Rebecca Farnell gave a winning Coles Trailblazer presentation LambEx.

A YOUNG woman who has spent the last 2.5 years collecting and researching 30kg of sheep faeces this week was rewarded with a major national industry award.

Federation University PhD student Rebecca Farnell, 25, scored top prize in the LambEx26 Coles Trailblazers program for her study into intestinal worms in sheep.

Her work has led to a proposed app to alert producers of past, current and potential sheep worm outbreaks.

Addressing the LambEx26 audience as a competition finalist, Rebecca detailed her proposed real-time online map called WormRisk, a free surveillance and risk prediction data base of sheep internal worms.

Focussing on Victorian producers initially, Rebecca said: “WormRisk shows you where the specific worms or species are throughout different times of the year.

“The information is isolated to postcodes, so we’re not pointing the finger at farms that do – or do not – have infections.

“You can see where cases have occurred over the last 2.5 years, but also you can see future risk, “ she said. “You can see where cases are more likely, weeks ahead of time.

“An accurate, predictable control of the worm burden (would) remove the risk for producers, consultants and veterinarians, resulting in more timely treatments and healthier sheep.”

She ran through the visuals for identifying hotspots for Barber’s pole worm, black scour worm or brown stomach worm.

“Sheep worms are robbing us of $600m year and this is coming straight out of producers’ pockets. Making up these costs includes reduced performance, treatment, management and control, production loss and death,” she explained.

Her collection of sheep faeces – more than 1000 samples from Victoria alone – was analysed using gene-sequencing technology to identify the worms present in the samples. This data is then incorporated with previous testing data, along with information about climate conditions known to affect worm outbreaks. “We can then see and visualise what the worm-risk rating would be for today or maybe six weeks ahead, when you are joining your livestock,” she said.

“Worms are changing. Climate’s changing. We need to be kept up to date. So this information will be maintained through multiple collaborations with industry experts,” she said, adding that the methodology could be extended for other biosecurity applications.

“Over the last 2.5 years during my PhD my life has been dedicated to the study of sheep parasites. I am very passionate about supporting the industry with its problems with parasites, and I don’t want my valuable work locked away in my thesis at the end of my degree. I want it out there helping.”

Rebecca receives $3000 for the award. The LambEx Coles Trailblazers program supports emerging industry leaders to develop and pitch innovative solutions to challenges facing the Australian sheep industry.

Seven semi-finalists undertook mentoring and professional development before presenting their ideas at LambEx26.

LambEx Coles Trailblazers mentor Chloe Smart said the finalists demonstrated the strength of emerging talent in the sheep industry.

“Trailblazers is about the next generation bringing fresh thinking to real industry challenges,” she said.

“Every idea offered an innovative solution backed by genuine passion for the industry.”

Judge Emily King from Australian Wool Innovation said the standard of presentations was outstanding.

“The professional development was evident in every finalist, and it was incredibly encouraging to see so many passionate young people stepping forward with ideas that can strengthen the future of the sheep industry,” she said.

Jordan Norman received the Junior Achiever Award (under 24) for his proposal to establish a Sheep Industry Education Hub connecting students from non-agricultural schools with producers through farm visits, school programs and mentoring.

Victorian farmer and content creator Tara Farms received the Trailblazing Concept Award for her proposal to help more producers use authentic digital storytelling to strengthen community understanding of modern sheep farming.