Feral pig initiatives
1
News News News News 400 Australian Veterinary Journal Volume 82, No 7, July 2004 T he Minister for Science, the Hon. Peter McGauran launched an economic study “Counting the Cost: Impact of Invasive Animals in Australia, 2004” at Parliament House, Canberra on Wednesday 26 May 2004. The publication was written by Ross McLeod for the Pest Animal Control Cooperative Research Centre (CRC). AVA has been deeply involved with the CRC, the Cattle Council of Australia and others in pursuing stronger control and ultimate eradication of the threat posed by feral pigs to agricultural production, the environment and the social capital of Australia. Following a motion at the AGM in Adelaide, AVA sponsored with CCA and CRC a workshop on feral pigs in Queensland following the AVA Conference in Cairns involving all interested parties. AVA has intiated discussions with governments and made submissions to Ministers and to the two Parliamentary Inquiries into invasive species which are currently underway. AVA seeks to contribute its extensive expertise in pig disease and pig biology to the national efforts towards controlling feral pigs which cost Australia approximately $107 million per year. Feral pigs cover 38% of the Australian mainland and cause $100 million in lost agricultural production, $5 million in annual management costs and $1.5 million in research. Feral pigs threaten 12 native species of animals and 8 native species of plants. The publication is available from the Cooperative Research Centre at GPO Box 284, Canberra ACT 2601, or the Communication Manager, Pest Animal Control CRC - ph (02) 6242 1791. A visit to the website at www.pestanimal.crc.org.au offers further information. The publication is commended to AVA Members with an interest in the effects of feral animals, including pigs, on the environment, on the welfare of farm animals and the welfare of pigs in control and eradication projects, as well as the environmental and social cost of these animals. The Cooperative Research Centre has been actively examining innovative means of controlling these animals. An excellent paper by Dr SJ Lapidge “The impact of Sheep predators in Australia and New Control Methods Under Development” delivered at the AVA Conference in Canberra lists some interesting work undertaken by the CRC. A major issue is the development of feral pig baits and the testing of their success. Pen trials were used to assess feral pig preferences and palatability with results showing that three manufactured bait prototypes outperformed fresh meat and wheat in terms of feral pig first preference. Aerially delivered, bio-marked manufactured feral pig baits of two types have recently been tested against a control bait prior to an aerial pig cull in Queensland. Further testing is being carried out and it is anticipated that the project will culminate in early 2006 with commercial release of quality assured and cost effective feral pig bait that is capable of being more target specific in delivering feral pig poisons and control chemicals. G etting some humans to look after their teeth and gums can be difficult at times so spare a thought for the veterinary professionals who attempt to get pet owners to care for their pet’s teeth. Brushing Fido’s teeth with toothpaste twice a day is an effort and not something people tend to do but with around 80 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats reported to have gum disease by age three, it is an issue that needs serious attention. Held annually every August (1-31), Pet Dental Health Month is sponsored by Pfizer and Hills Pet Nutrition Pty Ltd and is now in its seventh year. The campaign is an important reminder to pet owners and veterinarians that caring for our animals’ teeth is an essential part of an overall health plan for pets. Dr Tony Caiafa, Convenor of Pet Dental Health Month 2004, said veterinarians had been leading the way by approaching the issue with a ‘prevention is better than cure’ solution. According to Dr Caiafa periodontal disease is the most chronic infection seen in cats and dogs. He says that with the life expectancy of dogs and cats on the increase, oral disease management will become an increasingly important component of small animal practice. The overriding factor being the need for education and the veterinarian is the person best placed to provide this. Dr Caiafa believes the veterinarian’s role is to formulate treatment programs, which may include professional scaling and cleaning, plaque control recommendations as well as a recall and review program to assess whether the pet owner is carrying out proper homecare and whether the patient is improving. Veterinary Nurses also have a crucial role in providing homecare advice, demonstrating plaque reduction techniques and discussing the importance of ‘dental friendly’ diets with the owner. “Owners need to be introduced to good oral care early on in the animal’s life and the rising popularity of puppy and kitten classes gives the ideal opportunity for this to occur,” says Dr Caiafa. But no matter the age of the pet, owners can start to do something today. If you are a small animal veterinarian make sure all your clients know that it is Pet Dental Health Month from 1 to 31 August and introduce them to the benefits of dental health care for all members of the family. Teamwork can lick gum disease Feral pig initiatives By Kevin Doyle, AVA National Veterinary Director By Jenny Palmer Photo: Mark Thornley
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Transcript of Feral pig initiatives
NewsNewsNewsNews
400 Australian Veterinary Journal Volume 82, No 7, July 2004
The Minister for Science, the Hon.Peter McGauran launched aneconomic study “Counting the
Cost: Impact of Invasive Animals inAustralia, 2004” at Parliament House,Canberra on Wednesday 26 May 2004.
The publication was written by RossMcLeod for the Pest Animal ControlCooperative Research Centre (CRC).
AVA has been deeply involved with theCRC, the Cattle Council of Australia andothers in pursuing stronger control andultimate eradication of the threat posedby feral pigs to agricultural production,the environment and the social capital ofAustralia.
Following a motion at the AGM inAdelaide, AVA sponsored with CCA andCRC a workshop on feral pigs inQueensland following the AVAConference in Cairns involving allinterested parties. AVA has intiateddiscussions with governments and madesubmissions to Ministers and to the twoParliamentary Inquiries into invasivespecies which are currently underway.
AVA seeks to contribute its extensiveexpertise in pig disease and pig biology to
the national efforts towards controllingferal pigs which cost Australiaapproximately $107 million per year.
Feral pigs cover 38% of the Australianmainland and cause $100 million in lostagricultural production, $5 million inannual management costs and $1.5million in research. Feral pigs threaten 12native species of animals and 8 nativespecies of plants.
The publication is available from theCooperative Research Centre at GPOBox 284, Canberra ACT 2601, or theCommunication Manager, Pest AnimalControl CRC - ph (02) 6242 1791. Avisit to the website atwww.pestanimal.crc.org.au offers furtherinformation.
The publication is commended toAVA Members with an interest in theeffects of feral animals, including pigs, onthe environment, on the welfare of farmanimals and the welfare of pigs in controland eradication projects, as well as theenvironmental and social cost of theseanimals.
The Cooperative Research Centre hasbeen actively examining innovative meansof controlling these animals. An excellent
paper by Dr SJLapidge “Theimpact of Sheeppredators inAustralia andNew ControlMethods UnderDevelopment”delivered at the AVA Conference inCanberra lists some interesting workundertaken by the CRC. A major issue isthe development of feral pig baits and thetesting of their success. Pen trials wereused to assess feral pig preferences andpalatability with results showing thatthree manufactured bait prototypesoutperformed fresh meat and wheat interms of feral pig first preference.
Aerially delivered, bio-markedmanufactured feral pig baits of two typeshave recently been tested against a controlbait prior to an aerial pig cull inQueensland. Further testing is beingcarried out and it is anticipated that theproject will culminate in early 2006 withcommercial release of quality assured andcost effective feral pig bait that is capableof being more target specific in deliveringferal pig poisons and control chemicals.
Getting some humans to look aftertheir teeth and gums can bedifficult at times so spare a
thought for the veterinary professionalswho attempt to get pet owners to care fortheir pet’s teeth.
Brushing Fido’s teeth with toothpastetwice a day is an effort and not somethingpeople tend to do but with around 80percent of dogs and 70 percent of catsreported to have gum disease by agethree, it is an issue that needs seriousattention.
Held annually every August (1-31),Pet Dental Health Month is sponsored byPfizer and Hills Pet Nutrition Pty Ltd andis now in its seventh year. The campaignis an important reminder to pet ownersand veterinarians that caring for ouranimals’ teeth is an essential part of an
overall health plan for pets. Dr Tony Caiafa, Convenor of Pet
Dental Health Month 2004, saidveterinarians had been leading the way byapproaching the issue with a ‘preventionis better than cure’ solution.
According to Dr Caiafa periodontaldisease is the most chronic infection seenin cats and dogs. He says that with the lifeexpectancy of dogs and cats on theincrease, oral disease management willbecome an increasingly importantcomponent of small animal practice.
The overriding factor being the needfor education and the veterinarian is theperson best placed to provide this.
Dr Caiafa believes the veterinarian’srole is to formulate treatment programs,which may include professional scalingand cleaning, plaque controlrecommendations as well as a recall and
review program to assess whether the petowner is carrying out proper homecareand whether the patient is improving.
Veterinary Nurses also have a crucialrole in providing homecare advice,demonstrating plaque reductiontechniques and discussing the importanceof ‘dental friendly’ diets with the owner.
“Owners need to be introduced togood oral care early on in the animal’s lifeand the rising popularity of puppy andkitten classes gives the ideal opportunityfor this to occur,” says Dr Caiafa.
But no matter the age of the pet,owners can start to do something today.
If you are a small animal veterinarianmake sure all your clients know that it isPet Dental Health Month from 1 to 31August and introduce them to thebenefits of dental health care for allmembers of the family.
Teamwork can lick gum disease
Feral pig initiativesBy Kevin Doyle, AVA National Veterinary Director
By Jenny Palmer
Photo: Mark Thornley
