Pastoral Poddy - Australian Farming

Ovine brucellosis is often called the “silent thief” of sheep production—and for good reason. In this episode of The Pastoral Poddy, host Kieran Smith sits down with Western LLS veterinarian Scott Parry to unpack how this bacterial disease quietly impacts ram fertility, lambing percentages, and overall profitability.
Scott shares practical insights from years in the field, including how to identify the signs, when to test, and what producers can do to manage or eradicate the disease. The conversation also explores broader ram health, biosecurity risks, and the exciting new Ram Power Project aimed at improving reproductive performance in western systems.
Whether you’re running a controlled joining program or a continuous system, this episode is packed with grounded, practical advice to help you lift productivity and stay ahead of hidden risks.
Timestamps
[00:07:00] What ovine brucellosis is — a bacterial disease that reduces ram fertility and lamb numbers.
[00:11:00] Best timing for ram checks — check rams 4–8 weeks before joining, or earlier if brucellosis is suspected.
[00:15:00] How brucellosis spreads — most commonly introduced by infected rams entering the flock.
[00:19:00] Continuous mating challenges — rolling joining systems make detection and control much harder.
[00:24:00] Predation impact — longer lambing periods increase losses to foxes, pigs, and wild dogs.
[00:28:00] Ram Power Project — research into which rams are the best lamb-getters.
[00:35:00] Dry season warning — producers should assess agistment and biosecurity risks carefully.
[00:38:00] Final advice — focus on basics like nutrition, water, and biosecurity first.
For more information:
Ovine brucellosis - dpi.nsw.gov.au/animals-and-livestock/sheep/health/ovine-brucellosis/ovine-brucellosis

Livestock health and diseases | NSW Government - nsw.gov.au/regional-and-primary-industries/livestock/health-diseases

For a transcript of this episode: 
http://tiny.cc/brucellosis-transcript
This podcast series is produced by Grow Love Project and hosted by Western Local Land Services, supported through funding from the NSW Government as part of the Ruminants in the Rangelands project.

In this episode, host Kieran Smith from Western Local Land Services talks with Professor Pete McGilchrist from the University of New England about recent insights from the world’s largest goat meat science research project conducted in NSW.
They discuss the challenges and opportunities within the goat meat industry, intrinsic and extrinsic factors affecting meat quality and what can be learned from the lamb and beef meat industries.
Professor McGilchrist provides actionable insights on how farmers can improve the quality of their goat meat and some simple changes that the supply chain can also implement to transform the perception of goat meat both locally and globally. 
The episode also touches on the importance of reducing stress in animals pre-slaughter, the impact of diet and genetics on meat quality, and the potential for market differentiation based on meat traits.
(00:00) Intro to High Production Costs in Red Meat
(05:48) Public Perception of Red Meat
(10:06) Factors Influencing Meat Quality
(16:31) Impact of Stress and Handling on Meat Quality
(20:39) Challenges in the Livestock Selling System
(24:05) Introduction to the Goat Meat Science Trial
(29:19) Findings from the Goat Meat Science Trial
(38:10) Choosing the Right Animals Within Breeds
(42:07) Improving Meat Tenderness Through Aging
(45:53) Genetic Selection for Better Production
(50:07) Flavor Profiles and Consumer Perception
(53:06) Future Research and Industry Improvements
(01:02:05) Predictions for the Goat Industry's Future
For more information:
Follow Dr. Pete McGilchrist on LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/peter-mcgilchrist-71a8ba285/

Going Ahead with Goats Project - lls.nsw.gov.au/what-we-do/our-major-projects/going-ahead-with-goats-project

KIDPLAN - sheepgenetics.org.au/resources/kidplan/

For a transcript of this episode: 
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1l3e986t7J-Qjr-BIE7XtTb3hqQAOXmhxiJlOWfRnlec/edit?usp=drive_link

This podcast series is produced by Grow Love Project and hosted by Western Local Land Services, supported through funding from the NSW Government as part of the Going Ahead with Goats project.

In this episode of the Going Ahead with Goats podcast, host Kieren Smith interviews Jack Hammond, who entered the goat industry five years ago after purchasing Ashleigh Downs Station. They discuss Jack’s journey from mustering to managing a 52,000-acre station, trading, and finishing smaller goats alongside a meat sheep enterprise. Jack shares insights into infrastructure, labor strategies, and market fluctuations. He also emphasises learning from experience, utilising available resources, and the benefits of working with both sheep and goats. Key topics include rotational grazing, handling techniques, and preparing for the evolving goat industry. 
Thank you to our guest featured in this episode:
Jack Hammond

For more information:
Going ahead with goats Project - Local Land Services - https://www.lls.nsw.gov.au/what-we-do/our-major-projects/going-ahead-with-goats-project

The Going into Goats guide | Meat & Livestock Australia

For a transcript of this episode: https://drive.google.com/file/d/11QRTme3XtB7F5-H7QW5cN4EFMcUrVFAo/view?usp=sharing 
This podcast series is produced by Grow Love Project and hosted by Western Local Land Services, supported through funding from the NSW Government as part of the Going Ahead with Goats project.

This episode looks at what carbon emissions means for landholders in the rangelands. We learn about how it affects market access, what ways you could see a premium, and how it affects agricultural productivity. There are many questions in the region about rangeland carbon emissions, listen in to hear expert insights into how carbon is cycled in Western NSW.
 
Thank you to our guests who featured in this episode:
 
John Gavin – Director, Remarkable NRM
Jessica Rigg – Biotechnology and Partnership Lead – Select Carbon
Steven Hobbs – Farmer and Director, Yarrock Bioenergy
 
For more information:
For further information about Natural Capital - https://www.lls.nsw.gov.au/help-and-advice/natural-capital
and On Farm Carbon Advice: https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/dpi/climate/Low-emissions-agriculture
John Gavin – Remarkable NRM website - ⁠https://remarkablenrm.com.au/about-john/  ⁠  
Steven Hobbs - Yarrock Website - https://www.yarrock.com/
AIA Environmental Accounting Platform - https://www.aiaeap.com/

This podcast is produced by Grow Love Project and hosted by Western Local Land Services, supported through funding from the NSW Government.

This episode looks at natural capital and what it means for landholders in the rangelands. We learn about the new Nature Repair Market, ways to measure natural capital, and what some of the drivers for investment are. Tune in to learn more about expert insights into the benefits and challenges of natural capital. 
Thank you to our guests who featured in this episode:
John Gavin – Director, Remarkable NRM

Debbie Dowden – Director, Challa Pastoral

For more information:
For further information about Natural Capital - https://www.lls.nsw.gov.au/help-and-advice/natural-capital

and access to the Natural Capital Service Finder: https://www.lls.nsw.gov.au/help-and-advice/natural-capital/natural-capital-service-finder

John Gavin - NRM website - ⁠https://remarkablenrm.com.au/about-john/⁠ 

Debbie Dowden - Challa Station Website - https://challastation.com/

This podcast is produced by Grow Love Project and hosted by Western Local Land Services, supported through funding from the NSW Government.