common diseases involves a strategic vaccination plan. It's important to understand of how vaccines function...
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Disclaimer
All care is taken in the preparation of the information and published materials produced by the Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) including but not limited to errors, defects or omissions in the information provided. VFF does not make any representations or give any warranties about the accuracy, reliability, completeness, or suitability for any particular purpose in the preparation of the information and published materials. This publication is intended for general information purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, investment, production, or marketing advice. To the maximum extent permitted by law, the VFF and all persons acting on behalf of the VFF in preparing documents, are excluded from all and any liability for any loss or damage of any kind arising in relation to this publication including any reliance on the information contained herein.