Livestock producers wanting practical information and tools to better manage their on-farm biosecurity are invited to watch the latest industry webinar update now available.

This webinar was held last Tuesday 9 August and continues a collaborative cross-industry approach as the Australian livestock industry works together to keep lumpy skin disease (LSD) and foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) out of the country. 

The full recording of the webinar is available below, or you can read on to view more information about the webinar, including the full list of questions and answers (Q&As) from the Q&A session held as part of the event.

Watch the webinar

More about the webinar

Speakers at this webinar included:

• Jason Strong, Managing Director, Meat & Livestock Australia
• Dr Rob Barwell, Head of Program – Biosecurity, Animal Health Australia
• Dr Samantha Allan, General Manager of Emergency Preparedness, Animal Health and Biosecurity, Animal Health Australia
• Elizabeth Bradley, Manager – Quality, Policy, and Compliance, Integrity Systems Company 

Topics covered at this webinar included:

• practical biosecurity and traceability actions producers can implement on-farm. 
• how producers can contribute to an effective disease response. 
• the first 72 hours following an emergency animal disease outbreak – what happens during a livestock standstill. 

Your questions, answered

• Biosecurity on-farm
• Signage
• Contractors and on-farm visitors
• Footbaths
• NLIS and livestock traceability
• Feral animals
• Market impacts
• Miscellaneous
• Vaccinations
• FMD virus
• LSD virus
• National livestock standstill
• Compensation

Biosecurity on-farm

We have a main road running through our property/we have easements on our property/neighbours need to drive through our property - how do we maintain biosecurity?

It is important to manage the risk of having a road or an easement on your property as you can’t stop it from being accessed. If the road is a short distance, fencing off that road might be an option. Consider keeping stock away from the areas closest to the road, particularly younger animals that might be more susceptible to issues. Ensure you have signage on any gates that come off that road, as well as keeping the gates locked so people can’t move from the road into your paddocks. It is also important to maintain the verges on the sides of the road to keep on top of weeds.

Ensure your farm biosecurity plan is up to date. It needs to be an active document, reviewed and updated regularly. In areas where you are more exposed, for example a road or an easement, there will need to be additional measures taken to manage those risks.

Can ISC send out a biosecurity update to producers which would include an On-Farm Biosecurity Plan? Could this also include how to access/purchase biosecurity signs as a part of their on-farm plans?

The LPA Farm Biosecurity Plan template is designed to help identify all the various risks and to enable you to consider your current practices. The template has recently been updated to offer recommended measures producers can implement on-farm, or consider implementing, to support their biosecurity management. The biosecurity management plan is optional to use, however, this can support producers to meet the biosecurity requirements of the Livestock Production Assurance (LPA) program. Any items on the template can be deleted if they are not relevant.

You can purchase signs or organise for a local signwriter to print them for you using a template. Both are available at the Farm Biosecurity website.

Is there work being done on to create an up-to-date Farm Biosecurity Plan?

The LPA Farm Biosecurity Plan template has recently been updated and is now available on the ISC website. The online biosecurity plan template is also available to access through your LPA account.

What would you recommend for exposure points like public access children's farms and zoos? Should they be introducing greater biosecurity?

Any person who has livestock can have a biosecurity plan in place which identifies risks and puts actions in place to mitigate them. For children’s farms and zoos, the risk to biosecurity increases with human visitors. Appropriate measures should be introduced to reduce the risk specific to each situation. Having visitors sign in and read and understand where they can go, what they can touch and any measure such as cleaning shoes or hand washing before touching animals, could be implemented as part of a biosecurity plan.

What practical suggestions do you have for agricultural shows to help them with the biosecurity problem?

Agricultural shows can also develop a biosecurity plan and put procedures in place to monitor and respond to any biosecurity issues that occur during a show or event. Ensuring NLIS transfers are completed within 48 hours of livestock arriving, obtaining copies of National Vendor Declarations (NVDs), monitoring animal health and ensuring the contact details of a veterinarian and emergency animal disease (EAD) hotline is accessible are all measures that agricultural shows can implement to be prepared for biosecurity issues.

Does double boundary fencing change how our individual property is viewed in the event of an outbreak of FMD?

While double fencing is a sound measure to have in place as part of a biosecurity plan, the AUSVETPLAN does not currently consider double fencing as a factor when classifying risk in the event of an outbreak.

As a high value cattle stud, we have biosecurity plans in place. How do we protect our stock if surrounded by neighbours with no biosecurity plans?

Engagement and conversations about biosecurity with your neighbours is an important action to take to ensure everyone is aware of their responsibilities, the current situation and what to do if you find stock wandering. If you deem your neighbour a high risk, then increasing the monitoring of your land and livestock for signs and symptoms of diseases when they are on the land adjoining your neighbours is an action you can take.

Are public land managers obliged to develop and implement a Farm Biosecurity Plan e.g. national parks as these lands are adjoining properties to many landholders?

Public land and national parks are managed by relevant state and territories who undertake a range of activities including monitoring and feral animal and vector control programs. Biosecurity plans are a responsibility for all LPA accredited producer’s and producers who adjoin public land or National Parks who deem this a high risk could implement increased monitoring of their land and livestock for signs of disease and report any issues relating to the adjoining land to their state or territory department as quickly as possible.

Signage

Does MLA (or other organisations) have signs ready for purchase that can be held ready on a farm ready for placement during an outbreak?

It is important for signs to be clear, visible and well maintained, contain simple messages and be supported with other biosecurity measures such as restricted access points. It is also important to include contact details in the space provided.

You can purchase signs or organise for a local signwriter to print them for you using a template. Both are available at the Farm Biosecurity website.

Contractors and on-farm visitors

What measures should we be taking now with regards to visitors to our properties? How do we manage people coming on and off property on a busy farm with 10+ employees living on site?

There are biosecurity practices you should be implementing year-round to minimise risks.  This includes ensuring that you are aware of and have a record of all visitors to the property, especially those who might be moving within areas where livestock are and not just to the farmhouse. ISC has a Property Visitor Register template you can download and print or keep electronically. Ask visitors if they have been overseas recently or if they have been on other farms recently, particularly on the same day. If you have an induction process for visitors to your farm, ensure it makes mention of biosecurity requirements.

Where possible, undertake ‘come clean, go clean’ practices and clean vehicles and equipment before it is moved from a high-risk area to a low-risk area.  Minimise the lending of equipment, and if vehicles or equipment are lent, ensure they are cleaned down before use on the farm. Provide facilities for contractors and visitors to clean their boots and equipment.

Where reasonable and practical, reduce the number of entry points to your property. Ensure you have appropriate entry signage including biosecurity signs and directions to the office/house for sign-in.

Use your own vehicle to transport contractors and visitors rather than their vehicle, if possible. Ensure that farm contractors such as veterinarians, livestock agents and transport vehicles are notified of permitted areas of access prior to entry.

What is the best way to manage vehicles coming on farm if we don’t have a contained wash down area?

Use your own vehicle to transport contractors and visitors rather than their vehicle, if possible. Ensure that farm contractors such as veterinarians, livestock agents and transport vehicles are notified of permitted areas of access prior to entry.

Is some industry or government body responsible for planning how utility providers such as Telstra, TransGrid and local energy suppliers (line/fault repairs and meter readings) access and move between farms to protect our biosecurity?

Many of the larger utility companies have become much more aware of farm biosecurity in the last few years. Some have implemented some biosecurity protocols and should at least contact a property manager before they come on to let them know they will be there. There isn't a government body responsible for oversighting their biosecurity planning, but they do have a general biosecurity obligation/duty in some states to not spread biosecurity issues like diseases between properties (similar to everyone else).

How can we as producers manage biosecurity around contractors, government workers, electricity providers, licensed hunters and others coming onto the property?

As awareness of biosecurity has increased in recent years, these companies have developed their own biosecurity protocols and practices.

As a producer, keep a register of companies or organisations who have authorised access to your property (such as utility companies and mining or gas companies). Detail any negotiated arrangements around access. Undertake a risk assessment for each entity, identifying the risks involved (such as the treatment of power poles or vegetation with chemicals) and the processes in place to manage the risks.

Speak with contractors and ensure utility workers know they need to make contact before accessing the property where practicable.

Ensure utility providers and contractors are informed of any complications, including high biosecurity risks, to drive on designated tracks, abide by signage, avoid moving through certain areas of high risk and leave gates as they find them.

Prioritise areas where contractors have been to check for the emergence of weeds after rain.

If someone has come from another property and has visibly dirty tyres/boots, you’re within your rights to ask them to clean them before they move around your property. If you are moving between properties regularly, look to take a change of boots or your own way of cleaning your boots between property visits.

How big is the risk posed by the general public, people entering your property by foot and in cars?

FMD can be spread through close contact between animals and can be carried on animal products, equipment, people’s clothing or by the wind. People entering your property either by foot or vehicle do pose a risk so measures including signage at entry points, visitors signing in and understanding your biosecurity plan, cleaning boots and vehicles on arrival and using your vehicle to transport visitors to livestock production areas are all measures that can be implemented to reduce the risk.

Any advice or thoughts on managing shearing teams and the biosecurity risk inherent with this?

Some measures that could be implemented to manage the biosecurity risk posed by shearing teams include:

• have all shearing teams sign in each day so you can track who is on the property
• have all shearing teams read/understand your biosecurity plan and their responsibilities
• provide training on the signs and symptoms of FMD to shearers handling livestock and encourage them to report issues
• provide cleaning and disinfectant for boots and shearing equipment
• ensuring vehicles are cleaned down or avoid livestock production areas
• being available to receive reports or issues and supervise teams if possible.

Foot baths and disinfectants

How can producers make their own footbaths?

Useful step-by-step guides on how to make and effectively use footbaths are available at the Farm Biosecurity website and the Dairy Australia website.

It is important to always follow instructions and safety data sheets of any disinfectants.

Could you please confirm if footbaths used for less than 15 minutes are effective or not?

Always follow the directions for the disinfectants used. Disinfectants ideally need to work for the full time listed on their label and need to be used on surfaces that have had gross material removed from them already.

It would be useful if a simple direct table was developed on which chemicals to use as disinfectant, how to prepare and importantly how to dispose with to mitigate both infection and environmental risk. Is one available?

That is a great idea. Stay tuned with further updates to our Q&As on the website, and we'll see what we can put up there for reference.

NLIS and livestock traceability

Are there spreadsheets available for biosecurity planning and are there tools to help me with NLIS?

The LPA Farm Biosecurity Plan template is available online as PDF/Excel/Word templates and through your LPA account. It is designed to help identify all the various risks and to enable you to consider your current practices. The template has recently been updated to offer recommended measures producers can implement on-farm, or consider implementing, to support their biosecurity management. The biosecurity management plan is optional to use, however, this can support producers to meet the biosecurity requirements of the Livestock Production Assurance (LPA) program.

ISC is running a series of webinars in August and September which will help you understand how traceability is achieved through the NLIS and what you need to do. The webinars also feature a practical demonstration of the most common action on the NLIS database – a livestock transfer from one PIC to another.

A range of how-to guides are available to assist producers with using the NLIS to record livestock movements onto and off their property identification code (PIC).

The ISC Customer Service team are available by phone 1800 683 111 from 8am to 7pm (AEDT) Monday to Friday.

Just how important is having an accurate NLIS database when managing an EAD?

It is critical to have an accurate NLIS database to track and trace animals. Without this data, we can’t trace livestock effectively, which means we may not be able to identify where impacted animals have been or which other livestock they may have been in contact with. The NLIS database is like COVID-19 contract tracing for animals.

I’m concerned the NLIS database is not up to date. I think it would be great if we had an effort to clean up phantom animals on the database.

We need to work together as an industry to ensure we have an accurate database. It is up to producers to take responsibility for their transfers. If you are the person receiving the livestock, you are responsible for ensuring the transfer is completed on the database. If you are using agents or third parties, be sure to check to make sure they’ve completed the transfer. If livestock are bought, sold or moved through a saleyard, the livestock movement must be recorded by the saleyard. For private sales (i.e. sales and movements that do not take place via a saleyard), the buyer/receiver of the livestock must record the livestock movement. Abattoirs must record movements for all directly consigned livestock.

The legislation says the person receiving/buying the livestock is responsible for that transfer. Under the legislation, the person receiving the livestock is responsible so you can be held liable if the transfer is not completed. 

The vendor/sender of the livestock is not obligated to record the movement off their property, although they may do so. It’s good practice to check that transfers have been completed off your PIC to minimize your risk. If a status is assigned to one of those devices, then that can affect your PIC status.

We’re here to help you, we can help teach you and show you how to complete those transfers and use the database effectively. A range of how-to guides are available to assist producers with using the NLIS to record livestock movements onto and off their property identification code (PIC).

I’ve received a warning 21a that animals have moved off my PIC. Could you show me what I need to do?

A warning email indicates a transfer wasn’t complete. These messages are generated automatically by the NLIS Database when a discrepancy arises in an animal's movement history. Regardless of whether you are responsible for the transfer, if you have received the email, it indicates your PIC is featured somewhere in the animal’s life history.

When you receive a warning email, it’s a good idea to login to the database and have a look at the warning to understand what has triggered the alert. If you can’t figure it out, contact us and we can help you work it through.

How can we get specific training on doing transfers?

ISC is running a series of webinars in August and September. These will enable you to ensure your biosecurity management plan is up-to-date and that you are doing everything you can to protect your livestock and your business and understand how traceability is achieved through the NLIS and what you need to do. The webinars also feature a practical demonstration of the most common action on the NLIS database – a livestock transfer from one PIC to another.

A range of how-to guides are available to assist producers with using the NLIS to record livestock movements onto and off their property identification code (PIC).

The ISC Customer Service team are available by phone 1800 683 111 from 8am to 7pm (AEDT) Monday to Friday.

What can you do if person receiving stock does not record the movement in NLIS?

The seller can always offer to update the database on behalf of the buyer if you are able to get their PIC details.

Alpacas usually have an IAR brass metal tag in their ear as a form of identification, are these tags approved?

There is one alpaca NLIS tag approved. It will have the NLIS logo on it if it is accredited.

Do alpaca breeders require an NLIS account?

At this point in time there is no requirement for alpaca movements to be recorded on the NLIS database, however ISC is currently working with AAA to look at how the NLIS database can be used to support the traceability requirements of the alpaca industry.

What’s being done to ensure everyone has their NLIS database information up to date?

ISC is running a series of webinars in August and September. These will enable you to ensure your biosecurity management plan is up-to-date and that you are doing everything you can to protect your livestock and your business and understand how traceability is achieved through the NLIS and what you need to do. The webinars also feature a practical demonstration of the most common action on the NLIS database – a livestock transfer from one PIC to another.

A range of how-to guides are available to assist producers with using the NLIS to record livestock movements onto and off their property identification code (PIC).

The ISC Customer Service team are available by phone 1800 683 111 from 8am to 7pm (AEDT) Monday to Friday.

Are you going to make it easier to transfer within the NLIS where an animal is being moved but not sold i.e. to attend a show or artificial breeding centre?

We are looking at ways in which we can better integrate LPA NVDs and NLIS movements through the eNVD platform, so that this can all be managed through a single integrated interface.

How do you scan your stock when you don't have access to the scanning rod?

As the receiver of the livestock is responsible for recording the movement of livestock on the NLIS database, you may not require a scanner on farm. For example, saleyards, feedlots and processors will record the movements on the NLIS database, and a livestock agent may also be able to record the movements on your behalf. If you move animals between properties regularly, it might be useful to have a scanner to help with reading devices more efficiently. Scanners may also be available to loan from Community Resource Centres.

It seems it is helpful if you own your own scanner for the electronic devices. Can a brand of scanner be recommended?

There are a number of companies that provide readers.  Best option is to talk to your tag supplier or local rural merch store so you have a service connection if there are any issues.

Does ISC have a process to support those with limited digital literacy?

ISC does have systems to support people that have limited access to online information. We can provide printed material on request by calling our customer service team on 1800 683 111.

What do you do with stock you put on leased country do you change anything?

If you have leased the property, you will need to seek permission to create an NLIS and LPA account for that PIC from the owner. Email info@integritysystems.com.au and ISC will help you get set up.

What do you need to do when transporting livestock through multiple states?

For LPA, there is a need to complete one LPA NVD for the entire movement (i.e. from property of origin to their intended final destination) but there may be different requirements in each state in relation to livestock movement recording and waybill requirements to meet state based traceability requirements. It can be challenging to navigate the different requirements between states, but it is best to check those requirements with the local state department.

Should there be exemption for goats with eID?

Each state department will determine the eID requirements for sheep and goats. The detail on what will be required is currently being determined.

How does agistment work, who is responsible for updating the PIC account?

It's a good idea to check any specific requirements within your state, but generally the owner of the livestock, or the person in charge of the livestock at the agistment property is responsible for ensuring that the movement of the livestock to the agistment property is recorded on the NLIS database.

Why can’t we have one national system rather than state based?

Each state and territory has its own legislation, funding and operational responsibility for their legislation. While there are some slight differences between each like how to order tags or timeframes for transfers, NLIS and LPA are generally consistent nationally.

How can livestock buyers be encouraged to fulfil their requirements around completing livestock transfers?

If livestock aren't being transferred off your PIC, it means the person who has bought them hasn't done the transfer. You can check your NLIS account to check if they do the transfer after you sell them yourself and remind them to complete it. AuctionsPlus do not do the transfer so if they are involved in the sale your buyer needs to do the transfer and you can always check this has been done on the NLIS database.

Can I use my NVDs to record livestock movements for other people?

NVDs are issued to each LPA-accredited Producer for their registered PIC. Producers should not complete an NVD for any consignments of livestock that are not moved off their PIC listed on the NVD. It is the receiver’s responsibility to ensure that movements are recorded on the NLIS database. If you have received the livestock from another producer, then you are responsible for making sure that movement onto your property is recorded on the NLIS database.

What can you do when the buyer doesn’t record the movement onto their property, so the NLIS system shows animals as still being on your property?

If a buyer hasn’t completed the NLIS transfer - while not responsible, the person sending the livestock can complete the transfer if it is known which livestock were sent. The other way to complete a transfer as the sender of livestock is conduct a PIC reconciliation to find the animals that haven't been transferred and then transfer them. 

It is good practice to check all movement records to and from a PIC on the NLIS database, (especially those completed by a third party) to make sure the details are correct such as the ‘from’ and ‘to’ PICs and the total number of livestock transferred.

Completing a PIC reconciliation annually is a recommended action for all LPA accredited producers, as NLIS records/transfers are included in LPA audits.

You can register for our upcoming webinar specifically on LPA audits to find out what to expect during an audit, how to prepare and how audits can help – not hinder – your farm business.

How do we trace movements through Queensland if there is an outbreak?

There are specific NLIS requirements when moving different types of livestock in Queensland. All cattle, sheep, goats and pigs must be fitted with an approved NLIS device when moving between properties identified with a different PIC. All movements must be reported to the NLIS database within 48 hours of livestock arriving at the destination.

NLIS devices are permanent devices that must not be removed once fitted and will remain for the lifetime of that animal. If a device is lost, the animal must be retagged with an approved NLIS device before moving off the property.

During a disease outbreak, a national standstill will be enacted to stop all livestock movements for up to 72 hours. The NLIS data will then be used to identify any movements on or off PICs where the disease was found or in the immediate surrounding area. Electronic NVDs (eNVDs) are also useful in the event of an outbreak as details on consignments in transit and transportation details are available in real time to aid in tracing.

In WA are we required to tag sheep with an NLIS tag?

Currently, sheep in WA must be identified with an accredited NLIS visual tag. The government has committed to making electronic identification of sheep mandatory, noting that each state and territory is responsible for the implementation and the timing and requirements are still being worked out.

What happens if I buy livestock through platforms like AuctionsPlus and they are not correctly identified?

AuctionsPlus do not complete NLIS transfers and are not responsible for identifying animals as they are only facilitating a sale. Both the buyer and seller of livestock are responsible for biosecurity and traceability and if animals are not identified or have had tags removed the seller should be reported to your state or territory department of agriculture for investigation and follow up.

How can we control FMD when there are wild goats being cultivated and sold that are not tagged or recorded?

A harvested rangeland goat is defined as a goat moved directly from a place where it is living in a wild state to a registered goat depot. The depot must, within 10 days of receiving the goats, either identify the goats with an approved post-breeder NLIS tag (bearing the goat depot’s PIC) or consign them directly to an abattoir for slaughter. Movements from the goat depot need to be recorded in the NLIS database. 

How many cattle are going through the system as being sold off a PIC other than the one they are registered to?

System transfers occur daily which is why completing NLIS transfers (if receiving livestock) and checking transfers are completed correctly (if moving livestock off your PIC) is so important.

Feral animals

When are all backyard and pet livestock going to be captured and accounted for in numbers of livestock locations of livestock?

Under legislation any person who has cattle, sheep, goats, deer, camels, llamas, alpacas or pigs must have a PIC and are subject to biosecurity legislation in their state or territory.

How will the feral and wildlife threat be looked at and contained?

While this is situation dependent, there is an agreed Wild Animal Response Strategy which may be used as a basis. This Strategy is available here. 

What can you do to prevent disease from feral animals e.g. wild pigs and deer?

The PestSmart website has a number of good resources on best practice feral animal management which may be helpful in ensuring a strong plan is in place to manage and exclude feral animals.

Does MLA contribute to the Wild Dog Program?

MLA has made a significant contribution to wild dog and other feral animal control and continues to contribute to these programs.

Market impacts

What is the impact of an FMD outbreak on our international market access?

Australia’s access to export markets would be highly dependent on the nature of the incursion. The timeframe of lost access to individual export markets of affected commodities would be highly situational and dependent on the context, duration and location of the incursion, Australia’s disease management response and speed at which it can return to national disease-freedom status, and market-by-market sensitivities. Upon an incursion, the vast majority of Australia’s high-value export markets would close and then reopen over a period of time dependent on the above factors. As such, it is difficult to provide specifics of the exact trade pathway during and post an FMD incursion in Australia.

What is the forecasted impact to domestic markets when an incursion is detected?

Selling of all livestock (sheep, cattle, goats, pigs, camelids, deer) would stop immediately for a minimum of 72 hours under the AUSVETPLAN – thus resulting in the ceasing of all market price availability (online, saleyards, direct) for livestock for as long as the national livestock standstill occurs. The loss of access to export markets would depress cattle and sheep prices over the period of reduced trade. However, as the trade pathway after an FMD outbreak in Australia is unclear, it is difficult to estimate the degree and duration of depressed livestock markets.

What are the specific implications for cattle producers if FMD gets into Australia?

In the immediate term, an FMD event would trigger a national livestock standstill under the AUSVETPLAN for a minimum of 72 hours. As a result of this, market prices for livestock would not be reported on any selling platform for as long as the national standstill was in effect.

After the national livestock standstill, the movement and sale of livestock would then depend on the origin and destination of those transfers and whether they were in a restricted area (RA), control area (CA) or outside area (OA) as determined by the affected state or territory Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO) in consultation with the Consultative Committee on Emergency Animal Diseases (CCEAD). The primary business implication for Australian cattle producers will be the consequences of lost market access that would be triggered upon Australia declaring a case of FMD.

Given Australia exports about three-quarters of beef production, export market closure would significantly depress cattle prices. ABARES recently estimated an FMD incursion could cost Australia $80 billion over 10 years across all affected species, largely due to the closure of export markets.

Miscellaneous

If someone is travelling to Indonesia, what should they do on their return to maintain biosecurity?

Advice for travellers returning from Indonesia can be found here. 

Is there any advice for livestock transporters?

Transporters should contact their relevant industry body for transporter specific information related to FMD or LSD. However, general information regarding FMD and LSD can be found by visiting this page. 

Are there any specific WA initiatives to assist with questions around biosecurity?

Integrity Systems Company is hosting a webinar in partnership with the WA Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development exclusively for livestock producers in WA to cover questions like these and more.

This webinar will be held on Monday 22 August 2022, from 7.30pm to 8.30pm Western Standard Time.

Are there plans or protocols in place to correctly manage solid waste and effluent from feedlots?

The Beef cattle feedlots: waste management and utilisation manual describes best-practice guidelines for waste management in feedlots.

Have you had calls to the EAD hotline in recent weeks or months?

Great question but unfortunately, we don't have access to this data as the National Hotline is managed by the various governments across Australia. When you ring it, you'll go through to your local jurisdiction.

Who writes the EADRA?

Information on the EADRA and how it works can be found here.

Vaccinations

Will an FMD vaccine be available in the future?

The Australian government considers the use of vaccines as protective measures against EAD outbreaks. This includes actions such as maintaining a vaccine bank for certain diseases and developing new vaccines for future use.  Australia has a vaccine bank for foot-and-mouth disease and this would be implemented in accordance with the national foot-and-mouth disease vaccination policy.  You can find more information about vaccines on the Animal Health Australia website.

FMD virus

Please explain the visible symptoms of FMD again and the length of time from exposure to when it becomes visible on the animal?

Information on FMD is available on the Animal Health Australia website. More detailed information on the signs and symptoms is available in the veterinary field guide.

How long does it take for an animal to show symptoms after being infected?

2–14 days, with most infections appearing within 2–8 days but can vary by species.

LSD virus

More information about Lumpy Skin Disease is available on the Animal Health Australia website.

National Livestock Standstill

A key component of Australia’s national veterinary emergency disease plan (AUSVETPLAN) is an immediate national livestock standstill if an incursion of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) is strongly suspected or confirmed in Australia.

If a national livestock standstill is called, it is not possible to move any animals that are susceptible to FMD off a property, or receive any of these animals onto a property, unless the animals were in already on the road when the standstill was called, or a movement permit has been issued by the relevant state/territory authorities.

The purpose of the national livestock standstill is to restrict the spread of the disease and allow authorities time to conduct surveillance activities and trace the movement of affected livestock.

More information on the National Livestock Standstill is available on the Animal Health Australia website.

Compensation

Who foots the bill for the loss of the slaughtered animals?

The Animal Health Australia website provides a quick guide to compensation and valuation in an EAD response.