R[0]="2085"; T[0]="Horse flu eradication plan is working"; A[0]="By ... Editor"; Dn[0]="20071024"; Dt[0]="Wednesday 24 October 2007"; Acats[0]="a31"; B1[0]=" Continued cooperation from horse owners and horse industry workers in south east Queensland will help ensure that the equine influenza eradication strategy "; B2[0]="works... "; B3[0]=" "; B4[0]=" "; B5[0]=" "; S1[0]=" Continued cooperation from horse owners and horse industry workers in south east Queensland will help ensure that the equine influenza eradication strategy "; S2[0]=" works.
Biosecurity Queensland's Chief Veterinary Officer Ron Glanville said Queensland's plan, which has been endorsed nationally, has successfully contained the disease within "; S3[0]=" the Red Zone.
But continued vigilance is necessary in order to achieve the plan's goal of eradication.
A "; S4[0]=" key component of the science-based eradication strategy is building a 10 km wide buffer zone around areas of high concentration of the disease, and vaccinating "; S5[0]=" horses in the buffer zone.
Dr Glanville said the eradication strategy was based on the pre-existing plan for this disease, in "; S6[0]=" the Australian Veterinary Emergency Plan (AUSVETPLAN).
The implementation is supervised by the joint Chief Veterinary Officers from each state.
"; S7[0]=" 'At this stage, control measures are on track in Queensland and eradication remains a realistic goal,' Dr Glanville said.
'The overall "; S8[0]=" strategy is to contain the disease within the known infected areas and limit its spread until the epidemic burns itself out.' Dr Glanville said "; S9[0]=" that if the restrictions were adhered to by all horse owners, and people follow recommended decontamination and biosecurity procedures, the disease should die out.
"; S10[0]=" The strategy for the eradication of equine influenza is based on a combination of: ' rigorous movement restrictions ' strategic vaccination, in "; S11[0]=" particular creation of a buffer zone around the south-east and ' promoting good biosecurity practices.
This strategy is part of "; S12[0]=" an agreed national emergency response plan.
Two equine influenza zones remain declared for Queensland: ' the Red Zone (South East Queensland) has "; S13[0]=" stringent movement restrictions in place to minimise the risk of spread of the disease, with permits required for all horse movements, and ' the "; S14[0]=" Green Zone (the rest of Queensland) where movement of horses can occur under most conditions.
A strategic vaccination program began in Queensland "; S15[0]=" on Saturday 29 September 2007.
All horses in the buffer zone will be vaccinated and microchipped for identification.
"; S16[0]=" The National Management Group, consisting of the most senior officers from primary industries departments around Australia, is overseeing the response.
It has "; S17[0]=" also agreed to use vaccination to protect high value, at-risk horse populations within the red zone.
However, vaccine supplies are limited "; S18[0]=" and a strict prioritisation process is being applied according to national guidelines.
Blanket vaccination of all horses in the Red Zone "; S19[0]=" is not supported because widespread vaccination would mask the disease and prevent the goal of eradication being achieved.
Vaccination: ' provides "; S20[0]=" significant immunity within 14 days of the first of two injections ' a booster dose after five months will provide protection for about one "; S21[0]=" year in total ' can be used safely on foals, pregnant mares, lactating mares and older horses, but not on sick or high risk "; S22[0]=" horses such as those that have had severe pneumonia... "; R[1]="2079"; T[1]="Honeybees may not be unwelcome tourists after all"; A[1]="By ... Editor"; Dn[1]="20071024"; Dt[1]="Wednesday 24 October 2007"; Acats[1]="a31"; B1[1]=" A top US Agriculture Department researcher says Australian honeybees may not be the source of a virus that's killing US bee colonies.... "; B2[1]=" "; B3[1]=" "; B4[1]=" "; B5[1]=" "; S1[1]=" A top US Agriculture Department researcher says Australian honeybees may not be the source of a virus that's killing US bee colonies.
"; S2[1]=" National Program Leader for Bees and Pollination, Kevin Hackett, says his agency is within weeks of making a recommendation to USDA's Animal "; S3[1]=" and Plant Health Inspection Service on whether to ban imports of Australian honeybees.
But Hackett says there is so far no firm "; S4[1]=" evidence the Australian bees are the source of a virus, suspected of destroying a quarter of US beehives last winter.
'We're looking "; S5[1]=" into seeing when the virus occurred in the United States,' he says.
'At this point, we could just as well assume that "; S6[1]=" it came from the US to other countries, as other countries to the US.' Mr Hackett says there is today an association between the virus "; S7[1]=" and so-called Colony Collapse Disorder.
Other countries importing the bees, including Canada, have not had the disease.
Nor, has "; S8[1]=" Australia... "; R[2]="1678"; T[2]="Avoiding problems with Bee swarms"; A[2]="By ... Editor"; Dn[2]="20061123"; Dt[2]="Thursday 23 November 2006"; Acats[2]="a31"; B1[2]=" With the weather warming up, the Department of Agriculture and Food has some advice to the public to avoid trouble with bees.
"; B2[2]=" Department senior apiculturist Bill Trend said the warmer spring temperatures were bringing out bee swarms as the bees departed their old colonies "; B3[2]="and set out to establish a new colony or nest... "; B4[2]=" "; B5[2]=" "; S1[2]=" With the weather warming up, the Department of Agriculture and Food has some advice to the public to avoid trouble with bees.
"; S2[2]=" Department senior apiculturist Bill Trend said the warmer spring temperatures were bringing out bee swarms as the bees departed their old colonies "; S3[2]=" and set out to establish a new colony or nest.
'Seeing a large number of bees swarming near one's home may seem "; S4[2]=" scary but in fact there is little to be scared about and some simple steps will avoid trouble,' he said.
Mr Trend "; S5[2]=" said honeybees were normally docile during swarming and did not sting if left alone.
'The typical pattern for bees swarming in residential "; S6[2]=" areas was for them to alight in trees or shrubs near the house, under the eaves of the house or to attempt to gain access "; S7[2]=" to the cavity wall of the house to form a new nest,' he said.
'When confronted with a swarm on the property, "; S8[2]=" homeowners and their children and pets should stay inside for about half an hour.
This gives the bees time to settle.
"; S9[2]=" 'Do not hose the swarm with water, throw stones at it, smoke the bees or try to get the swarm to move as "; S10[2]=" these actions may cause the bees to sting in defence.
'Unsettled bees are then much more difficult to remove by the beekeeper "; S11[2]=" or pest control operator when they arrive on the premises.' Mr Trend said because bees required water to cool the hive, they were particularly attracted "; S12[2]=" to water as temperatures began to rise.
This increases the chance of being stung near leaking taps, swimming pools, or after a "; S13[2]=" lawn has been watered.
'To avoid bee activity around lawns it is best to water lawns early in the morning so they "; S14[2]=" are dry during the day.' 'If people were aggravated by bees they should avoid sudden movement or swatting them.
Instead, walk away "; S15[2]=" quietly with the head bowed and cover your face with your hands.' Petroleum products such as kerosene or petrol and garden sprays, paint thinners and "; S16[2]=" hair lacquer irritate bees and may excite them to sting.
The vibrations from lawn mowers and chainsaws may also excite the "; S17[2]=" bees so these operators need to avoid bee activity as best they can.
If stung, the sting should be removed quickly, "; S18[2]=" pressing down hard with a finger nail on the skin and scraping the sting out, rather than pulling it.
Pulling the sting "; S19[2]=" squeezes more poison out of the sack, increasing the severity of any reaction to the venom.
The affected area should be "; S20[2]=" washed with cool water to remove any poison on the skin and to soothe the pain.
People who have an allergy to "; S21[2]=" bee stings should avoid contact with bees and keep appropriate medication at hand.
The Department of Agriculture and Food does not "; S22[2]=" remove swarms or exterminate nests of bees.
These services are carried out by licensed pest control operators, or beekeepers listed in the "; S23[2]=" telephone directory.
More information on bee swarms is available in the Department's Gardennotes number 9, 'Avoid trouble with bees' and number 10, "; S24[2]=" 'Honeybee swarms and nests'.
The Gardennotes are available from local offices, online at www.agric.wa.gov.au - search by titles or from Department's Pest "; S25[2]=" and Disease Information Service on freecall 1800 084 881... "; R[3]="1677"; T[3]="Industry and Government take stock of Deer in WA"; A[3]="By ... Editor"; Dn[3]="20061123"; Dt[3]="Thursday 23 November 2006"; Acats[3]="a31"; B1[3]=" The Department of Agriculture and Food and the Deer Industry Association of Australia (DIAA WA) are urging deer keepers to continue their "; B2[3]="good herd management and return their completed stocktake forms as soon as possible... "; B3[3]=" "; B4[3]=" "; B5[3]=" "; S1[3]=" The Department of Agriculture and Food and the Deer Industry Association of Australia (DIAA WA) are urging deer keepers to continue their "; S2[3]=" good herd management and return their completed stocktake forms as soon as possible.
Department invasive species project manager Marion Massam said the "; S3[3]=" stocktake was an important way for the Department to update its records on deer farmers and other people keeping deer across the state.
"; S4[3]=" 'The form is very easy to complete and can be returned in the reply-paid envelope provided,' she said.
'Included with the "; S5[3]=" stocktake is information relating to the Agriculture Protection Board's 2003 decision to continue to allow the private keeping of the two commonly-farmed species (red and "; S6[3]=" fallow deer) while prohibiting all other species.
'Also included are the upgraded deer keeping conditions designed to reduce the risk of escapes "; S7[3]=" into the wild, as wild deer presents an extreme threat to Western Australia, with the potential to cause damage to agriculture, the environment and public "; S8[3]=" amenity.' Ms Massam said to prevent another feral animal developing widespread populations in the wild, it was very important that wild deer were reported quickly "; S9[3]=" so they could be removed.
DIAA (WA) President Mark Huisman welcomed the deer stocktake, indicating the generic information gathered covering deer species, "; S10[3]=" numbers and general location within the State would be invaluable for industry marketing and development purposes.
'The industry has been through some "; S11[3]=" tough times, but things are starting to improve, particularly with an increase in velvet prices.
Knowledge of the numbers of animals present "; S12[3]=" in the state will help plan a brighter future for the industry,' he said.
Further information about management of deer, including removal "; S13[3]=" of animals and to report sightings in the wild, contact the Department of Agriculture and Food's Pest and Disease Information Service on freecall 1800 084 "; S14[3]=" 881... "; R[4]="1554"; T[4]="Beekeepers - Site caution urged because of Locust spraying"; A[4]="By ... Editor"; Dn[4]="20061020"; Dt[4]="Friday 20 October 2006"; Acats[4]="a31"; B1[4]=" Beekeepers may need to consider alternative honey flow sites this spring, to avoid bee losses from spraying programmes to control locust swarms.... "; B2[4]=" "; B3[4]=" "; B4[4]=" "; B5[4]=" "; S1[4]=" Beekeepers may need to consider alternative honey flow sites this spring, to avoid bee losses from spraying programmes to control locust swarms.
"; S2[4]=" The Department of Agriculture and Food's Locust incident co-ordinator Simon Merewether said it was very important to control locusts, especially in "; S3[4]=" areas where it was predicted high density swarms were likely to form.
Mr Merewether said insecticides would be used over a "; S4[4]=" large area of the South West and Great Southern to control locust infestations, but he said the chemical sprays would also kill bees.
"; S5[4]=" 'Horticulturists are likely to spray their crops even though many are netted, because locusts are able to eat through shade cloth and netting,' "; S6[4]=" he said.
'Beekeepers need to keep up-to-date with the Department's and landholders' spray programs if bee losses are to be avoided.
"; S7[4]=" 'The Department and farmers may only be able to provide 24-48 hour warning to beekeepers of their intention to spray insecticides, "; S8[4]=" and therefore it may not be possible for beekeepers to move all their apiaries out of an affected area in time.
"; S9[4]=" 'This means that beekeepers may want to consider alternative honey flow options this spring.' Mr Merewether said beekeepers in high risk locust areas needed "; S10[4]=" to keep in contact about intended spraying programs with the Department's Local Operations Coordinators and local farmers within a seven kilometre radius of apiaries.
"; S11[4]=" 'This should be 15 kilometres if attractive crops such as canola are flowering,' Mr Merewether said.
'Alternatively, beekeepers "; S12[4]=" can consider moving bees away from high risk areas before they are likely to be sprayed.
'It is suggested that if "; S13[4]=" more than one apiary is located in a susceptible area, beekeepers arrange for another beekeeper to assist with moving the apiaries at short notice to "; S14[4]=" an alternative safe area,' he said.' Mr Merewether added that beekeepers involved in pollination services may need to consider changing the condition of their "; S15[4]=" pollination contract to permit the movement of hives, if their bees were threatened by the application of insecticides to control locusts during the pollination period.
"; S16[4]=" The Department of Agriculture and Food is providing regular information updates to Western Australian Beekeepers Association, Australian Honey Bee Industry Council "; S17[4]=" and APC Beekeepers Produce Committee on the progress of the locust campaign.
More information on locusts is available from local Department "; S18[4]=" offices, by phoning 1800 084 881 or visiting www.agric.wa.gov.au and clicking on the 'Australian Plague Locust' link on the homepage.
Advice "; S19[4]=" and information on health related issues is available by contacting the Department of Health Pesticide Safety Unit on 9383 4244... "; R[5]="1503"; T[5]="Beekeepers buzzing after leatherwood clear-felling"; A[5]="By ... Editor"; Dn[5]="20061006"; Dt[5]="Friday 6 October 2006"; Acats[5]="a31"; B1[5]=" The recent clear-felling of an area rich in leatherwood trees in southern Tasmania has sparked anger from the beekeeping industry.... "; B2[5]=" "; B3[5]=" "; B4[5]=" "; B5[5]=" "; S1[5]=" The recent clear-felling of an area rich in leatherwood trees in southern Tasmania has sparked anger from the beekeeping industry.
"; S2[5]=" In Tasmania, 70 per cent of honey crops and nectar resources for bees come from leatherwood trees.
Bob Davey, from the "; S3[5]=" group Save your Leatherwood Honey, says Forestry Tasmania is ignoring calls to protect leatherwood resources by allowing clear-felling in areas where the trees grow.
"; S4[5]=" 'While we're looking for more resource, which forestry assure us should be there, coupes rich in leatherwood continue to be felled,' he said.
"; S5[5]=" Forestry Tasmania's field service manager Graham Sargison says there are guidelines in place to protect the resource.
'We're doing "; S6[5]=" whatever we can to support them,' he said.
The Southern Tasmanian Beekeepers Association has lodged a submission with Forestry Tasmania and the "; S7[5]=" State Government requesting clear-felling be deferred in leatherwood-rich areas... "; R[6]="1453"; T[6]="Bee industry insiders blamed for expensive 'sting'"; A[6]="By ... Editor"; Dn[6]="20060927"; Dt[6]="Wednesday 27 September 2006"; Acats[6]="a31"; B1[6]=" Bee thieves in Tasmania are making off with thousands of insects, stealing hives and threatening livelihoods.... "; B2[6]=" "; B3[6]=" "; B4[6]=" "; B5[6]=" "; S1[6]=" Bee thieves in Tasmania are making off with thousands of insects, stealing hives and threatening livelihoods.
This year a "; S2[6]=" series of thefts has cost Tasmanian beekeepers an estimated $100,000.
Mole Creek beekeeper Shirley Stephens has lost hives in the latest 'sting' "; S3[6]=" and says she suspects insiders are at work.
'A hive at the moment, if you take it to pollination, is worth anything "; S4[6]=" from 80 to $100 per hive, but I'm afraid it must be from within our own industry that this is happening because John Smith or "; S5[6]=" Joe Blow wouldn't dream of going near a bee hive,' she said.
'You wouldn't and I wouldn't either.'.. "; R[7]="1192"; T[7]="Camels back on track"; A[7]="By ... Editor"; Dn[7]="20060730"; Dt[7]="Sunday 30 July 2006"; Acats[7]="a31"; B1[7]=" IT is the one sport in Australia where winning by a neck can mean victory by a lengthy margin.... "; B2[7]=" "; B3[7]=" "; B4[7]=" "; B5[7]=" "; S1[7]=" IT is the one sport in Australia where winning by a neck can mean victory by a lengthy margin.
"; S2[7]=" Camel racing returned to Charleville on Saturday, four years after its cancellation due to the public liability crisis.
And there were no "; S3[7]=" major injuries - except for dented pride after 75 per cent of the jockeys fell from their mounts in the donkey races.
"; S4[7]=" About 2000 people turned out for the feature event at the Great Matilda Camel races at the Central Warrego Race Club.
It "; S5[7]=" turned out to be a boilover, with camel owner Shorty Smith taking the Charleville Pharmacy Cup, over 800m, on Tassie Devil.
Second "; S6[7]=" was Cool Tassie, ridden by Paul Pritchard, and third was Cool Fuel, ridden by Brett Scott , 36, a farmhand from Matte Yallock in Victoria.
"; S7[7]=" Mr Scott said he thought camel racing was about as dangerous as horse racing, but insurers saw differently.
That "; S8[7]=" led to an increase in public liability insurance premiums which threatened to end the racing camel circuit.
'With camels you are up "; S9[7]=" higher but horses go faster,' Mr Scott said.
'It can be dangerous if you get on a wild rogue one.
"; S10[7]=" Last week I had a camel go over an inside runner rail at Boulia.'.. "; R[8]="1045"; T[8]="Test to expose fake leatherwood honey"; A[8]="By ... Editor"; Dn[8]="20060708"; Dt[8]="Saturday 8 July 2006"; Acats[8]="a10a31"; B1[8]=" Beekeepers are creating a standard that will define and protect Tasmania's unique leatherwood honey.... "; B2[8]=" "; B3[8]=" "; B4[8]=" "; B5[8]=" "; S1[8]=" Beekeepers are creating a standard that will define and protect Tasmania's unique leatherwood honey.
The annual general meeting of "; S2[8]=" the Tasmanian Beekeepers' Association yesterday discussed plans for an appellation scheme as a way of legally protecting the state's flagship honey.
"; S3[8]=" Association chairman Julian Wolfhagen said scientific research had already developed a minimum standard for the honey and a means of testing for it.
"; S4[8]=" He said the minimum standard would guard against fakes.
A standard for leatherwood honey would define the region from which the "; S5[8]=" honey was sourced and the way it was made.
As well as maintaining the quality and name of the Tasmanian industry, the "; S6[8]=" move would offer consumers a guarantee they were buying leatherwood honey.
Mr Wolfhagen said there had been concerns about rip-offs in the "; S7[8]=" past.
Now that the scientific methods of testing the honey have been developed, yesterday's meeting looked at ways of going forward with "; S8[8]=" the legal protection.
The annual general meeting continues in Launceston today... "; R[9]="883"; T[9]="New Technology pays off fro Imported Plant Material"; A[9]="By ... Editor"; Dn[9]="20060609"; Dt[9]="Friday 9 June 2006"; Acats[9]="a24a31a33"; B1[9]=" More imported plant material is available to Western Australian industry thanks to new technology introduced last year to produce clean cells from "; B2[9]="infected plant material... "; B3[9]=" "; B4[9]=" "; B5[9]=" "; S1[9]=" More imported plant material is available to Western Australian industry thanks to new technology introduced last year to produce clean cells from "; S2[9]=" infected plant material.
The Manager of AGWEST Plant Laboratories with the Department of Agriculture and Food, Mark Holland said infected plants that "; S3[9]=" would have been rejected in the past, could now be put through a heat treatment process to get rid of the infection.
"; S4[9]=" 'We have had success with a line of imported sweet potato, previously found to be infected with two viruses - Sweet potato feathery mottle virus "; S5[9]=" and Sweet potato virus G,' Mr Holland said.
'Usually the presence of an exotic virus would result in the plant being destroyed.
"; S6[9]=" However, we have been able to release this material to its importer thanks to the combination of our new heat treatment facility, "; S7[9]=" and our established expertise in meristem tip culture and testing for viruses.' Mr Holland said the importation of new plant varieties provided Australian plant industries "; S8[9]=" with new and improved genetic material that increased production and economic advantage.
'However, importation of plant material also presents a significant quarantine "; S9[9]=" risk of importing unwanted pests and diseases.
Our Post Entry Plant Quarantine Program provides a legitimate and bio-secure pathway for new material "; S10[9]=" to enter the country,' Mr Holland said.
The heat treatment process involved subjecting the infected plants to 40�C temperature for 4-6 weeks.
"; S11[9]=" 'This environment inhibits plant growth, but inhibits virus multiplication even more.
The result is a small amount of new "; S12[9]=" growth hopefully free of virus infection', Mr Holland said.
'The new growth is excised and put into tissue culture.
"; S13[9]=" The resulting cultures grow into new plants... "; R[10]="859"; T[10]="Possible New Control Method for the Varroa mite - a Bee Pest"; A[10]="By ... RIRDC 06/007"; Dn[10]="20060608"; Dt[10]="Thursday 8 June 2006"; Acats[10]="a31a86"; B1[10]=" The varroa mite, Varroa destructor, is a serious quarantine threat to the Australian beekeeping industry and is categories as an emergency animal "; B2[10]="disease in the AUSVETPLAN.
If this mite became established in Australia it would radically change the face of beekeeping and cause economic "; B3[10]="hardship for local beekeepers... "; B4[10]=" "; B5[10]=" "; S1[10]=" The varroa mite, Varroa destructor, is a serious quarantine threat to the Australian beekeeping industry and is categories as an emergency animal "; S2[10]=" disease in the AUSVETPLAN.
If this mite became established in Australia it would radically change the face of beekeeping and cause economic "; S3[10]=" hardship for local beekeepers.
It is therefore imperative that measures are taken to safeguard Australian beekeepers against a possible varroa mite incursion.
"; S4[10]=" Research conducted by CSIRO has identified a novel way to control the varroa mite that would safeguard Australian honey producers against losses "; S5[10]=" in the event of a varroa incursion.
It involves locating the bee signal that triggers the female varroa mite reproductive program, then "; S6[10]=" manipulating or modifying the signal to produce varroa-resistant bee stock.
This project is the first stage in identifying that signal.
"; S7[10]=" The aim was to find a procedure for differentiating the various internal tissues and organs of female varroa mites.
This procedure "; S8[10]=" will be a crucial tool for second stage studies aimed at pinpointing the precise time when mite reproduction is first triggered.
That, "; S9[10]=" in turn, will allow for a detailed search for the signal.
The project was funded from industry revenue which is matched by "; S10[10]=" funds provided by the Australian Government... "; R[11]="820"; T[11]="North Queensland info sessions to detail latest buzz in bee-keeping"; A[11]="By ... Editor"; Dn[11]="20060605"; Dt[11]="Monday 5 June 2006"; Acats[11]="a31"; B1[11]=" Bee-keepers from across North Queensland are being urged to attend information sessions being held in Mackay, Townsville and the Atherton Tableland in "; B2[11]="early June... "; B3[11]=" "; B4[11]=" "; B5[11]=" "; S1[11]=" Bee-keepers from across North Queensland are being urged to attend information sessions being held in Mackay, Townsville and the Atherton Tableland in "; S2[11]=" early June.
The Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries' apiary officer Hamish Lamb will be travelling north to present the sessions, which "; S3[11]=" will include updates on pest and diseases, seasonal management and hive handling.
The sessions will be held at these dates and times: "; S4[11]=" Tuesday June 6, 7.30pm-10pm, Mackay State High School, 105 Milton Street, Mackay Saturday June 10, 10am-1pm, DPI&F Oonoonba, 180-202 River Boulevard, Townsville Monday June 12, "; S5[11]=" 10am-1pm, DPI&F Walkamin Research Station, Kennedy Highway, Walkamin DPI&F District Inspector, Biosecurity, Andrew Ygosse said the sessions were free, and open to all people with "; S6[11]=" an interest in beekeeping.
'Bees are the unsung heroes of our agricultural & horticultural industries and native flora - it's their efforts "; S7[11]=" in pollination that keep these plants alive and producing all the foods that are an essential part of our diet.
'It's extremely "; S8[11]=" important that both professional and hobby apiarists keep themselves up-to-date with the latest information, particularly with the risks of exotic pests and diseases that pose "; S9[11]=" threats to hives,' Mr Ygosse said.
The information sessions are open to people who may not yet have a hive but are "; S10[11]=" thinking about becoming involved in bees so as to improve their knowledge on this interesting insect.
Mr Ygosse said the Townsville and "; S11[11]=" Walkamin information sessions would include live hive demonstrations covering basic hive handling practices... "; R[12]="586"; T[12]="Professional development day for State's livestock experts"; A[12]="By ... Editor"; Dn[12]="20060306"; Dt[12]="Monday 6 March 2006"; Acats[12]="a31a53"; B1[12]=" WA livestock experts will attend a professional development day in Perth later this month as part of a push to sustain skilled "; B2[12]="trainers for the State's livestock sector... "; B3[12]=" "; B4[12]=" "; B5[12]=" "; S1[12]=" WA livestock experts will attend a professional development day in Perth later this month as part of a push to sustain skilled "; S2[12]=" trainers for the State's livestock sector.
Extension officers, farmers and consultants from across the State will attend the Professional Development day "; S3[12]=" on March 24 in Guildford.
During the day they'll be introduced to the EDGEnetwork training program and have a chance to build "; S4[12]=" their professional networks and learn about topics such as communication methods, behavioural styles, and how to motivate learners.
As well as presentations "; S5[12]=" by local speakers, the group will be addressed by interstate guests including livestock consultant Brian Ashton, of Rural Solutions South Australia, Leadership Management Australia's John "; S6[12]=" Denton and Meat & Livestock Australia producer capacity building project officer Hilary Heffernan.
The Professional Development (PD) day is an initiative of "; S7[12]=" farm improvement group Kondinin Group.
The Kondinin Group facilitates the EDGEnetwork in WA - a national training program which, through practical "; S8[12]=" workshops and learning programs, helps farming families and businesses improve the skills and knowledge needed to manage their livestock enterprises more profitably and sustainably.
"; S9[12]=" The EDGEnetwork is delivered by WA specialists with vast field experience in the livestock industry and since its inception four years ago more "; S10[12]=" than 300 WA livestock producers have attended a course.
PD day coordinator and Kondinin Group training manager Ken Foote said the "; S11[12]=" PD day was one way of helping current EDGEnetwork trainers improve their professional skills and introduce potential deliverers to the network.
Mr "; S12[12]=" Foote said EDGEnetwork deliverers provided training to what was an extremely dynamic and fast-evolving industry.
'For our livestock producers to remain at "; S13[12]=" the top of their game, it's up to us as industry specialists to remain one step ahead as well,' he said.
Elizabeth "; S14[12]=" Brown, a livestock specialist based in Geraldton, said training programs such as EDGEnetwork were critical to improving productivity on WA farms.
Ms "; S15[12]=" Brown, who has been delivering EDGEnetwork workshops for three years, said knowledge about livestock had 'skipped a generation' within the farming community.
"; S16[12]=" She said many younger producers had had little experience in pastures and livestock and their role in a mixed-farm enterprise.
'As trainers "; S17[12]=" I think we have a real role to play in filling this gap.
The livestock production sector has come a long way "; S18[12]=" in recent years and it's important that there's a conduit between those advancements and our producers.' Ms Brown said she also found her role as "; S19[12]=" a deliverer very rewarding, professionally and personally.
'Particularly when you deliver a longer course, such as PROGRAZE, you see the changes "; S20[12]=" happening on-farms as producers progress through the course - and they see it as well,' Mrs Brown said.
'I've also found the "; S21[12]=" communication and presentation skills I've learnt as a deliverer has helped in other professional roles.' Those interested in more information about the EDGEnetwork or the "; S22[12]=" PD day should contact Kondinin Group on 1800 200 798, or email training@kondinin.com.au.
The EDGEnetwork is an initiative of Meat & Livestock "; S23[12]=" Australia and the Victorian Department of Primary Industries.
More than 10,000 producers across Australia have taken part in an EDGEnetwork workshop since "; S24[12]=" the program began more than five years ago... "; R[13]="577"; T[13]="New bee-keeping book a winner for great honey"; A[13]="By ... Editor"; Dn[13]="20060303"; Dt[13]="Friday 3 March 2006"; Acats[13]="a31"; B1[13]=" The popular book 'Bee-Keeping in Australia' has been re-released and now contains valuable information on hive management of diseases and pests including "; B2[13]="the small hive beetle... "; B3[13]=" "; B4[13]=" "; B5[13]=" "; S1[13]=" The popular book 'Bee-Keeping in Australia' has been re-released and now contains valuable information on hive management of diseases and pests including "; S2[13]=" the small hive beetle.
Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries (DPI&F) Senior Apiary Officer Peter Warhurst said this second edition of the "; S3[13]=" book provides updated information relating to the exotic diseases and pests that threaten the honey industry.
'It is vitally important that bee "; S4[13]=" keepers have the right information at their finger tips to be able to determine if a hive looks like it has a health problem and "; S5[13]=" how to report it to the authorities.
'Early disease or pest detection is the key to minimising the spread and ultimately the "; S6[13]=" impact on the industry,' he said.
The information in the new book expands on the earlier version by including both Mr Warhurst's "; S7[13]=" professional knowledge of bee industry management as well as over 100 years of DPI&F apiary research.
'I have included in this new "; S8[13]=" edition the special management requirements of hives in Australia where bees often continue to breed and gather honey throughout winter months,' he said.
"; S9[13]=" 'The new edition is a practical, comprehensive and up-to-date book on beekeeping,' he said.
The first edition was released in 1995, "; S10[13]=" when Peter wrote the book in collaboration with DPI&F Apiary Officer, Roger Goebel.
'This book is a valuable resource for commercial apiarists "; S11[13]=" in the Australian honey industry, as well as hobby farmers, agricultural high school, TAFE and university teachers and students,' Mr Warhurst said.
"; S12[13]=" The book includes colour photos of different species of bees, pests and diseases, and bee habitats required for the best-flavoured honey retails for $55.
"; S13[13]=" It can be ordered online at www.dpi.qld.gov.au/shop or by phoning the DPI&F Call Centre on 13 25 23 for the cost of a "; S14[13]=" local call... "; R[14]="461"; T[14]="IPM-sheep forum on mulesing alternatives by 2010"; A[14]="By ... Editor"; Dn[14]="20060222"; Dt[14]="Wednesday 22 February 2006"; Acats[14]="a25a31a72"; B1[14]=" With the phase out of mulesing in sheep in 2010, the race is on to develop alternatives for breech strike control..... "; B2[14]=" "; B3[14]=" "; B4[14]=" "; B5[14]=" "; S1[14]=" With the phase out of mulesing in sheep in 2010, the race is on to develop alternatives for breech strike control.
"; S2[14]=" Work being done to develop new methods will be outlined at next week's IPM-sheep forum at Inglewood on Friday February 17.
"; S3[14]=" Professor Phil Hynd from Adelaide University will discuss progress to date in two main areas - the Australian Wool Innovation-funded (AWI) development of a "; S4[14]=" non-surgical 'mulesing' technique and breeding sheep with increased breech strike resistance At least three different agents have shown promise for non-surgical mulesing by permanently removing "; S5[14]=" wool around the breech or stretching the area of bare skin in the breech.
These are currently being evaluated further.
"; S6[14]=" Another approach is the development of several revolutionary needleless injectors.
Several designs are being tested.
All emphasise operator "; S7[14]=" safety, cause little stress to the sheep, and can be applied efficiently and cheaply on-farm to large numbers of lambs.
Department of "; S8[14]=" Primary Industries and Fisheries principal scientist Peter James said breeding is a longer-term but potentially more permanent option for reducing breech strike.
"; S9[14]=" There is significant natural variation in the degree of wrinkle and the size of the bare area in most populations of merinos.
"; S10[14]=" An AWI project with CSIRO and the Western Australian Department of Agriculture has started to determine the best way to use this natural variation to "; S11[14]=" breed sheep that are resistant to breech strike.
In addition, a mutation that confers a natural large bare area has been found "; S12[14]=" in the Calcookara Stud of Neil and Brenton Smith on the Eyre Peninsula of South Australia.
This mutation offers the possibility of "; S13[14]=" very rapid genetic increase in bare area.
Professor Hynd is working with the Smiths to determine the mode of inheritance of the "; S14[14]=" trait and to develop optimal ways of using it in other Merino bloodlines.
He will discuss progress on this and other projects "; S15[14]=" at the IPM-sheep forum at the Inglewood Bowls Club from 9.30am-3.00pm.
IPM-sheep is a national project involving Australian Wool Innovation, the Queensland "; S16[14]=" Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, University of New England, the Mackinnon Project at the University of Melbourne, the Western Australian Department of Agriculture and "; S17[14]=" 22 cooperating wool producers Australia-wide... "; R[15]="364"; T[15]="Goats fleece sheep in new spin on yarn"; A[15]="By ... Editor"; Dn[15]="20060222"; Dt[15]="Wednesday 22 February 2006"; Acats[15]="a03a31"; B1[15]=" Merinos might have once been the backbone of Australian farming, but mohair is making the money these days..... "; B2[15]=" "; B3[15]=" "; B4[15]=" "; B5[15]=" "; S1[15]=" Merinos might have once been the backbone of Australian farming, but mohair is making the money these days.
Norman "; S2[15]=" McCrea runs merino sheep and goats, which produce mohair, on his property at The Gap, near Wagga Wagga in southern NSW.
'I "; S3[15]=" have 500 merino ewes and 300 breeding does,' he says.
'I earn more money from the goats, though there are an extra "; S4[15]=" 200 ewes.
The goats are terrific, but the ewes are barely covering their costs.' While wool prices have been falling steadily, ending "; S5[15]=" the year with a market indicator price of just $6.33/kg clean, mohair has kept rising.
It averaged a record $15.07/kg last year, "; S6[15]=" with the top-priced bale reaching $27/kg.
Demand for wool might be languishing, but it seems the world can't get enough of mohair, "; S7[15]=" which is used in luxury and everyday clothing.
Mr McCrea and his wife, Jean, became interested in goats 23 years ago.
"; S8[15]=" The townie couple wanted a sea-change move to a farm.
Now semi-retired from his engineering job, Mr McCrea has a "; S9[15]=" full-time occupation on his property.
They started with feral goats and an angora buck.
Now they have purebreds, with "; S10[15]=" genetic stock from Texas and South Africa.
The result is denser, better-quality fleeces.
'Our mohair is now being "; S11[15]=" recognised overseas as equal to the best,' Mr McCrea says.
His aim is to breed finer-fleeced, hardy goats with good temperaments.
"; S12[15]=" He doesn't mind horns -- 'they are good for catching them, very practical'.
Goats 'are easy to herd.
"; S13[15]=" They don't run like sheep'.
The goats like to eat weeds and will clean up thistles and the weed Paterson's curse.
"; S14[15]=" And, contrary to the widespread belief, they just need ordinary -- but sound -- fences.
A sheepdog, Toby, protects "; S15[15]=" the kids from the foxes that come in from the hills.
Mr McCrea admits mohair prices have fluctuated, but says there has "; S16[15]=" always been a market.
He reckons it was mohair that got them through the 1983-84 drought.
'They were selling "; S17[15]=" mobs of sheep for $1, and we were getting $10 to $15 a head from the abattoirs, plus the fleece was roughly $13 per kilo,' "; S18[15]=" he says.
Now he would like to see more sheep farmers moving into angora goats.
'We are using the "; S19[15]=" same shearing sheds.
We shear like we do with the sheep, with the same handpieces.
And the market is "; S20[15]=" already there.' The goats are shorn twice a year, with fleece from kids.. "; R[16]="314"; T[16]="New name for kangaroo meat"; A[16]="By ... Editor"; Dn[16]="20060222"; Dt[16]="Wednesday 22 February 2006"; Acats[16]="a07a08a10a27a31"; B1[16]=" Australians could soon be chucking a piece of australus on the barbecue if the new name for a slice of kangaroo makes "; B2[16]="it more appealing to diners sensitive about eating the national symbol... "; B3[16]=" "; B4[16]=" "; B5[16]=" "; S1[16]=" Australians could soon be chucking a piece of 'australus' on the barbecue if the new name for a slice of kangaroo makes "; S2[16]=" it more appealing to diners sensitive about eating the national symbol.
Inspired by the fact that slices of cow or pig on "; S3[16]=" a plate are known by the more palatable euphemisms of beef or pork, Australia's kangaroo meat industry backed a competition to find a similarly savoury "; S4[16]=" name for cute kangaroos.
It was won by US citizen Steven West, who came up with the name 'australus' while working at "; S5[16]=" an hotel school near Sydney.
The editor of Food Companion International, which ran the competition, said 'australus' sounded dignified and linked the "; S6[16]=" meat with the home of the kangaroo.
'The new name may be a huge breakthrough for the kangaroo meat industry,' Mel Nathan "; S7[16]=" said.
Among the 2700 rejected entries submitted by people in 41 nations were kangasaurus, kangarly, marsupan, jumpmeat and MOM (Meat of Marsupials).
"; S8[16]=" 'There is nothing more comforting than a mother,' said Californian Greg Richardson of his MOM entry.
'In order to "; S9[16]=" make kangaroo meat sound more comforting to potential consumers, I figured we could associate one with the other: MOM.' Kangaroo meat sales have grown 50-fold "; S10[16]=" in the past decade to create a $200m a year industry, with Europe a major export market for the low-fat red meat and Russians lapping "; S11[16]=" it up in sausages.
But Australians have been reluctant to eat an animal so closely linked to the national identity - and "; S12[16]=" portrayed as intelligent and lovable in the popular television programme Skippy - so most kangaroo meat consumed locally is in the form of pet food.
"; S13[16]=" The national quota for culling kangaroos in 2005 was 3.9 million animals, a number described by some wildlife activists as a cruel "; S14[16]=" slaughter but defended by the industry as necessary to keep down booming populations.
The executive officer of the Kangaroo Industry Association of "; S15[16]=" Australia, John Kelly, said that while his organisation had helped sponsor the competition it had 'no really serious intention of changing the name' at this "; S16[16]=" stage... "; R[17]="303"; T[17]="Calf mortality research continues"; A[17]="By ... Editor"; Dn[17]="20060222"; Dt[17]="Wednesday 22 February 2006"; Acats[17]="a09a10a26a27a31"; B1[17]=" Research efforts are underway to investigate the causes of mortality in newly born calves in north-west Queensland..... "; B2[17]=" "; B3[17]=" "; B4[17]=" "; B5[17]=" "; S1[17]=" Research efforts are underway to investigate the causes of mortality in newly born calves in north-west Queensland.
Mount Isa-based "; S2[17]=" Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries senior extension officer Mick Sullivan said the Beef Cooperative Research Centre's (Beef CRC) herd at DPI&F's Toorak Research Station "; S3[17]=" provided a unique opportunity to investigate reproductive losses in an extensive grazing environment.
'Knowing the time at which calf losses occur is "; S4[17]=" paramount to the understanding and identification of the possible causes and mechanisms linked to poor reproductive performances,' he said.
Mr Sullivan said "; S5[17]=" the first CRC calving at Toorak in late 2003 had an unexplained perinatal (period from just prior to birth to 48 hours after birth) calf "; S6[17]=" mortality rate of nine per cent.
During the 2004 calving, the unexplained perinatal calf mortality at Toorak had risen to 37 per "; S7[17]=" cent.
Investigations by DPI&F principal veterinary pathologist, Dr Bruce Hill from Yeerongpilly, have now explained that the increased mortality in 2004 was "; S8[17]=" due to a deficiency of vitamin A during pregnancy.
This was an unusual finding and one that was rarely reported in scientific "; S9[17]=" literature, Dr Hill said.
'The circumstances of these perinatal calf deaths are still under study, but were closely related to a succession "; S10[17]=" of poor seasons and severe long-standing deprivation of green fodder,' he said.
'A program of treatment through vitamin A injections during pregnancy "; S11[17]=" and provision of vitamin A supplements was instituted for 2005.' Unexplained perinatal calf losses for the 2005 season at Toorak are presently nine per cent.
"; S12[17]=" Dr Hill said the examination of specimens taken from these calves was still in progress.
'Material examined to date "; S13[17]=" indicates that the 2005 treatment regime for vitamin A deficiency has been effective, with no evidence of the deficiency being detected in dead calves to "; S14[17]=" date,' he said.
'Work is continuing to determine the cause of these current unexplained losses.' Dr Hill said the close herd supervision "; S15[17]=" at Toorak enabled investigation of calf losses occurring during their first two days of life.
'This time is of particular interest to "; S16[17]=" investigators as it represents a vulnerable transition period for newborn animals, especially if environmental conditions are harsh,' he said.
Dr Hill said "; S17[17]=" Toorak was well placed to collaborate with other breeding properties to determine the range of calf losses experienced in the region and to develop methods "; S18[17]=" for identifying possible causes.
'A future challenge emerging from the Toorak experience will be to determine practical methods for delivering vitamin A "; S19[17]=" to cattle under commercial conditions,' he said.
'For instance, the effectiveness of including vitamins in supplements has yet to be established.' A "; S20[17]=" recent review commissioned by Meat and Livestock Australia and led by DPI&F principal scientist Dr Brian Burns from Rockhampton shows that only a limited number.. "; R[18]="271"; T[18]="E-trakka: hi-tech fitness aid for horses"; A[18]="By ... Editor"; Dn[18]="20060222"; Dt[18]="Wednesday 22 February 2006"; Acats[18]="a31a46"; B1[18]=" A RIRDC-initiated invention maximising horse fitness training by measuring heart rate and velocity, using a saddle blanket with embedded heart rate monitor "; B2[18]="and a GPS-based velocity meter, has been voted a weekly winner on the ABC TV show The New Inventors... "; B3[18]=" "; B4[18]=" "; B5[18]=" "; S1[18]=" A RIRDC-initiated invention maximising horse fitness training by measuring heart rate and velocity, using a saddle blanket with embedded heart rate monitor "; S2[18]=" and a GPS-based velocity meter, has been voted a weekly winner on the ABC TV show The New Inventors.
'RIRDC's investment opened "; S3[18]=" doors, gave credibility and proved to industry E-trakka was a serious proposal,' says inventor Andrew Stuart.
There was plenty of interest in "; S4[18]=" the idea but no one would financially commit until the results of a RIRDC-funded research project were available to demonstrate the concept worked.
"; S5[18]=" The result has been a million dollars in investment in the past two years, and returns on that investment are imminent, especially after E-trakka "; S6[18]=" won the night on the ABC TV's The New Inventors show, and the exposure has generated attention prior to a commercial launch in January.
"; S7[18]=" Further information on E-trakka from the ABC... "; R[19]="270"; T[19]="Disinfestation of stored comb by phosphine fumigation"; A[19]="By ... Editor"; Dn[19]="20060222"; Dt[19]="Wednesday 22 February 2006"; Acats[19]="a03a31"; B1[19]=" NSW Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI) conducted trials which demonstrated 100% effectiveness of phosphine fumigation against all life-stages of the Small "; B2[19]="Hive Beetle... "; B3[19]=" "; B4[19]=" "; B5[19]=" "; S1[19]=" NSW Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI) conducted trials which demonstrated 100% effectiveness of phosphine fumigation against all life-stages of the Small "; S2[19]=" Hive Beetle.
This information formed the basis of a permit application submitted by the Australian Honey Bee Industry Council to the Australian "; S3[19]=" Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) to extend the use of aluminium phosphide tablets to include the fumigation of stored comb etc.
"; S4[19]=" This permit application is currently being considered by APVMA and it is hoped that bee keepers will soon have access to this effective disinfestation method.
"; S5[19]=" Three stacks each of five boxes of stored comb undergoing phosphine fumigation.
Open stacks of boxes of stored comb "; S6[19]=" ready for phosphine fumigation inside a shipping container.
Phosphine fumigation is already registered for disinfesting wax moth from stored comb and the "; S7[19]=" proposed use against Small Hive Beetle is identical to the existing use pattern.
Note: combs containing honey must not be fumigated prior "; S8[19]=" to extraction.
Traps for Small Hive Beetles Several traps that do not rely on any insecticides have been designed and evaluated.
"; S9[19]=" Most rely on the beetles entering or falling through slots or holes in a horizontal screen or shallow box lid, into a reservoir "; S10[19]=" of vegetable oil.
These may be useful for hives that remain in one place for extended periods but they can be difficult "; S11[19]=" and messy to move.
One style of trap is being sold in the United States of America.
You can "; S12[19]=" inspect the trap on http://www.gabees.com/catalog/385.htm Soil treatment to control Small Hive Beetle larvae Trials conducted by NSW DPI confirmed that permethrin was effective in killing "; S13[19]=" Small Hive Beetle larvae in soil, or larvae entering permethrin-treated soil to pupate.
In May 2004 Pesticide Permit PER-7347 was renewed until "; S14[19]=" 31st May 2006 in New South Wales to allow bee keepers to use Farmoz Permex EC Residual Insecticide or any other product containing 500 g "; S15[19]=" L-1 as the only active ingredient to treat soil in front of hives.
The application rate recommended is 4 L M-2 and "; S16[19]=" re-treatment every 30 days may be required... "; R[20]="259"; T[20]="Resistance checks highlight drench effectiveness"; A[20]="By ... Editor"; Dn[20]="20060222"; Dt[20]="Wednesday 22 February 2006"; Acats[20]="a03a25a26a27a31a72a86"; B1[20]=" On-farm testing has shown that even some of the newest drenches will not always provide good worm control in sheep..... "; B2[20]=" "; B3[20]=" "; B4[20]=" "; B5[20]=" "; S1[20]=" On-farm testing has shown that even some of the newest drenches will not always provide good worm control in sheep.
"; S2[20]=" Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries IPM-sheep parasitologist Maxine Lyndal-Murphy said testing by the National Integrated Parasite Management-sheep project showed drenches with mectin as "; S3[20]=" their active ingredient are not always effective.
She said with 28 demonstration properties acrossAustralia including four in Queensland, IPM-sheep promotes a mix "; S4[20]=" of various controls to manage worms better.
'On-farm testing by IPM-sheep has shown many drenches are no longer killing worms efficiently and "; S5[20]=" many sheep are still carrying damaging worm burdens after drenching.
'The only way for producers to be certain the sheep drenches they're "; S6[20]=" paying good money for are actually killing all, not just some worms, is to do a resistance check on their property,' Ms Lyndal-Murphy said.
"; S7[20]=" She said the IPM-sheep group and the DPI&F's Wormbuster Laboratory last week demonstrated the best-practice options for drench products, based on the results "; S8[20]=" of an on-farm resistance check.
The demonstration was at Ken, Fay, Hayden and Alyssa Eley's property Avondale, at The Gums.
"; S9[20]=" During the demonstration, Ms Lyndal-Murphy said even with new multi-active drenches, producers needed to know the level at which the individual actives were working, "; S10[20]=" before choosing the most effective multi-active for their flock.
'Resistance checks identify those drenches that are still active against worms and those "; S11[20]=" that are loosing their efficacy.
'This can be very different from one property to the next, and that's why we recommend every "; S12[20]=" producer sets up his or her own resistance check, with summer being the ideal time to do it.' Ms Lyndal-Murphy said resistance checking ensured the "; S13[20]=" most economic outcome and limited productivity losses, while minimising drench resistance.
The cost of a resistance check was generally much less than "; S14[20]=" the cost of using an ineffective drench and then having to re-muster and re-drench, she said.
'If worms are not being effectively "; S15[20]=" killed off by drenching, the current warm, wet conditions increase the risk of clinical disease, productivity losses, breaks in the wool and sheep deaths.' Ms "; S16[20]=" Lyndal-Murphy said the multi-state Australian Wool Innovation-funded project IPM-sheep, is planning a major Parasite control towards 2010 field day covering worms, lice and flies at "; S17[20]=" the Inglewood Memorial Bowls Club on February 17 from 9.30am.
'More information on the day is available from DPI&F senior technical officer "; S18[20]=" Wayne Ehrlich (3362 9595),' she said... "; R[21]="181"; T[21]="The Use of Australian Honey in Moist Wound Management"; A[21]="By ... RIRDC W05/159"; Dn[21]="20060222"; Dt[21]="Wednesday 22 February 2006"; Acats[21]="a03a09a31"; B1[21]=" The use of honey as a therapeutic agent dates to ancient times.
More recently, there has been growing interest "; B2[21]="in this natural remedy, which has lead to legitimate scientific investigations... "; B3[21]=" "; B4[21]=" "; B5[21]=" "; S1[21]=" The use of honey as a therapeutic agent dates to ancient times.
More recently, there has been growing interest "; S2[21]=" in this 'natural' remedy, which has lead to legitimate scientific investigations.
Research has shown that particular honeys have very special healing properties.
"; S3[21]=" One group of honeys (Leptospermum honeys) have been described as 'the best natural antibiotic in the World'.
Honeys have "; S4[21]=" been shown to be active against a diverse range of microorganisms and reports of the inhibitory effect of honey on specific microorganisms are numerous.
"; S5[21]=" Honey has been shown to be effective against both Gram positive and Gram negative organisms, aerobic and anaerobic bacteria, as well as inhibiting "; S6[21]=" spore germination of Bacillus cereus.
The sensitivity of different bacterial species and strains to honey is extremely variable.
Honey "; S7[21]=" has also recently been shown to have an inhibitory effect against antibiotic resistant strains (e.g.
golden Staph), which are frequently responsible for "; S8[21]=" postoperative wound infection in immunologically compromised patients.
Much research effort has centred on establishing the properties of honey to which its antibacterial "; S9[21]=" activity may be attributed.
Such factors as osmolarity, acidity, hydrogen peroxide content and chemical components of honey have all been considered to "; S10[21]=" contribute to the inhibition of bacterial growth.
Honey is a highly saturated sugar solution which could suggest that this characteristic of honey "; S11[21]=" would convey an antimicrobial effect.
The high concentration of sugars leaves very little available water for the growth of microorganisms.
"; S12[21]=" However, the osmolarity of honey does not appear to be a major factor.
The acidity of honey has also been suggested "; S13[21]=" to explain the antibacterial activity of honey.
Honey contains many organic acids, predominantly gluconic acid produced from glucose by glucose oxidase, and "; S14[21]=" is characteristically acidic with pH 3.2 to 4.5.
Although such an acidity level would be inhibitory to the growth of most bacterial "; S15[21]=" species, there appears to be no correlation between antibacterial activity and the acidity of the honey.
There is much evidence to suggest "; S16[21]=" that the antibacterial activity of honey is due to more than the sugars present therein.
Two major sources have been shown to "; S17[21]=" be responsible for the anti-microbial activity - hydrogen peroxide (from the bee) and uncharacterised chemical substances (from the floral source).
Hydrogen peroxide "; S18[21]=" is known to have antimicrobial properties and can be removed efficiently by the addition of catalase to the honey prior to testing for antibacterial activity.
"; S19[21]=" This project has investigated the correlation between antimicrobial activity and the non-peroxide activity of particular Leptospermum-derived honeys.
Initial investigations "; S20[21]=" tested the efficacy of these honeys against one particular bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus), while later studies assessed the effect of this honey on a range of.. "; R[22]="94"; T[22]="Live export forum to welcome global meat marketing expert"; A[22]="By ... Editor"; Dn[22]="20060222"; Dt[22]="Wednesday 22 February 2006"; Acats[22]="a02a03a25a27a31"; B1[22]=" If the Australian red meat and livestock industry is to maintain the current level of global consumer confidence, it has to be "; B2[22]="in a position to meet the growing demands of its customers, particularly in South East Asia... "; B3[22]=" "; B4[22]=" "; B5[22]=" "; S1[22]=" If the Australian red meat and livestock industry is to maintain the current level of global consumer confidence, it has to be "; S2[22]=" in a position to meet the growing demands of its customers, particularly in South East Asia.
This is the advice of international "; S3[22]=" food marketing expert Dr David Hughes who is the keynote speaker at the MLA/LiveCorp Livestock Export Forum being held in Darwin on Wednesday 12 October.
"; S4[22]=" Dr Hughes, who is a Professor of Food Marketing at the Imperial College in London, will be presenting on the positive outlook "; S5[22]=" for meat demand, especially in South East Asia, and what this means for the Australian red meat and livestock export industry.
'The "; S6[22]=" consumer is king - ignore them at your peril.
Everyone in the live export trade must realise they are producing food, and "; S7[22]=" not just trading cattle,' Dr Hughes said.
Dr Hughes will also provide invaluable research findings into current global consumer trends and the "; S8[22]=" growing demand for red meat internationally.
The Livestock Export Forum is a key event on the calendar for those working in the "; S9[22]=" live export industry and for livestock producers supplying the live trade.
The forum will also feature other keynote speakers who will provide "; S10[22]=" perspectives on the future of the live cattle trade, including a focus on the Indonesian market and the opportunities available to producers who supply livestock "; S11[22]=" for the South East Asian region.
MLA Managing Director Mark Spurr said that the opportunity to listen to Dr Hughes was one "; S12[22]=" that shouldn't be missed.
'This is a rare opportunity for Australia's livestock producers and live exporters to hear from one of the "; S13[22]=" world's most respected marketing experts,' Mr Spurr said.
'A lot can be learnt from what's currently happening in the rest of the "; S14[22]=" world, as well as looking at what's around the corner.
I urge live exporters and livestock producers to attend this forum.' Registration "; S15[22]=" for the forum can be made calling MLA on (02) 9463 9254.
The forum is being held at the Crowne Plaza Darwin "; S16[22]=" between 9.30am and 12.30pm.
The LiveCorp AGM will follow the forum, beginning at 1.30pm... "; R[23]="31"; T[23]="Tips on how to Bee smart this September"; A[23]="By ... Editor"; Dn[23]="20060222"; Dt[23]="Wednesday 22 February 2006"; Acats[23]="a03a09a31"; B1[23]=" With bee-swarming season approaching fast the Department of Agriculture is warning people to bee smart and avoid being stung..... "; B2[23]=" "; B3[23]=" "; B4[23]=" "; B5[23]=" "; S1[23]=" With bee-swarming season approaching fast the Department of Agriculture is warning people to 'bee' smart and avoid being stung.
"; S2[23]=" 'Early to mid September is the time when colonies of bees reproduce and bee swarms are usually seen as a cluster about the size of "; S3[23]=" a football, hanging from a bush,' said Department Senior Apiculturist Bill Trend.
'If a bee swarm comes into your garden, keep out "; S4[23]=" of its way by going inside with children and pets.
The bees will usually swarm for about half an hour until they "; S5[23]=" settle on a bush or shrub, or they will pass on.
'Do not spray bees with an insecticide, throw water or stones "; S6[23]=" at them or try to smoke them out,' warned Bill.
'This will cause the bees to become aggressive and increases the likelihood "; S7[23]=" of being stung.' Swarms may also take up residence in cavity walls or other cavities on residential properties, where they will be more difficult and "; S8[23]=" more expensive to remove than had they remained in the open.
The Department of Agriculture recommends not to attempt to remove the "; S9[23]=" swarm yourself but to contact a licensed pest controller listed in the Yellow Pages of the telephone directory.
Swarming is a natural "; S10[23]=" part of the lifecycle of a bee.
When a colony becomes over-crowded the queen will fly off with a group of field "; S11[23]=" bees to establish a new hive.
The queen is usually prompted to do this when there is an abundance of flowers and "; S12[23]=" pollen available.
For more information about bees, residents are invited to contact the Department of Agriculture's Pest and Disease Information Service on "; S13[23]=" the Free call Pest and Disease Information Service number 1800 084 881 or visit the DAWA website www.agric.wa.gov.au... "; R[24]="18"; T[24]="A grilled camel the answer to desert destruction"; A[24]="By ... Editor"; Dn[24]="20060222"; Dt[24]="Wednesday 22 February 2006"; Acats[24]="a10a31a55"; B1[24]=" Once the backbone of outback exploration, the nation s camels could be headed for a desert abattoir..... "; B2[24]=" "; B3[24]=" "; B4[24]=" "; B5[24]=" "; S1[24]=" Once the backbone of outback exploration, the nation's camels could be headed for a desert abattoir.
Every eight years "; S2[24]=" wild camel numbers are doubling, experts have found.
If the trend continues without steps to control them, there could be two camels "; S3[24]=" to every person by 2053.
They are already problem enough.
In remote communities, camels have ripped out taps and "; S4[24]=" toilets for water.
They are a hazard on outback roads and have been known to ransack tourists' cars for food.
"; S5[24]=" On stations they trample fencing, compete with cattle for water and destroy infrastructure.
One farmer estimates the cost at $30,000 to "; S6[24]=" $40,000 a year.
In the bush they defoliate native shrubs and trees.
Favourites, known as camels' ice-cream plants, can "; S7[24]=" become locally extinct.
They compete with natives at waterholes and damage wetlands.
They thrive in the Australian desert.
"; S8[24]=" 'It's a camel paradise,' said Glenn Edwards from the Northern Territory's Parks and Wildlife Commission.
'It used to be that "; S9[24]=" if you asked what was Australia's worst vertebrate pest I would say the rabbit.
That's changed a bit.
In "; S10[24]=" terms of the desert country camels are now up there with feral goats in my opinion.' The wild camels are descendants of working animals released "; S11[24]=" into the wild when they were replaced by cars.
Up to 1 million roam free through the Northern Territory and surrounding states.
"; S12[24]=" In a CSIRO report, Mr Edwards raised fencing off key areas and aerial shooting (which already takes place in South Australia and "; S13[24]=" on some stations) as ways to control numbers.
'Although the aerial shooting of large animals such as horses and camels is a "; S14[24]=" highly emotive issue, it is the most effective and humane technique of culling large feral [herbivores] in remote, inaccessible situations.' The burgeoning camel industry has "; S15[24]=" its own solution - an export-licensed, halal-certified abattoir to produce camel meat for overseas sale.
Live exports have dried up for the "; S16[24]=" moment, thanks to trading partners' economic woes, and existing cattle abattoirs can take only a few camels a week.
Central Australian Camel "; S17[24]=" Industry's executive officer, Peter Seidel, said camel meat was low in fat and cholesterol, and tasted like beef.
'There is substantial demand "; S18[24]=" worldwide [for camel meat].
An investor from Oman is already interested,' Mr Seidel said.
However, 'in very, very remote "; S19[24]=" areas of Australia, culling probably is the only option'... ";