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New weapon for feral pig control trialled in Texas, USA
Feral pig control can feel like a never-ending battle to land managers, and it’s no wonder.
At the end of 2019 it was estimated that Australia has up to 24 million feral pigs, and with plenty of summer rainfall this year, that number is likely to rise.
They are among Queensland's most widespread and damaging pest animals. Feral pigs spread weeds, degrade soil and water, prey on native species, damage crops and livestock, and carry diseases. (Source: Queensland Government)
There are a number of tools and strategies available to land managers in their efforts to control feral pigs in the landscape, which now includes HOGGONE, a bait recently registered for use in Australia.
Our General Manager for Commercial Programs and feral pig control expert Darren Marshall is on the front line of the feral pig problem at home and abroad.
For the past four years, Darren has been researching feral pig behaviours and human involvement as part of a PhD.I which he expects to complete in 2021. His findings to-date have already revealed previously unknown information about feral pig movements and human attitudes toward controlling the pests, which will play a key role in addressing the issue moving forward.
Knowing Darren’s extensive knowledge about feral pigs, Animal Control Technologies Australia (ACTA) recently enlisted his expertise to be part of a critical trial of HOGGONE in Texas, USA.
Using bait - The difference between America and Australia
Feral pigs are a big problem in America, too. Their stronghold is the South - about half of the nation's six million feral pigs live in Texas. (Source: Live Science)
While in Australia, baiting options like sodium fluoroacetate (1080) have been available to land managers to aid in control efforts since the early 1960s, there are currently no baiting options available for feral pigs in America.
This is because in Australia, our native land mammals are primarily marsupial and therefore no other large, native placental mammal species are at risk of being affected by the poison.
While America’s native fauna such as bears, deer, wolves and racoons are at risk of being affected by baits. HOGGONE was deemed potentially useful to the American authorities for controlling feral pigs for this reason – it is pig specific.
HOGGONE trial
The trial was implemented in partnership between the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), with Darren consulting for ACTA.
The trial site was set up near Lubbock, Texas where feral pig populations are especially high. The team set up a number of hoppers to free feed pigs before applying the bait. The hoppers have been uniquely designed to target pigs with a magnetised lid that can only be lifted by the strength of a pig. They are the only animals observed to use their snouts to perform a lifting action, which is thought to be a factor of their intelligence level.
“I was really keen when I was contacted by ACTA to be part of this trial to help gather evidence about this particular control method so we can continue protecting farmer livelihoods and the environment from pest animal damage.”
“We are looking to replicate the Texas trial in Southern Queensland in the coming months to determine how we might use HOGGONE to target feral pig populations in our region specifically,” said Darren.
For more information about the use of HOGGONE, contact:
Darren Marshall
General Manager Commercial Programs, SQ Landscapes
0429 056 450
This week marked the final Board meeting for retiring Southern Queensland Landscape Chair, The Hon Bruce Scott AM. The Southern Queensland Landscapes Board hosted a function at Gip’s restaurant in Toowoomba, joined by past Directors, industry stakeholders and the Southern Queensland Landscapes Management team, where Bruce was warmly acknowledged and thanked. Bruce offered special thanks to his dear wife Joan for her support during his period of service to Southern Queensland Landscapes, in particular the warm country hospitality she has offered to many visitors to Roma. Bruce also recognised and thanked Southern Queensland Landscapes Company Secretary Pam Murphy, who has supported Bruce in his service to Southern Queensland Landscapes since the organisation’s inception.
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The Condamine Headwaters, a critical ecosystem in Southern Queensland, has long faced threats from sedimentation, habitat degradation, and thermal regime changes. The Blackfish Project, dedicated to reversing these impacts, unites scientists, landowners, and the community in a shared mission to restore and protect this vital environment. At its core lies the river blackfish, a sensitive indicator of the overall ecosystem health. Central to the project's success is the unwavering commitment of landowners like Paul Graham. Inspired by the project's vision, Paul reached out to SQ Landscapes seeking support for a solar pump and tank to divert his cattle away from waterways on his property. Paul's deep-rooted love for his land, captured in his humorous quip "I love my land more than I love my wife," is a testament to the powerful connection between people and place that drives conservation efforts.
The Board of Southern Queensland Landscapes recently met in Toowoomba. In addition to the Board meeting, Board and Executive worked through updating SQ Landscapes’ strategy. Company Secretary Pam Murphy highlighted the importance of the latest Board meeting and what it means for the company’s future. “The updated strategy will help SQ Landscapes deliver sustainable natural resource management (NRM) outcomes that improve the lives of people in regional communities now and for the future,” Pam Murphy said. “We’re excited to continue delivering value for our region and build Flourishing Landscapes and Healthy Communities across Southern Queensland under the guidance of the Board,” Mrs Murphy said.
Annual General Meeting When: Wednesday, 13 December 2023 Where: Online via Zoom Time : 9.00am for 9.30am start
When Sophie and Adrian McInnerney began adopting their “paddock to plate” experiment into their lambing business, they quickly discovered how a new and exciting approach to running their enterprise transformed their resilience and soil health. Multi-species cover cropping was the answer, and now their business has become a diverse enterprise that has embraced variations in livestock feed and crop rotation, building riparian fencing, and investing in healthier soils. This has opened the young couple to new opportunities to create new revenue streams, protect their business against natural disasters, drought, and prepare for economic hardships. Their property, “Bellhaven Brook”, located just an hour east of Goondiwindi, was the site of Macintyre Ag Alliance’s latest Multi-Species Cropping Field Day. With the support of Southern Queensland Landscapes (SQ Landscapes), the event aimed to promote the McInnerney family’s new land practices, offering an opportunity to educate land managers in the region of new ways to strengthen their property and enterprise. SQ Landscapes’ Goondiwindi-based Project Delivery Officer Keith Walker joined land managers for the workshop and highlighted how multi-species cover cropping could pave the way to rebuilding healthy soils and farming enterprises. “What was great about visiting ‘Bellhaven Brook’ is that you don’t have to be a scientist to understand this stuff. The idea is to just try and experiment like the McInnerneys did,” Keith Walker said. “These cover cropping systems are all about building your experience, experimenting and slowly developing a healthier and richer soil profile; which is the basis of all businesses; cropping and grazing alike.” Mr Walker said. “It was interesting to see the range of people, the ages from young and old, and the differences in enterprises. It’s a reminder that this genre of agriculture is starting conversations,” he said. “It’s all about implementation on the ground and getting the results for less money and experimenting with what people are doing.”