A dead Merino ewe killed in a wild dog or dingo attack on Alan Bennett’s property in north-west Victoria.

PRESSURE is mounting on the Victorian Government to release the full details of a livestock predation survey done, as cracks were identified in the survey’s methodology.

Agriculture Victoria today said preliminary results from its recent livestock predation survey will be discussed at targeted dingo conservation and management consultation activities across the state this week.

Face-to-face consultation was held today in sessions at Omeo, Gelantipy and Hopetoun and will continue tomorrow at Tallangatta (Northeast) 2pm – 4pm and on Friday 6 September at Mansfield (Northeast) 10am – 12pm.

However, despite direct questions from Sheep Central, Minister for Agriculture Ros Spence has refused to say if the full predation survey results will be released or why they haven’t been released. Ms Spence also refused to indicate whether the Victorian Government was prepared to be responsible for the uncontrolled spread of dingoes/wild dogs across the state should the it decide to wind down the current wild dog management program in eastern Victoria.

Ms Spence merely repeated quotes made in a general media release.

“It’s important we get this right.

“That’s why we’re making it a priority to listen to the community and farmers before we make a decision,” she said.

“We want to hear from farmers impacted by predation as part of this consultation process and use their feedback to help shape the settings that will protect livestock and the livelihood of farming communities.”

Sheep Central was told no decision has been made yet on future policy settings beyond 1 October when the current unprotection order is set to expire in north-east Victoria. The government has also expired the unprotection order in north-west Victoria leaving no protection for sheep producers whose flocks have suffered from increased dingo attacks.

More than 500 livestock producers respond to predation survey

Agriculture Victoria said more than 500 Victorian livestock producers responded to the survey issued in July, providing valuable information about the levels and frequency of livestock attacks on their properties, the effectiveness of control methods and the impact of livestock predation on farmers and their local communities.

The insights collected through the survey will be considered alongside scientific research; conversations and perspectives from Traditional Owners, environmental and agricultural groups; and feedback collected through stakeholder engagement activities as part of Victoria’s review of its approach to dingo conservation and management, Agriculture Victoria said.

Of the 500 survey respondents, about 72 percent were located in eastern Victoria and three percent in the north-west. Agriculture Victoria said the survey showed that livestock predation is an ongoing concern to sheep farmers whose properties border public land.

Just over half of the survey respondents reported incidents of livestock being maimed or killed by a wild dog or dingo in the past five years. Valuable insights into the methods of control being used to manage predation were revealed through the survey, AV said.

Most producers — 84 pc — said they were using a mix of lethal and non-lethal control methods to manage predation with the most common forms of control methods being shooting, 1080 ground baiting, trapping, farm hygiene, exclusion fencing and guardian animals.

Gaps in survey underplay dingo protection concerns

However, National Wild Dog Management Co-ordinator Greg Mifsud and Victorian representative on the National Wild Dog Action Plan committee Peter Star today reiterated earlier calls for the full predation survey results to be released.

Mr Mifsud the survey was delivered in a very hasty fashion and did not get as many responses as possible because of its timeframe.

“In particular, in the north-west there is a significant amount of apathy in terms of ‘the decision has already been made, why would I bother?’

“That’s a major concern,” he said.

Mr Mifsud said many other people might completed the survey, but didn’t bother because they haven’t had a wild dog problem because of the current management program.

“That response has been quite common.”

Mr Mifsud said there were also no questions in the survey in terms of the likely consequences of dingoes being fully protected in eastern Victoria.

“I think if there had been that sort of a question in there and it was highlighted that the department was interested in finding out what people were concerned about or what would be the risks to their property and livestock if the management program wasn’t there and dingoes were fully protected, I think they would have had a lot more responses.”

Mr Mifsud the consultation is focussing on those immediately affected by wild dog attacks and hasn’t taken into account all of the livestock producers who will be affected in a very short time if the government goes down the same path as in north-west Victoria.

Agriculture Victoria said having up-to-date insights and perspectives from producers in relation to livestock predation on private properties across the state is an important input to Victoria’s dingo conservation and management review.

The survey results will continue to be analysed to help build Agriculture Victoria’s understanding of producer’ perspectives on this complex issue, the agency said.

For more information about consultation sessions being held across Victoria this week visit: agriculture.vic.gov.au/dingoreview