Supplementary feeding and timely vaccination the key to avoiding livestock health issues this winter

04th Aug 2026

Northern Tablelands Local Land Services is encouraging livestock producers to maintain a strong disease prevention regime this winter through supplementary feed and vaccination, as the cold weather, feed gap and fresh green pick create a perfect storm for disease.
Local District Veterinarians have identified metabolic disease, pulpy kidney, botulism, Barber’s Pole Worm and Liver Fluke as potential livestock afflictions to watch out for before spring.
Fresh green growth and a lack of substantial pasture bulk is a common cause of metabolic disease in pregnant and lactating livestock, when they need more energy and essential minerals. Insufficient dietary energy and low blood calcium or magnesium can result in “downer animals”, which require treatment urgently to minimise deaths.
Green pick will remain a threat to pregnant and lactating livestock until it begins to mature and the moisture content drops, which may take some time as pasture growth slows during winter. These animals with high demand for good quality feed will still need to be supplemented with energy sources such as grain until pasture grows and matures. Anyone supplementing with grain, pulses or cotton seed should provide limestone at two per cent. Magnesium can also be added to the diet via a loose mix of Causmag, limestone and salt. Calcium levels in ewes or cows at the point of lambing or calving are also essential, as calcium is required for muscle contraction and low calcium levels can result in slow births and higher losses.
District Veterinarian Dr Andrew Biddle said that if downer animals are occurring, it is important to determine the cause so that supplements can be provided to prevent further cases.
“Producers should look at the energy being provided through their current feeding regime, check that the quality and quantity of feed is adequate, ensure all animals have access to the feed, and that calcium is being provided if feeding livestock grain,” he said.
Pulpy kidney is a common condition that can cause rapid livestock death without warning and often occurs when short green growth is present in paddocks. Cattle and sheep love green growth, but the plant sugars can stimulate rapid growth of gut and intestinal microbes such as clostridial organisms, some of which cause pulpy kidney. Vaccinating livestock with a 5-in-1 booster for pregnant livestock, as well as weaners and steers, is a great preventative step producers can take. For breeders, 7-in-1 is a good option to provide protection against Leptospirosis, which can transmit to people.

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Supplementary feeding and timely vaccination the key to avoiding livestock health issues this winter

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