Legislation and Biosecurity

Property Identification Code (PIC)

A Property Identification Code (PIC) is an eight-character code allocated by the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) or an equivalent authority in each state or territory to identify a livestock-producing property. Producers must have a PIC to move livestock on and off a property; it forms the basis of Australia’s food safety and traceability programs.

There are differences between states and territories in how PICs are managed. In some states, amalgamation of separate PICs owned by the same entity, into a single PIC, is allowed. In other states, one property can be issued multiple PICs if there are livestock owned by multiple entities on the property. It is important to understand the requirements for your state or territory.

To check requirements or apply for a PIC. please click on your State's link below:

VICTORIA:

https://pic.agriculture.vic.gov.au/

NEW SOUTH WALES:

https://www.lls.nsw.gov.au/livestock/pics

QUEENSLAND:

https://www.business.qld.gov.au/industries/farms-fishing-forestry/agriculture/land-management/pic

SOUTH AUSTRALIA:

http://pir.sa.gov.au/biosecurity/animal_health/property_identification_code_pic

WESTERN AUSTRALIA:

https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/livestock-ownership

TASMANIA:

http://dpipwe.tas.gov.au/agriculture/animal-industries/identifying-selling-moving-livestock/about-livestock-identification/property-identification-code-(pic)-registration

NORTHERN TERRITORY:

https://nt.gov.au/industry/agriculture/livestock/get-a-property-identification-code

AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY:

https://www.environment.act.gov.au/parks-conservation/plants-and-animals/Biosecurity/animal-health/livestock-management

Ovine Brucellosis (OB)

Ovine Brucellosis (OB) is a highly infectious disease of sheep which causes infertility in rams and early embryonic death of lambs. OB has the potential to devastate the Babydoll sheep breed with its limited numbers and a narrow gene pool. It is also heartbreaking. There is no cure. In rams, OB causes lumps and swelling in the scrotum and is diagnosed with a blood test. Ewes infected by rams at mating usually show no ill-health.

Animals testing positive are euthanased. Once detected in a flock, it can then take years to eradicate. The introduction of Brucellosis typically causes a 30-40% reduction in pregnancy rates in a normal six-week joining. Not many studs can afford such infertility.

Of particular concern in newer, small Babydoll flocks is that a reduction in fertility may take even longer to detect because of the lack of previous records of lambing percentages with which to compare. With buyers and sellers unaware of the serious risk it poses and how easily it is transmitted, this means that Babydolls are especially vulnerable to OB passing from flock to flock and OB becoming endemic across the breed.

The Australian Stud Sheep Breeders Association (ASSBA) has now mandated that all ASSBA members become Ovine Brucellosis accredited within the next two years. It is already a requirement by ASSBA that membership of ASSBA requires that any rams transferred to a new owner come from a flock which is Brucellosis Accredited or is accompanied by an individual negative Brucellosis certificate.

Our BSAA committee urges breeders who are not Accredited to do so as soon as possible. The sooner it’s done, the sooner breeders secure the health of precious breeding stock and play their part in to protecting the reputation and future of the breed.

Accreditation means that not only do Babydoll breeders operate under strict and transparent protocols that protect the health of our own sheep but also guarantee we won’t be infecting the flocks of anyone who buys our sheep. It is not unknown for the sale of OB infected sheep to end up in expensive legal action.

Ovine Brucellosis-Free Accreditation schemes are administered by each State’s primary industry department. Their websites have full details of the disease and the accreditation process.

A comprehensive overview and State links are at:

https://www.mla.com.au/research-and-development/animal-health-welfare-and-biosecurity/diseases/infectious/ovine-brucellosis/#I'm

Gaucher Disease in Babydoll Sheep

Gaucher disease is not a disease as such, but a genetic mutation which affects some Southdown sheep. Because Babydoll sheep are really Southdowns, they can also carry the gene for Gaucher disease.

Please be aware that the incidence of Gaucher disease in Southdown sheep is low and to date, has only been found in purebred Southdowns. The purpose of this information is to raise your awareness so you can make an informed decision as to whether you wish to have your Babydoll sheep tested for Gaucher disease.

Background

Recently a number of Southdown breeders have been testing their flocks for Gaucher disease. Gaucher disease is not an infectious disease but is a genetic mutation which some lambs will inherit. Gaucher disease is also found in humans, dogs and mice and because Babydoll sheep are Southdowns, they can also carry the gene for Gaucher disease. It is not known if Gaucher disease is found in other breeds of sheep except for the Tunis sheep in America, nor is it known how widespread it has spread because Southdowns are a foundation breed for many other breeds of sheep.

Impact

Lambs born with Gaucher disease will be unable to stand, feed, may have a leathery type skin in the neck region and will probably bleat constantly. They will be rigid and unable to hold their heads up. There is no cure and they must be culled. Because Gaucher disease is rare, and usually only found in purebred Southdown flocks, most vets have never heard of it.

How it is inherited

Gaucher disease is an autosomal recessive disorder. The affected lamb must inherit two copies of the mutated gene, one from the sire and the other from the dam If a lamb inherits only one copy of the mutated gene, they will be a carrier and be able to pass on a copy of the mutated gene to their own lambs. If a lamb has no copy of the mutated gene they are known as Gaucher free and they are unable to pass it on to their own lambs.

It's important that Babydoll breeders are aware of Gaucher disease and how it can spread silently through the flock.

Gaucher disease was officially identified in 2010 after examining some Southdown lambs presented by a breeder to scientists, but its origin is unknown. Overall, the incidence of Gaucher disease has been low. However, it’s worth noting that Gaucher disease can spread through a flock quite quickly because a ram with the genetic mutation will pass it on to approximately half his lambs. Ewes will also pass it onto half her lambs but it will not spread as quickly.

Testing

A DNA test for Gaucher disease status can be carried out by Lincoln University Gene-Marker Laboratory in New Zealand. The testing is easy and involves the breeder placing a small amount of blood from the Babydoll sheep onto a collection kit sent by Lincoln University and posting this back along with a current New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries import permit, available from Lincoln University website. The laboratory at Lincoln University will then test the blood sample and identify if the genetic mutation is present. Once payment is received, the results will be emailed.

What to do next (if you choose to do so)

The only way to eliminate Gaucher disease is to gene test.

Once a Babydoll breeder has decided to aim for a Gaucher free flock, they may:

Test all the Babydolls, both rams and ewes, and cull any sheep which are carriers.
Identify by testing Gaucher free Babydoll ewes and rams and identify which of their off-spring are carriers by pedigree, ie, if both the sire and dam of a lamb are Gaucher free, the lamb will also be Gaucher free or
Test and use Gaucher negative rams and then progressively test the ewes in the flock or test the ewe’s lambs to see if they are negative.
If any new Babydolls are introduced into the flock, these must be tested to ensure they are Gaucher free.

More information

If you need more information or assistance, please contact the secretary of BSAA.

References

The Muster. No. 115, August 2022.Southdown Australia Leading the Way. Gaucher Disease. Page 11.

Lincoln University Gene-Marker Laboratory. Gaucher Disease Gene Test. Lincoln University.

Southdown Australia. Gaucher Disease. At https://www.southdownaustralia.com.au/gaucher-disease.html

Babydoll Sheep Breeders Association. Gaucher Disease. At https://www.babydollsheepbreeders.org.au/babydoll-information/gaucher-disease