In This Issue: National Sheep Health Monitoring Project Annual Report published by Animal Health Australia New Biosecurity Legislation to advance SA passes Parliament Biosecurity Reminder: Livestock Feeding Controls Fit to Load Farm Biosecurity Newsletter Feature- Strengthening farm biosecurity with quarantine paddocks
|
|
National Sheep Health Monitoring Project Annual Report published by Animal Health Australia
The 2023-2024 Annual Report for the National Sheep Health Monitoring Project (NSHMP) provides a comprehensive overview of the project's activities and outcomes in sheep health surveillance across Australia. Here are some key details from the report:
Objectives of the NSHMP: Surveillance and Monitoring: The NSHMP aims to monitor the health status of sheep across multiple key health conditions to assist in improving the sheep value chain. Data Collection: Data collected from 10 major Australian abattoirs provides insight into sheep health, disease prevalence, and potential areas of improvement for producers. Producer Feedback: The program provides valuable health data to sheep producers, helping them understand and manage health issues within their flocks.
Key Activities and Findings: Inspection of Sheep: During the year, 11.95 million sheep were inspected for 19 different health conditions across 10 participating abattoirs. Health Conditions Monitored: The project tracks a range of health conditions, including diseases that impact meat quality and productivity.
Health Conditions with Notable Prevalence: Bladder Worm (Cysticercus tenuicollis): This was one of the most common conditions, with a prevalence rate of 2.6% across the inspected sheep. Bladder worms can cause economic losses due to reduced meat quality. Pleurisy (inflammation of the lungs): A significant health issue, pleurisy was found in 1.8% of sheep. This condition can affect the quality of carcasses and, consequently, the value of the meat produced. Other Conditions: Several other health issues were monitored, such as liver fluke and scabby mouth, though their prevalence varied by region and season.
Impact on the Sheep Industry: Economic Implications: Health conditions like bladder worm and pleurisy are of particular concern as they impact the meat quality and yield, contributing to economic losses. Reducing the prevalence of such conditions can improve profitability for sheep producers. Market Access: By monitoring and addressing these health issues, the NSHMP helps ensure that Australian sheep products meet the health and safety standards required for both domestic and international markets.
Surveillance Approach and Collaboration: Collaboration with Abattoirs: The project works in partnership with Australian abattoirs to collect data, with the goal of continuously improving the industry’s health standards. Annual Reports and Data Sharing: The data collected throughout the year is published in the annual report, providing transparency and informing industry stakeholders, including farmers, veterinarians, and policymakers.
Future Directions: Ongoing Monitoring: The NSHMP aims to further expand its data collection, particularly focusing on emerging health threats to the sheep industry. Proactive Health Management: The program encourages proactive management of sheep health, such as better biosecurity practices and targeted vaccination programs to reduce disease prevalence.
The NSHMP is a critical initiative that contributes to maintaining the health of Australian sheep populations, improving productivity, and ensuring market competitiveness. The 2023-2024 report highlights the importance of ongoing surveillance and collaboration within the sheep industry to reduce health issues and improve the overall quality of sheep meat produced in Australia.
To read the full report, click here. |
|
Sheep Health Conditions- Carcass Impacts Tool |
|
New Biosecurity Legislation Strengthens South Australia’s Protections
South Australia's Parliament has passed the Biosecurity Bill 2024, a modernised framework to protect the state’s $18.5 billion primary industries, environment, and community from pests and diseases. The Bill consolidates existing laws, including those for plant and livestock health, and introduces a shared responsibility model, where industries, government, and the public play a role in managing biosecurity risks.
The legislation also formalises the government’s ongoing support for the Dog Fence Board, ensuring the management of the 2,150-kilometre Dog Fence.
The Bill improves market access and helps protect the state’s unique environment. It follows recent biosecurity incidents and extensive consultation over five years and now moves forward to develop regulations and policies for implementation.
"This new biosecurity legislation marks a major step in safeguarding our primary industries and ensuring South Australia remains a strong part of the national biosecurity system. I thank all those involved in making this reform a reality and look forward to the next steps in its implementation." - Clare Scriven
The legislation is now set to move forward with the development of supporting regulations and policies to enable its implementation.
For more information visit the PIRSA website: Biosecurity Bill - PIRSA |
|
Biosecurity Reminder: Livestock Feeding Controls |
|
Restricted Animal Material (RAM) Feeding Controls To protect South Australia's livestock industry and ensure the production of healthy produce, strict feeding controls are in place, under the Australian Ruminant Feed Ban, it is illegal to feed Restricted Animal Material (RAM) to livestock. RAM includes materials from vertebrate animals (except tallow, gelatine, milk, or oils), such as:
RAM can also include food and waste products that have come into contact with animal matter. Feeding RAM to ruminant animals like cattle, sheep, goats, and deer can lead to serious diseases, such as foot-and-mouth disease or bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE).
Prohibited Feed Includes: Animal products like meat scraps, offal, blood, bone, and carcasses Contaminated foods such as used cooking oils or fats, fruits, vegetables, pizzas, and breads Food scraps or rubbish from bakeries, restaurants, supermarkets, and more
There are separate feeding requirements under prohibited pig feed. If livestock show signs of unusual illness or die unexpectedly, contact a veterinarian immediately.
Emergency Animal Disease Hotline:
For suspected disease or pests in livestock, report it immediately by calling 1800 675 888 (24/7). |
|
Fit to Load: Ensuring Animal Welfare During Transport |
|
Before loading livestock for transport, assessing whether the animal is fit to travel is crucial. The "Fit to Load" checklist helps producers, agents, buyers, and transporters ensure animals' welfare is protected.
Key considerations include: The animal must be able to walk on its own and bear weight on all four legs. It should not show signs of severe injury, distress, or conditions that could worsen during transport. The animal must be sufficiently strong and hydrated for the journey. It should have good vision to avoid loading or travel distress. Animals in late pregnancy or too young for transport should not be loaded.
Ensure the animal has access to water and adequate roughage, especially if grazed on lush pasture. Also, complete all necessary paperwork (e.g., LPA NVD, Waybill, Animal Health Declaration) before departure.
It is the responsibility of those involved to ensure animals are fit for the journey.
To find out more: Fit to load | Meat & Livestock Australia |
|
Farm Biosecurity Newsletter Feature- Strengthening farm biosecurity with quarantine paddocks Published in Farm Biosecurity e-newsletter for Dec/Jan
Biosecurity on Farms: Protecting Your Crops and Livestock Just like protecting your devices from computer viruses, farm biosecurity requires vigilance to safeguard crops and livestock from pests, weeds, and diseases. These threats can arrive through various pathways, including machinery, animals, and even natural sources like wind and wild animals. Pre-Arrival Precautions:Before introducing any new livestock or fodder, take the following steps: Research pest, weed, or disease risks from the source property. Request pest-free declarations, animal health declarations, and any monitoring records. Ensure cleanliness of people, machinery, and equipment.
Quarantine Measures:When new livestock or imported fodder arrives, isolate them in quarantine paddocks to prevent the spread of pests, weeds, or diseases. Quarantine all livestock for at least three weeks, during which time monitor animals closely for any health issues. Best Practices for Quarantine Paddocks:Location: Place the paddock near the farmhouse or handling areas for easy monitoring. Maintenance: Clean water and feeding points and ensure you are resting paddocks after use. Water Flow: Direct water flow away from other paddocks where livestock are housed to prevent diseases carried by water from spreading. Fencing: Install double fencing, or keep an empty paddock between new and existing flocks and herds to prevent direct contact. Inspections: Regularly check fences for security and repair any gaps.
Reporting Suspected Issues:If you notice anything unusual on your farm, contact your agronomist or veterinarian immediately, and report it to the Exotic Plant Pest Hotline (1800 084 881) or Emergency Animal Disease Hotline (1800 675 888).
Read the full Farm Biosecurity article here.
For more information, refer to the Grains Industry Biosecurity Manual and resources from Farm Biosecurity. |
|
Thank you for reading this edition of our Biosecurity Bulletin, if you need additional support or have any suggestions please contact our team on 08 8297 2299. |
|
Copyright (C) 2024 Livestock SA. All rights reserved.
Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or |
|
|
.png)
