Pestivirus project early steps to improve control
The North Coast Livestock Health and Pest Authority is offering free pestivirus testing for beef cattle producers participating in a new project which aims to assist in the future control of the disease locally.
Matt Ball, North Coast LHPA senior district vet, says bovine viral diarrhoea virus, otherwise known as pestivirus, is a common diagnosis on the North Coast for an increase in abortion rate, repeat cycling and poor growth of young stock.
"Aside from reproductive losses, diseases due to pestivirus can be expressed as ill thrift, diarrhoea and respiratory disease to name a few," Dr Ball said.
"Pestivirus is spread in a herd by a persistently infected or 'carrier' animal. A developing foetus which is exposed to the virus between 30 and 125 days of gestation can maintain the infection for life and become a carrier animal. Spread to other animals is by direct contact with the carrier animal or with its secretions."
Dr Ball says the new project has resulted from investigation of land and stock return data by the North Coast LHPA veterinary staff and directors and identification of local disease control priorities.
"Previously, the LHPA undertook passive surveillance and local disease prevention programs for pestivirus, however we’re now taking a more active approach given beef cattle form the majority of livestock in the North Coast LHPA operational area," he said.
"The new pestivirus project involves preparing the region for possible future eradication of pestivirus by implementing active surveillance to increase the detection of carrier animals that were previously only detected by ad hoc passive surveillance.
"A key feature of the project is the availability of free laboratory testing for pestivirus for eligible beef cattle producers.
"By equipping local staff and farmers with knowledge and skills relating to biosecurity and pestivirus there will also be additional benefits for a range of diseases and the community.
"Many European countries in the world have eradicated or are in the process of eradicating pestivirus. The LHPA system allows local disease priorities to be identified and its resources provide a good mechanism to help NSW agriculture maintain its relative disease free status in the world."
Media contact: Kylie Dunn 6391 3720 / 0428 465 378