Analytical Review

Analytical Review

We had the opportunity to visit with Tony Britt, director of animal health and welfare, about Australia’s National Livestock Identification System for cattle.  In Australia, every calf is mandated by law to be tagged with an eID tag.  This tag is then read each time the animal is transported to a new facility. The tags are placed in the middle third of the right ear, like our normal eartags.  Farmers can also use these eID tags on their own farms for record keeping.  Another option is an electronic bolus inserted into the rumen.  These are a good option as no one can ever remove it, however they aren’t easily visible like the eID buttons.  Through this system cattle can be tracked from paddock to plate.  Victoria is leading the world in their ID system for cattle.  With the support of the Victorian government, the system was fully implemented in 2005. 

The system works like this:

1.       Each location is identified with a property number

2.       Each calf is tagged with a white breeders tag on the site of its birth

3.       The tag is scanned upon entry into most trailers

4.       The tag is scanned upon the arrival to the new facility, whether it is another ranch, feedlot or abattoir. 

5.       If a calf shows up to a facility without a tag, an orange post-breeder tag is placed in its ear.

6.       At the abattoir the tag is read a final time after the calf has been harvested. 

example of a eID tag and what the number represents

In the event of a disease outbreak, the database can be used to trace where the infected animal had been located, where it was transported to and which animals were with it at each facility.  This makes Victoria extremely advanced in disease outbreak control.  When compared to America, Australia is very advanced in the aspect of disease control and tracking of livestock.  I found this system such a good idea and it would be a great thing for America to implement.  Their system is very similar to the NAIS system that America was trying to implement years ago however the system never got up and running. It would be a great idea for America to execute a similar system.  The system would take a lot of money up front to get up and running however it would pay off in the long run if we ever were to have an outbreak of an infectious disease.  It would also be a great way for ranchers to better manage their herd by using more electronics verses paper and pen. 

If you would like to get more information about the NLIS in Australia click here.

Finally home :)

Well were finally home!! Im pretty sure we ate breakfast for June 1 four different times! It was a neat experience to cross the international date line and live the longest day ever haha. I think it took roughly 31 hours from when we left our hotel in Cairns to when we arrived in Kansas City, needless to say I was a bit exhausted! It was so great to see my mom and dad waiting for me at the airport :)




Quantas Airlines safely brought us home :)

Watching the sun come up



All in all, Australia was a blast! The country was prettier than I was anticipating.  The autumn leaves, mountainsides, and cool weather was just beautiful. I could have handled a bit more sunshine but thats ok :)  My favorite activity was definately scuba diving in the great barrier reef, it was just amazing!

As I look through my pictures and remember all the fun and educational things I got to do and see, I feel so blessed that I got to participate in such an amazing event. Thanks mom and dad for helping me take "go to australia" off my bucketlist :)

Until Next Time!

Day 9: May 31

Day 9: May 31

If I had to pick one word to describe today it would be..., well I don't think there is a word in Webster's that can give today justice. The beauty of Gods creation just blew my mind today. We took a cruise to Green Island where we got to walk on the beach, draw in the sand and get pumped for the Great Barrier Reef. Next we took another boat out to the Great Barrier Reef!

Once at the reef, we went for a quick dip in the ocean to enjoy a bit of snorkeling. It wasn't much of an enjoyment to me at first as the thought of breathing underwater is just so weird. I thought I was going to hyperventilate but I managed. The water was really choppy and the waves kept hitting me in th face and freaking me out. Next I got super brave, got my wet suit on, packed up and went under for some scuba diving!!!

It was kinda scary diving under and having to breathe with the air tank however when I relaxed, I was able to see one of the 7 wonders of the world up close and personal. The hardest thing was keeping my ears equalized and breathing normal and calm. We seen a rainbow of fish, clams, coral and even a shark!!! Yep, you read that right. There was a shark snoozing on the bottom taking his afternoon nap :) he was precious lol

The ride back was rather rough and we hit some large waves that made us come out of our seats, it was kind of like a looooonnngggg roller coaster. I still feel like I'm sitting on a boat and swaying back and forth. Im finishing up my last minute shopping and getting ready for the longest day of my life, literally. Were all set to leave the hotel at 3:30 am! I think we should only have to pay for half a night lol

Until next time mates!

Pictures:
1. Australia 2012
2. KSU!!!
3. Scuba diving in the Great Barrier Reef
4. Shark!!!!!! Scary scary lol
5. The beautiful ginormous blue fish

Day 8: May 30

Day 8: May 30

Had a bright and early departure from Sydney this morning. I wish we could have stayed longer but the time there we had was awesome. The flight to Cairns was rather rough and we hit a bit of turbulence, probably the most turbulence I have experienced.

We arrived to Cairns around noon and headed to the Tjapukai Cultural Centre. We got to learn about the Tjapukai people, an Aboriginal tribe. The events included a dancing ceremony, spear and boomerang throwing and a didgeridoo demonstration. We all got to take a shot at throwing the boomerangs, and yes they do come back if you throw them right :)

The weather in Cairns is rather disappointing. We were hoping for some sunshine and beaches and we were met with rain clouds and chilly weather. Hopefully tomorrow it is sunny for our great barrier reef visit!!

We enjoyed some authentic sea food down by the water at Tha Fish. I ate some coral trout, and tried mussels as well.

1. Didgeridoo playing
2. Airplane ride
3. Spear throwing

Until tomorrow mates!!

Day 7: May 29

Day 7: May 29

This morning we met and visited with Dr Peter Chenoweth with Charles Sturt University (CSU). Dr. Chenoweth was at Kansas State for a number of years before returning to Australia to be a professor at CSU. We had the privilege to walk through the vet school facilities at the uni. They were just built in 2004 and needless to say they were start of the art facilities. Temple Grandin would be very happy with the facilities and the flow of cattle. We also got to walk through the vet school and horse facilities. They have a horse barn that students can house their horses at and an indoor training facility. During the 2000 Olympics that were held in Sydney many horsemen came and trained there. The sheep facility was interesting and we had the opportunity to see an Australian Kelpe at work.

The vet school at CSU is a 6 year program, the first two years are like our undergrad/prevet years. There are 60 students per grade and the classes are very hands on. The vet school was soooooo nice, maybe I should come to vet school here!

Ritchie thinks the bus smelled like an ol cattle truck so he went hog wild crazy with the supposed to be smell good stuff haha o my goodness it was an overwhelming stench that he sprayed lol

The bus ride to Sydney was about 5 hours, MaryAnn and I passed the time by coloring some masterpieces :)

Once in Sydney we had the opportunity to do a little bit of sightseeing and souvenir shopping. We had a dinner cruise on the Sydney harbor and got to take in the views that would take your breath away, it was absolutely beautiful. No picture we took could justify the magnificence of the opera house and bridge. Our hotel in Sydney was super de duper fancy! Makes up for all the not so nice hotels we've been staying in hahah Leaving tomorrow for Cairns! Get excited!!!

1.Dinner Cruise
2.Sheep in the road :)
3.Coloring!
4.Opera House
5.KSU!!!
6.Sheep unit at CSU
Until tomorrow mates!

Day 6: May 28

Day 6: May 28

Last night was the first time we had free access to wifi at our hotel, it was heavenly! O, The things we take for granted! It also had a heated mattress pad! I'm so glad we get to stay there another night :) This morning we visited the Wagga Wagga Livestock Marketing Centre, aka salebarn. Today was a cattle sale day and 2800 head will be auctioned off. The trucks in Australia are rather small, I found a Volkswagen truck for ya dad! It's even a TDI tehehe

We then got all gussied up and toured through the Cargill Beef abattoir, equipped with ear plugs, hard hats, masks, safety glasses, and rubber boots. The boning room was very advanced and very Americanized. There were four different lines running and each line dealt with a quarter of the carcass. It was one of the biggest disassembly lines I've ever seen lol We learned how nearly no part of the animal is wasted and got to see tongue, stomach, kidneys, and
ligaments just to name a few. They plant harvests 1250 calves a day and the kill to chill time is just 25 minutes.

After lunch we had a bit of time to enjoy the small town atmosphere and go shopping in Temora.

We went to the Jindalee feedlot later in the afternoon. The feedlot houses 17000 cattle. They can have a capacity of 30,000 cattle however due to city water limitations they cannot have any more cattle. Im still trying to spot some Roos, I need ol Ritchie to turn off the roo whistle on the front of the bus! Haha

Pictures:
1.Cargill
2.VW truck :)
3.Wagga Wagga sale yard

Until tomorrow mates!

Day 5: May 27

Day 5: May 27

Started out the morning by visiting Trigger Vale Sheep Stud farm. They raise Polled Merinos and White Suffolks. Andy Bouffler, owner of the farm, was very passionate about genetics, measuring traits, and making improvements for the breed. He was very knowledgeable and talked about the correlation between fat and muscle of ewes and reproduction percentage. Many traditional Merino breeders care solely about wool and consequently give up reproductive rate. Since growing wool and raising a lamb is nutritionally stressful on the ewe, she may give up the lamb to meet her own requirements.

The afternoon was super interesting with a visit to an emu farm! They were some pretty interesting little critters. Haha it is mating season for the emus so they were being very aggressive toward one another trying to hold their territory. When they fight, they jump and use their legs to beat up the other birds. When a bird is harvested ten kilos of emu oil can be gathered. A kilo of emu oil is worth $A 50, making each bird worth $A500.

We enjoyed a Barbie ( BBQ ) on the emu farm for lunch and took in the amazing view from the hillside.

The evening was enjoyed at Sprys Shorthorns. We were able to see some of their superior stud bulls, I really like the roan calves :) We enjoyed our 3rd steak meal in two days for dinner. The hospitality here is superior.

Photos
1. Sprys Shorthorns
2. EMUs!!
3. Sprys Shorthorns
4. Having fun :)
5. Trigger Vale sheep

Until tomorrow mates!!

Day 4: May 26

Day 4: May 26

The hotel we stayed in last night looked a bit sketch when we pulled up. The rooms were surprisingly nice on the inside however and the bed was even equipped with a heated blanket! (I never imagined I would be so happy about a heated blanket in later May) Started off the morning by visiting Lawson Angus. It was a bit chilly looking at the bulls as there was a heavy mist in the air and the sun was still in hiding. Lawson Angus has worked in partnership with Gardiner Angus Ranch in Kansas which I found very neat.

Lunch was enjoyed in Bonnie Doon, at a very cozy restaurant that was equipped with a fire place that we greatly enjoyed. Walking out of the restaurant we had pleasant surprise, the sun was shining :)

Our afternoon was filled with a visit to Lima Park. We learned about his commercial Hereford herd and crossbred lambs. It was very interesting to learn about the sheep as we aren't as familiar with them. He said the greatest predator of his lambs were crows and foxes. I found this very intriguing. The crows attack the lambs and eat on their eyes, noses, and rectum then the fox cleans them off. Those dirty rotten birds!

We continued our journey northward, crossed the Murray River, and are now in New South Wales in the town of Albury.

Pictures:
1. Lima Park Hereford Bull
2. Lawson Angus
3. Sunshine!

Until tomorrow mates!

Day 3: May 25

Day 3: May 25

So much for the beautiful Australian weather, today it is chilly and raining a sweet hickory. We started off the day with a tour of the Brooklyn Abattoir, owned by JBS. The abattoir harvests 5000 sheep and 1200 cattle a day. It was utterly amazing walking through the kill floor and and the boning rooms. It was very fascinating seeing how well the system and assembly line worked as it takes only thirty minutes from when a calf is stunned to when it heads to the chill room.

On the bus radio the DJ said that 100 millimeters of rain is expected with this rain storm. The average for May in Victoria is only 50 millimeters so some people are talking that it may flood.

The moment I had been waiting for happened today!!! I spotted my first kangaroo on the side of the road! Woop Woop!

Kudos to Ritchie our awesome bus driver for his good work diving our tour bus down narrow, windy, hilly, wet roads :)

The ausies at Webb Black Simmental were some very friendly, genuine people. I enjoyed getting to learn about how their farm is trying to integrate more black Simmental into Australian beef. The Australian beef industry hasn't caught on to black simmentals and their hope is that Australia will follow the pattern the United States has set.

Pictures:
1.Webb Black Simmental (Maryann,Ali, Lauren, Elli)
2.Brooklyn Abattoir
3.Cattle at Webb Black Simmental


Until tomorrow mates!!

Day 1: may 23

Day 1: May 23

What a day it has been!! Started the day off with breakfast on the airplane about 5:30 a.m. Australian time, 2:30 pm ks time. I was able to get quite a bit of sleep on the plane which was a blessings since we were in flight for 15ish hours. Once arriving in Australia we were pleasantly met by our checked luggage and waited in line for customs. It would have been much easier if I didn't live on a farm. O well, they didn't deport me abut along with a few others i got a visit from a cute beagle sniffer outer dog :)

Upon leaving the airport, we met up with our tour guide and began our adventure. First stop, McDonald's!! I think I have had numerous mini heart attacks while in our tour bus as cars cars drive on the opposite side of the road here. Keep left signs are definitely new for a kansas girl. The scenery is absolutely beautiful here with mountains, autumn leaves, green pastures and blue skies. There are also a lot of vineyards and wineries.

Healesville sanctuary was a very neat experience. Got to be close and personal with a kangaroo and a koala ( not koala bear as it offends them haha, they aren't bears because they are marsupials.) A few of the other fascinating animals were the dingo, platypus, and Tasmanian devil. Be proud, I even walked through the snake exhibit that housed Australia's top ten deadliest snakes!

Tonight's dinner was adventurous calamari and veal!

Until tomorrow mates!!

Day 2: May 24

Day 2: May 24

Another beautiful day in Australia. Started off the day by learned about the national livestock identification system. Tony Britt, director of animal health and welfare, informed us about the mandatory ID system for cattle. I found the presentation very informative and the system is very facing ting. Each calf is required by law to be tagged with the eID tag. Each transport of the calf requires a scan and is reported to a state database. They instituted this system about ten years ago. Australia is very advanced in animal health and the tracking system would be of great value in the case of a disease outbreak. Farmers can also use the tracking devices on their farm to help them better manage their animals. Tagging of sheep is not mandatory but within a few years it likely will be.

After visiting with the department of primary industries we had a little down time to sightsee around Melbourne. The city is absolutely gorgeous, the fall weather makes me so happy :) We stopped by the Shrine of Remembrance, a memorial built in remembrance of world war one. We also walked through a st. Patrick's cathedral. The cathedral was absolutely stunning and beautiful.

We wrapped up the planned activities with a tour of the Carlton United Brewery. It was neat to walk through the plan and see the bottles getting filled. They produce two million liters in 24 hrs, that's quite a bit of booze. The class's favorite event was most likely the taste testing. I tasted most of the beers however it's not really my thing. They tell me I don't have to acquired taste haha

Pictures:
1.Botanic garden
2.Shrine of Remembrance
3.Brewery
4.Cathedral

Until tomorrow mates!