Bio-security? It's a dog's breakfast out there

ENOUGH of the equine influenza bio-security measures for the thoroughbred industry. There is a feeling out there that the Department of Primary Industries protocols are now redundant. As one wise guy put it at the weekend, it's a "dog's breakfast".

Strangely enough, dogs in stables at Randwick, Warwick Farm and Rosehill apparently caught the virus. The DPI carried out tests with about 60 per cent of the 20-odd dogs tested showing no signs they were infected. A small percentage got sick but recovered. Dogs were found to be shedding the virus, too.

They say there were sick birds as well. On some properties cockies, of the flying variety, were that docile you could touch them without being sliced open. Now Justice Ian Callinan's inquiry into Australia's first EI outbreak is having difficulty pinning blame for the arrival of the disease on the Australian Quarantine Inspection Service's compound at Eastern Creek.

The bio-security measures are holding back thoroughbred racing. Horses are permitted to travel in and out of coloured zones but protocols are in place. Horses travelling from green zones in the bush to Sydney to compete must spend time at Canterbury racecourse before returning home.

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