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Expert-led tick and parasite management roadshow to visit Casino during multi-state tour

Announcement posted by Virbac Australia Pty Ltd 01 Aug 2019

Animal health company Virbac is kicking off a week-long Parasite Management Roadshow taking place next week across QLD and Northern NSW.

Designed to highlight sustainable tick and worm management and strategic drenching practices for optimal cattle production, senior veterinary officer with NSW DPI Dr Paul Freeman and veterinarian and Virbac Australia Technical Services Manager Dr Matt Ball will share their expertise with local cattle producers and their advisors.

With a recent MLA research project estimating that cattle ticks cost Australian farmers around $175 million per year in production losses and treatment costs[1], ticks are considered to be the most economically damaging of parasites. Left unchecked, they can significantly reduce cattle live-weight gain and conception rates – making effective parasite management a key component of every successful cattle producer’s animal health program.

The Department of Primary Industry states, it is the most serious external parasite of cattle in Australia. Besides production loss from the cattle tick’s feeding on blood, the parasite transmits tick fever and if uncontrolled, can cause serious loss to the beef industry.
  • Tick fever, often referred to as ‘Redwater’, is a potentially fatal disease affecting cattle. The disease is spread by cattle tick, and causes haemolytic anaemia, fever, and weakness, followed by nervous signs, before coma and death[2].
Arriving in Casino on Thursday 8th August, the roadshow will be a great opportunity for cattle producers, advisors and veterinarians to improve their knowledge and understanding of strategic tick and worm management along with product usage practices.

“Our Casino presentation will cover the latest local findings, examine the tick lifecycle and highlight best practice use of drenching products for tick and worming control,” says Dr Ball. “We’re really looking forward to sharing our knowledge and helping producers to take the necessary steps to safeguard their livestock.”

“We’re excited to be hosting Dr Freeman and Dr Ball,” says Virbac Australia’s Cattle Product Manager Alisha Mitchell. “This is a fantastic opportunity to learn the latest in parasite management from the experts, who’ll be presenting some really helpful information to Australia’s industry professionals and cattle producers. Our aim is for producers to take away from these events practical knowledge, that can be implemented on their property to really help strategically manage both cattle tick, and worms.”

Interested producers are invited to attend the Casino event on Thursday 8th August. Please see below for further details.
 
Event details:
Date: Thursday 8 August. Morning tea: 10am Seminar: 10.30am – 12.30pm
Venue: Casino RSM Club, 162 Canterbury St, Casino
 
RSVP:
To RSVP to the morning tea & seminar/seminar only, please contact Craig Hosking on
0427 764 661 or Alisha Mitchell 0427 20 740 or email alisha.mitchell@virbac.com.au.
 
Media opportunity:
Virbac Australia welcomes media attendance and interview enquiries with Dr Freeman and Dr Ball during their visit.
 
About the speakers:
Dr Paul Freeman
Paul Freeman is a Senior Veterinary Officer with NSW DPI based at Wollongbar on the far north coast. A Sydney university graduate Paul has spent more than 30 years on the north coast with 18 years spent as a District Veterinarian at Casino and since 2006 with NSW DPI based at Wollongbar. He has particular interests in parasitology, production animal medicine and zoonotic infections and is the state coordinator for cattle tick, small ruminants and Hendra virus. Paul has a Masters of Veterinary Public Health Management from Sydney University and is a member of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists by examination in epidemiology.
 
Dr Matt Ball
Dr Ball has 19 years experience helping cattle farmers in a range of clinical, advisory and research roles. His employment includes jobs in clinical practice, government and industry, and he’s also undertaken postgraduate qualifications in disease surveillance and education. Based on the northern rivers of NSW, Matthew is passionate about helping cattle farmers develop practical and profitable preventative health programs, helping them to understand how medicines work and the scientific differences between animal health products. 
 
 
Media Enquiries:
Kate Munsie - C7EVEN COMMUNICATIONS
(02) 6766 4513 / 0421 935 843
kate.munsie@c7even.com.au
 
Adam Arndell - C7EVEN COMMUNICATIONS
(02) 6766 4513 / 0403 372 889
adam.arndell@c7even.com.au
 
Photo captions:
  1. Virbac Australia Technical Services Manager Dr Matthew Ball

[1] MLA report B.AHE.0212 (2017). Cattle vaccination studies using novel anti-cattle tick antigens developed during Beef CRC research.
[2] Department of Primary Industries.2019.  https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/about-us/services/laboratory-services/veterinary/tick-fever-of-cattle