LIVESTOCK producers have less than two weeks to consider and respond to an online survey presently open regarding the management of livestock predation and conservation of dingoes in Victoria.

Data collected by Agriculture Victoria through the survey that opened on Wednesday, July 24 and closes at 11.59pm on Tuesday August 6, will help inform a review of the policies and regulations.

The survey purports to assess how wild dogs and dingoes are affecting Victorian livestock farmers and the incidents of livestock predation by wild dogs and dingoes on private land.

This will include assessing levels and frequency of livestock predation experienced, the range of impacts of livestock predation experienced and the effectiveness and efficiency of lethal and non-lethal control methods.

In partnership with Traditional Owners, Agriculture Victoria will then commence formal consultation in the coming weeks, with farmers, ecologists, industry and other stakeholders being invited to participate and provide feedback.

Local sheep stud farmers, John and Rhonda Crawford from Victoria Valley have long been campaigning against the reintroduction of dingoes into the Grampians - in 2022, they convened a public meeting in Dunkeld, with over 170 people in attendance.

The Crawfords are urging all farmers to complete the survey.

“Livestock Producers need to be aware of this, and to do the Online Survey,” Mr and Mrs Crawford said.

“Let the Agriculture Dept know that we do not have this problem in our area, but we do not want to have this problem in the future.

“The government has already fully protected the dingo on both public and private land in the north-west.

“It is not that far in kilometres from the northwest, down to the Grampians and Balmoral and Cavendish and the south west of Victoria, and if a farmer cannot protect his livestock from wild dogs/and dingoes, then this whole farming area will be changed forever.

“Livestock producers from NSW, Qld, SA and WA are shaking their heads in disbelief, that this is what is being considered/planned by the 30th September this year.  

“If the wild dog program on the edge of public land stops, wild dogs will rapidly move across the state to impact on all livestock producers and regional communities.”

To complete the survey, go to bit.ly/SurvPred