The Re-Emerging Threat Of Rabbits

Hi All,

It is great to see some strong positives in the wool and sheep industry currently. Wool prices have got near to where they need to be and although they have eased slightly let’s hope we see these values for some time.

Meat prices are forecast to hold well.

There is always however a list of challenges that we continue to manage as wool and sheep producers and primary producers in general.

I would like to focus on the re-emerging threat of rabbits. A couple of interesting facts courtesy of CISS.

• Feral rabbits occupy two thirds of our continent.

• They cost agriculture $200m+ in lost production and control costs.

• They impact 322 threatened species.

  
  

Invasive species experts are repeatedly calling for government to increase feral rabbit control as populations are rising dramatically nationally.

This issue has been raised regularly at WoolProducers Australia meetings and WPA have connected with Rabbit Free Australia aiming at working with them as well as other organisations such as CISS, AWI, MLA and NFF towards continued research and control efforts.

Whilst the fortunate emergence of viruses (Myxomatosis, RHDV1 And RHDV2) has provided several mainstays for bio-controls, it is an unreliable source of future options.

Development of a cell culture system for RHD by CSIRO (thanks to funding by MLA) opens the door for opportunities to fast track the evolution of more virulent strains of RHDV, and to test for species specificity – ensuring the strains do not put other species at risk.

There is of course a huge amount of research happening in the quest for new bio controls. The importance of these could become even greater with the emergence of ‘public policy’. This requires a lot of funding and time. The next new agent may well be 10-15 years away!

In the meantime the continued use of tried and true methods such as warren destruction, baiting and fumigation continue to be some of our best strategies.

On the CISS website you will find a very useful ‘Glove Box Guide for managing rabbits”. I would encourage any producers who are noticing numbers and especially if they are on the increase to have a look for this.

There are plenty of resources and contacts to access if needed.

It is really important that we monitor numbers and speak to those who can help if required. We cannot afford to be complacent in this space as it is one of those issues that will ‘sneak’ up on us.

Good luck to all in your endeavours. Lets hope the current season finishes off kindly and those who are still dry get a good soaker heading into spring.

Leonie Mills

Director

WoolProducers Australia