AHA STEPS IN AS FARM BIOSECURITY REACHES FARMERS’ AGENDA

Animal Health Australia says farmers want to - Secure your farm: Secure your future
Animal Health Australia (AHA) is stepping in to meet farmers’ new thirst for knowledge about farm biosecurity in the wake of the equine influenza outbreak with a range of new resources and tools.
With the consequences of disease immediately before them, farmers have begun to actively seek information on reducing disease risk to not just horses, but other livestock.
AHA Manager Disease Risk Mitigation Duncan Rowland said that AHA research had shown a heartening interest in embracing new ideas and approaches.
“Producers have told us that they are willing to take on new biosecurity practices. Sixty-eight percent said they were likely to take on a new inspection practice and 71 percent said they would be willing to implement a system of restricting access and logging visitors,” Mr Rowland said.
“Producers have also told us they want biosecurity information including: what the problems are, how to detect them, and what to do about them. Seventy-three percent of those interviewed said they would be willing to attend a free course on biosecurity,” he said.
Mr Rowland said that Animal Health Australia was rolling out its new Farm Biosecurity initiative to support livestock producers’ biosecurity information needs and to encourage them to take action to prevent disease.
“The Farm Biosecurity initiative will help producers understand how to identify risks to their enterprise and plan how to improve their farm biosecurity with simple and affordable measures,” Mr Rowland said.
“It took the equine influenza outbreak for many livestock producers to understand the need to improve their farming practices to protect livestock from pests and disease.”
“Farmers and producers are all too aware now that they can’t be complacent about disease risk, they are looking for reliable information to help them be prepared,” he said.
Mr Rowland said the internet would be key.
“With more than 70% of farmers now on the internet, a growing number of livestock producers are looking to access information via a website”.
Farm Biosecurity resources include the e-newsletter Farm Biosecurity News, a soon to be launched Farm Biosecurity website containing fact sheets, tips, case studies and more to help producers to secure their farm and secure their future.
“Recent local and international outbreaks of emergency animal diseases such as equine influenza, foot and mouth disease, avian influenza and varroa mite show that disease can spread quickly and easily without good farm biosecurity in place. Such diseases can be devastating to animal welfare, farm income and trade,” Mr Rowland said.
“Equine influenza showed producers how severe the impact of a disease can be – while the measures that can be put in place to minimise the risks are simple, everyday practices.”
Livestock producers can visit www.farmbiosecurity.com.au for more information.
Any producer noticing unexpected or unusual signs of disease, abnormal behaviour or unexpected deaths in their stock should immediately call a veterinarian or the Emergency Animal Disease Watch Hotline on 1800 675 888.
Animal Health Australia (AHA) is a not-for-profit public company established by the Australian Government, state and territory governments and major national livestock industry organisations. The company manages national animal health programs on behalf of its members.