Remember biosecurity when sourcing interstate livestock
Vets in the New England Livestock Health and Pest Authority are reminding producers to check the biosecurity status of livestock, especially when they are purchased from interstate.
As a result of improved seasonal conditions across the New England LHPA district many producers are looking to restock or increase flock numbers.
Steve Eastwood, New England LHPA senior district vet, says sheep producers who are considering sourcing sheep from interstate should consider the biosecurity implications.
"Due to the current high costs associated with purchasing restocker sheep locally, we are hearing reports that local producers are contemplating buying cheaper sheep from Western Australia.
"Producers are under the impression that there are no disease risks associated with this practice; however this may not always be the case," he said.
There are a number of key differences in disease prevalence between NSW and Western Australia, for example Ovine Johne’s Disease (OJD), which need to be investigated before any livestock movements occur.
"A national revision into the prevalence of OJD has resulted in Western Australia moving from a Low Prevalence to Medium Prevalence Area, effective from 1 January 2011. This change means that only 2 Assurance Based Credits points are allocated under Category A on the Sheep Health Statement," Mr Eastwood said.
"The OJD Exclusion Area (EA) for the New England stipulates that producers are legally required to notify the LHPA if sheep are introduced from outside the EA. Mob based movements are also able to be tracked through the NLIS database."
Mr Eastwood says that producers should always request a National Sheep Health Statement and National Vendor Declaration and any other records of the stock’s health status. It’s also important to inspect new stock on arrival to make sure they are healthy and isolate them for a period of around 10 days to allow any signs of disease to appear.
For more information on biosecurity or advice on purchasing sheep, contact your local LHPA office.
Media contact: Kylie Dunn 6391 3720 / 0428 465 378