Biosecurity

Overview

MLA invests in research and development (R&D) into biosecurity practices that aim to improve the health and welfare of livestock and the productivity and integrity of the Australian red meat industry.

Preventative biosecurity measures reduce the risk of transmitting infectious, endemic or emergency diseases, invasive pests and weeds to livestock between different enterprises, states and countries. These measures complement the biosecurity programs that address the containment of outbreaks if they do occur.

Core activities

MLA’s investments into biosecurity R&D primarily focus on:

• creating on-farm biosecurity plans that include measures to reduce the risk of introducing and/or spreading an infectious disease, pest or weed onto properties
• implementing industry biosecurity programs that aim to prevent and control emergency animal diseases
• Containing disease outbreaks, to prevent spread between businesses, states and countries
• creating vaccination protocols to prevent and contain the spread of disease
• monitoring and evaluation of perceived and actual biosecurity risks to the industry.

Benefits to industry

• Effective biosecurity programs protect the industry’s reputation as a provider of healthy livestock and safe red meat products.
• Biosecurity programs are designed to prevent the incursion and spread of exotic and endemic infectious diseases, pests or weeds, which ensures the long-term health, sustainability and profitability of the Australian red meat industry.
• The prevention and inhibition of exotic and endemic diseases, pests and weeds reduce the economic risks to farming businesses and the animal health and welfare implications and maintain the industry’s social licence to operate.
• Keeping Australia free from exotic disease ensures continued access to overseas markets, which is a valuable competitive advantage.