Disease a Big Threat After Storm Leaves at Least 10,000 Sheep Dead

January 8, 2007
The West, Western Australia

Farmers around Esperance face the heartbreak of burying hundreds of sheep killed in last week’s superstorm and the local crayfish and shark industry is crippled after a flood dumped tonnes of sand in the town’s boat harbour.

More than half the commercial fleet was beached when Bandy Creek broke its banks at a weir on Saturday, carved away a dune and dumped sand, boulders and trees in the harbour.

Inland, farmer Scott Pickering has only a few days to burn or bury more than 500 sheep before disease and flies take a further toll on his flock.

Early estimates suggest south coast farmers who began to shear animals before the storm will lose at least 10,000 sheep.

But it is believed Weather Bureau warnings helped avoid much bigger losses, which last week were tipped to hit 100,000 animals. Even so, stock losses are set to cost millions.

Mr Pickering said almost 200mm of constant rain in 48 hours and gales created icy conditions. Like most local graziers, he put livestock in paddocks with natural protection and tried to feed them but rising water flooded access roads so the animals had to fend for themselves.

He estimated it would cost at least $30,000 to replace his ewes. “They said it was the perfect storm and it probably was the perfect storm for killing the sheep,” he said.

Agriculture Department district manager Brendan Nicholas said total losses would not be known for several days because farmers still could not reach some stock.

Aerial surveys suggested devastating losses at some farms but little at others. Mr Nicholas expected the cost of livestock to rise as graziers tried to replace animals but the Eastern States drought had already pushed retail lamb prices to a premium.

WA Farmers Federation Esperance zone president Marg Agnew said warnings gave farmers time to protect stock which cut losses.

At Bandy Creek, at least 10 commercial fishing boats were grounded on new sandbars while another seven boats, which were moved in time, will need an alternative dock.

Esperance Professional Fishing Association secretary Paul Rose said it was the worst disaster in the small fishery’s history with at least 20 fishermen without work until the harbour was dredged. Processors and charter operations would also suffer.

http://www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx?MenuID=77&ContentID=18066