Livestock management and animal health

Sheep emergency animal disease augmented reality tool

The Sheep Emergency Animal Disease (EAD) Augmented Reality (AR) app, 'Sheep EAD AR', helps producers recognise signs that could indicate emergency animal diseases.

The innovative tool uses technology to project a digital flock of sheep integrated with the user’s real-life surroundings. Using the Microsoft Hololense headset, you can inspect the flock and learn to recognise signs to select the sick sheep.

Emergency animal diseases included in the app are:

Transcript

Emergency animal diseases present a real threat to Australia's red meat and wool industries. Biosecurity planning and regular inspection of your animals is essential. Recognising symptoms early can make all the difference in reducing the impact of an outbreak.

So how do we help producers feel confident identifying signs of exotic disease in their sheep? The Department of Primary Industries and Regions has partnered with Animal Health Australia to develop an innovative tool to educate farmers on what to look for.

The sheep emergency animal disease app uses augmented reality to project a digital flock of sheep integrated with the user's real life surroundings. Using the Hololens headset, you can inspect the flock and select the sick sheep.

Identifying the signs of disease is made easy using hints that pop up in real time. The app could also be used on a mobile phone or tablet without a headset.

The Department of Primary Industries and Regions and Animal Health Australia – innovating the way we think about educating producers on emergency animal disease preparedness. This is an educational tool not a diagnostic tool. If you notice any symptoms in your animals immediately call the emergency animal disease watch hotline on 1800 675 888 or your local vet.

Download for free today from App Store, Google Play and Microsoft App Store.

The app can also be used on a mobile phone or tablet, without a headset.

A collaboration between PIRSA and Animal Health Australia, the tool is funded by the Red Meat and Wool Growth Program.

The tool has been developed for educational purposes and cannot be used to diagnose disease. If you notice unusual symptoms in your animals, immediately call the Emergency Animal Disease Watch Hotline on 1800 675 888 or your local vet.

The free app can be downloaded by searching 'Sheep EAD AR' in the Appstore, Google Play and Microsoft App Store.

Enhanced Abattoir Surveillance

The Enhanced Abattoir Surveillance (EAS) program provided feedback on sheep health conditions and diseases to South Australian producers between 2017 and 2021.

Watch the videos focusing on common sheep health conditions developed by Livestock SA’s Livestock Biosecurity Extension Team. Each video looks at the prevalence of a condition in South Australian farms, the impact it has on the carcass, treatment and prevention options, and a producer case study showing how the EAS program data helped them identify and manage the condition.

This 6-part video series is a collaboration between Department of Primary Industries and Regions, Red Meat and Wool Growth Program, Livestock SA, Animal Health Australia and University of Adelaide.

Watch: 1. Sheep measles

In this video about sheep measles, we talk to vet Dr Colin Trengove about the condition and find out from producer, Graham Clothier, what impact sheep measles has had on his farm near Woolumbool.

Watch: 2. Rib fractures

In this video about rib fractures in sheep, we talk to vet Dr Colin Trengove about the condition and find out from producer, Josh Hancock, what his experience has been with rib fractures on his farm near Reedy Creek.

Watch: 3. Caseous lymphadenitis (CLA) – cheesy gland

In this video about cheesy gland, we talk to vet Dr Colin Trengove about the condition and find out from producer, Richard Kirkland, how CLA has impacted his farm near Furner.

Watch: 4. Pleurisy and Pneumonia

In this video about pleurisy and pneumonia in sheep, we talk to vet Dr Colin Trengove about the conditions and find out from producer, Josh Hancock, how pleurisy and pneumonia have impacted his farm near Reedy Creek.

Watch: 5. Arthritis

In this video about arthritis in sheep, we talk to vet Dr Colin Trengove about the condition and find out from producer, Richard Kirkland, how arthritis has impacted his farm near Furner.

Watch: 6. Grass seeds

In this video we talk to vet Dr Colin Trengove about the impact of grass seeds on sheep, and find out from producer, Graham Clothier, what his experience has been with grass seeds on his farm near Woolumbool.

Sheep health conditions – carcass impacts tool

The Sheep Health Conditions – Carcass Impacts tool is an interactive 3D web tool that shows the effects common health conditions can have on the quality of a sheep carcass. The tool shows what the health conditions look like on a carcass and highlights the amount of carcass loss from trim at the processor. It has some simple information on what changes can be made to farm practices to reduce and manage these conditions.

The health conditions included in the tool are:

  • arthritis
  • sheep measles
  • pleurisy/pneumonia
  • grass seeds
  • rib fractures
  • vaccination lesions.

The tool is funded by the Red Meat and Wool Growth Program and Animal Health Australia, with support from Livestock SA.

You will need a desktop browser to use the Sheep Health Conditions – Carcass Impacts tool.

Interactive display of sheept carcass with information screen

Implementing eID technology fact sheets

These fact sheets have information on electronic ID equipment:

Precision livestock management information fact sheets

These fact sheets will help you set goals and objectives for your livestock enterprise:

Case studies

Read about how Red Meat and Wool Growth Program Focus Farm Maro Creek (PDF 344.7 KB) is using technology to select their most productive and profitable ewes based on wool traits, fertility and body weight.

Page last reviewed: 11 Jul 2023

 


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