Northern Australia Biosecurity Surveillance project updat

The Northern  Australia Biosecurity Surveillance (NABS) project is part of the Australian  Government’s Agricultural Competitiveness White Paper, the government’s plan  for stronger farmers and a stronger economy.

It is a coordinated surveillance program to enhance the  early detection of exotic disease incursions and to provide sufficient surveillance  information to underpin proof of freedom from trade-sensitive diseases in  northern Australia. It is funded by the Commonwealth Government and supported  by the Northern Territory, Western Australian and Queensland jurisdictions and  Animal Health Australia.

Subsidised disease investigation reminder

Subsidies of up to $2,000 are  available for disease investigations in cattle conducted by private vets until  June 2019. An additional $300 is also  available for cattle showing nervous signs where a post-mortem is performed and  the brain collected for ‘mad cow’ exclusion testing.

For investigations in horses and other species, subsidies of  up to $250 are available. Contact your regional vet or livestock biosecurity  officer for more information.

Have you got your post-mortem kit yet?

NABS recognises that pastoralists  may observe unusual signs of disease in their animals and not be able to have a  vet collect samples from  affected animals in a timely manner. In order to enable samples to be collected  at the time of the disease event, pastoralists are encouraged to collect some  samples while they discuss the case with their vets.

To obtain a post-mortem kit for your property, contact your regional livestock biosecurity  office. Regional post-mortem workshops will also be throughout the season to learn how to approach a  post-mortem and sample collection.

Figure 14: Post-mortem kit

Figure 14: Post-mortem kit

Disease investigation workshops

A 3 hour disease investigation workshop was held in  Kununurra in May. Eight properties from the NT and WA were represented at the  workshop, which covered an introductory approach to post-mortems, laboratory  sampling, humane destruction and the importance of having a biosecurity plan.

In August, over 30 NT producers attended a cattle  post-mortem demonstration during the Kidman Springs Field Day. The  demonstration showed participants how to open a carcass for post-mortem, the  signs of some common cattle diseases, what samples to take and who to contact  for advice.

Future workshops are being planned across the NT in the  coming months. To express interest in  participating in future workshops, contact your regional livestock  biosecurity office.

Figure 15: Set up for post-mortem demonstration

Figure 15: Set up for post-mortem demonstration


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