The Members Forum highlights the latest member news and provides a forum to share information and key learnings. We welcome member news to feature.

We take a look at:

• NLIS and the role it plays in animal movement biosecurity
• The Easter Show and biosecurity awareness
• New National Sheep Health Statement

NLIS and the role it plays in movement biosecurity
The National Livestock Identification System, or NLIS, is Australia’s system for identifying and tracking livestock, providing traceability for animals from the property of birth through to slaughter – and boosting farm biosecurity by helping farmers know where their livestock has been.

With traceability becoming an increasingly important factor in meat production worldwide, NLIS was set up to support food safety, product integrity and market access. Mandatory for cattle since 1 July 2005 the system was extended to sheep and goats in January 2006.

But NLIS also strongly supports the prevention of disease spread, as in the event of an outbreak, the background of animals with NLIS ear tags can be traced quickly to determine where they have been – thus helping authorities make quick, effective decisions that could stop an outbreak in its tracks.

The system was tested in May last year, when Animal Health Australia and the Federal Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry ran an exercise to test each state’s ability to comply with National Performances Traceability Standards.

Of the 300 animals involved in “CowCatcher II”, 99% were traced back to their property of birth within 24 hours and their cohorts, within 48 hours. This was a dramatic improvement over the CowCatcher I exercise conducted in 2004, before it was mandatory to record all cattle movements on the database.

CowCatcher II confirmed that NLIS protects and enhances Australia’s reputation as supplier of wholesome beef and dairy products.

New National Sheep Health Statement (SHS)
A good example of incorporating good farm biosecurity and animal movement is the soon to be introduced national sheep health statement which will replace the state based SHS at the end of this month to help make the trading of sheep between states even easier and to help producers understand the health status of sheep they intend to buy.

Animal Health Australia, WoolProducers Australia, Sheepmeat Council of Australia, State Governments and the Australian Livestock and Property Agents have developed the new National SHS to create national consistency in sheep health declarations. Sheepmeat Council president, Chris Groves, said, “The SHS will give purchasers the opportunity to make better informed purchasing decisions based on the health information provided on the statement, thereby reducing the risk of accidently introducing costly diseases onto their properties.”

Australian Livestock and Property Agents Association chief executive officer, Andy Madigan, said, “The national SHS is going to streamline the trading of sheep across Australia

"The agents also recognise the importance of this document for vendors as a selling tool and to help producers implement their own farm biosecurity arrangements.”

Source: Rural Press national news bureau

Roll Up Roll Up – The Easter Show is in Town!

It’s Royal Easter Show time again in Sydney (20th March – 2 April) and many of you will be represented there in some shape or form whether in the Poultry Pavilion, the Horse and pinto expo, the Goat or the Alpaca expo or another expo altogether.

Needless to say the planning for such a huge show, with over 200,000 visitors expected in the next two weeks, did not start yesterday! And in the aftermath of EI, everyone will be on even higher alert. The logistics of getting into the show to set up and settle animals in is one major task in itself, let alone the diligence needed in ensuring all animals are fit for travel, have health certificates and are appropriately segregated during the show. Animals will be exposed to many diseases by mixing with other animals and coming in contact with pens, vehicles and equipment. Livestock handlers will have to be vigilant about maintaining the health of their animals.

The aftermath or wash down from the show will also be crucial, as animals, vehicles and equipment return back to the farms from very public areas – remember if you carry disease home it could spread amongst your own stock. Hopefully the pack up will be as thorough as the preparation and build up to the show itself and no one will take any disease home as a memento.

Key to remember:

• Only take animals in peak condition to shows - do not risk infecting other's animals if yours are unwell.
• Isolate animals for a suitable period on return to your property.
• Keep a close eye on your animals for any signs of disease in the first two weeks after they return to your property.