Most producers would well know the value of "the ram effect" to promote ewe fertility. 

If ewes have had no contact with rams (or teasers), are totally isolated from each other and are not cycling, they can be stimulated to start ovulation by the sudden introduction of rams.

The great value of the "ram effect" is in the synchronisation of oestrus activity. Large number of ewes ovulate, conceive and lamb over a short period of time. This in turn will maximise conception rates in a controlled joining, increase the effect of predator control and other lambing management procedures, ensure lambs are a similar size at marking, weaning and first shearing and improve the likelihood of maiden ewes reaching the required weight at their first joining.

Teasers can be testosterone treated wethers or vasectomised rams. Vasectomising rams is a simple day procedure done under sedation and local anaesthetic with very few complications. The advantage of using vasectomised rams is that once the procedure is done you can use the rams for many years to come, rather than going through the yearly process of preparing the wethers with a course of testosterone injections.

Please feel free to contact OVH if you are interested in discussing the use of vasectomised rams to utilise the ram effect.

With the bushfires disrupting a lot of livestock operations, there will be some rapid movement of stock around Australia. This will include parking animals and short term agistment, to stock sales. Common diseases that can be transferred between flocks at this time, and should be considered in your biosecurity assessment are:

Virulent footrot – Even if sheep are not showing signs of lameness, they may be carriers of virulent footrot bacteria (Dichelobacter nodosus). Precautionary management to prevent introduction is important. The bacteria only survive 7 days in the environment. Ideally, to manage this risk, sheep are not commingled if only staying a short period of time.

Lice – Sheep lice are costly to eradicate once established in a flock. Even with careful inspection, if sheep have low levels of infestation, you may not detect them. The best way to prevent spread to other mobs is to keep them separated until it is determined that sheep are lice free.

Johnes disease – Participants of SheepMAP should be aware that movement of stock to unassessed land may jeopardise their program status. The bacteria causing Johnes disease can live in soil for up to 12 months.

Intestinal parasites – Bringing resistant worms onto your property occurs when ineffective quarantine drenches are used. In line with industry recommendations, quarantine drench all sheep on arrival with using no less than four unrelated drench actives. One of these must be either Startect or Zolvix, the newest classes of drench available.

Brucellosis - Ovine Brucellosis is a bacterial disease rams acquire. It is still a common occurrence among Australian sheep flocks. Check that consigned sheep are from an Ovine Brucellosis scheme and check their flock accreditation number.

Get a sheep health statement from the vendor

• Livestock generally tolerate smoke and ash fallout from bushfires well .
• Horses may exhibit minor respiratory problems or eye irritation. The respiratory issues seen are usually increased coughing and respiratory rates due to the irritation caused. Excessive tear production indicates eye irritation. 
• Ash fallout, depending on quantity, may impact pasture palatability. If possible, place livestock on pastures that have the lowest ash burden. If this is not possible, increasing bail feeding or supplementing with hay or silage will be important to maintain production. 
• Providing animals haven’t been burnt, there are typically no long-term effects for animals being exposed to the smoke and ash of fires. 
• There are no known food safety issues which arise from exposure to smoke and ash during bushfires.