Wild Dogs
Wild dogs
AgForce leads the way on empowering Queensland producers to manage wild dogs and reduce the economic impacts to their enterprises.
Over the past few years AgForce has played a major role in reinvigorating the issue of wild dogs at a State Government level.
After sustained lobbying by AgForce to the Queensland Government in 2008 to make wild dogs a priority issue, former Premier Anna Bligh announced the formation of the Queensland Dog Offensive Group (QDOG). AgForce has two representatives that sit on QDOG, Peter Lucas (sheep) and Ian Harsant (cattle), as well as President Brent Finlay as chair. Peter Lucas also represents AgForce on the national wild dog management advisory group.
AgForce has a wild dog committee which includes landholders from both inside and outside the wild dog barrier fence and peri urban representatives. This committee feeds information to QDOG representatives and discusses resolutions from grass root members.
Wild dog projects
Through lobbying, AgForce is currently running 3 projects funded through Australian Wool Innovation (AWI), the aim of which is to educate landholders to have the ability to manage the impacts of wild dogs on their enterprise. The projects funded through AWI are:
Counting the cost
EBC Consultants were also employed to conduct focus groups around the state to record the social barriers that inhibited people from participating in wild dog control. From the interviews with the focus groups, a survey was developed to gauge the economic costs of wild dogs on producers.
This e-survey aimed to establish the cost of wild dogs on the Queensland grazing industry, and affected producers across the state responded. This data was compiled with data from processors and saleyards to gain an overall cost to the industry.
In September 2009, the analysis into Economic Costs of Wild Dogs was completed, which identified a cost to Queensland’s grazing industry of $67 million in 2008/09.
Want to know more?
AgForce leads the way on empowering Queensland producers to manage wild dogs and reduce the economic impacts to their enterprises.
Over the past few years AgForce has played a major role in reinvigorating the issue of wild dogs at a State Government level.
After sustained lobbying by AgForce to the Queensland Government in 2008 to make wild dogs a priority issue, former Premier Anna Bligh announced the formation of the Queensland Dog Offensive Group (QDOG). AgForce has two representatives that sit on QDOG, Peter Lucas (sheep) and Ian Harsant (cattle), as well as President Brent Finlay as chair. Peter Lucas also represents AgForce on the national wild dog management advisory group.
AgForce has a wild dog committee which includes landholders from both inside and outside the wild dog barrier fence and peri urban representatives. This committee feeds information to QDOG representatives and discusses resolutions from grass root members.
Wild dog projects
Through lobbying, AgForce is currently running 3 projects funded through Australian Wool Innovation (AWI), the aim of which is to educate landholders to have the ability to manage the impacts of wild dogs on their enterprise. The projects funded through AWI are:
- Predator Control Days – AgForce has hosted 6 to date with 4 more in the pipeline. These days have attracted more than 400 at Millmerran, Injune, Rolleston, Talwood, The Gums and Goomburra. These field days showcase methods including baiting and trapping to demonstrate how every landholder can participate in the coordinated control of wild dogs.
- Trapping schools – AgForce has funding to run 20 workshops limited to 10 producers over 2 days. So far these workshops have been successful in achieving skilled-up landholders who have put what they learnt at the school into practice.
- Wild dog coordinator – AgForce has employed Brett Carlsson, who is predominantly based outside the wild dog barrier fence. Brett’s role involves working with landholders to coordinate wild dog control, developing strategies and management plans for wild dog groups and strategically assisting landholders by mapping wild dog movements and disseminating knowledge.
Counting the cost
EBC Consultants were also employed to conduct focus groups around the state to record the social barriers that inhibited people from participating in wild dog control. From the interviews with the focus groups, a survey was developed to gauge the economic costs of wild dogs on producers.
This e-survey aimed to establish the cost of wild dogs on the Queensland grazing industry, and affected producers across the state responded. This data was compiled with data from processors and saleyards to gain an overall cost to the industry.
In September 2009, the analysis into Economic Costs of Wild Dogs was completed, which identified a cost to Queensland’s grazing industry of $67 million in 2008/09.
Want to know more?
Download the Major Economic costs associated with Wild Dogs report or contact Rachael Pratt on (07) 3236 3100, or email.