Barastoc in February 2008

I like many others are sitting waiting impatiently to get online and book our stables for Barastoc in February 2008.

The entries for Barastoc were due to close on Monday 3rd December and then I noticed the entries had been extended to Friday 7th December at midnight due to an OVERWHELMING numbers of entries….

Well you would recon if the number of entries was so OVERWHELING that the Barastoc organizers would get in portable stables to cater for all these entries.

That is not the case…

We now all have to sit back chewing our nails stressing about getting stables.

When I asked the question of “would I get my money back if I cant get stables, due to my ponies being able to get out of the yards” the Barastoc representative I spoke to said NO, once entries are received and then entries are closed they have a no refund policy….

I just think this stinks, and think Barastoc owe it to us to put in extra stables to cater for the so called OVERWHELMING number of horses attending.

Stressed and worried – and probably stablesless.

RJ

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.

NSW Recommendations for Agricultural Shows’ horse events

EQUINE INFLUENZA
EI Guidelines for Shows(updated 10 December)
Recommendations for Agricultural Shows’ horse events
Information from Chief Veterinary Officer Mr Bruce Christie as at 4th December 2007.

1. Expressed concern at the high risk of running events with hundreds of horses eg. Shows, and only encouraging necessary events.

2. Recommends not running events until the Purple Zone has been eradicated with the exception of controlled events where there are pre entry requirements for limited numbers of invited horses.

3. Information from ASC insurers is that in the case of an EI lockdown the Show Society may be responsible for all costs.

4. ASC recommends that Show Societies prepare a full schedule but be prepared to withdraw the Horse Section from the Show.

5. Show Societies must be aware that information from DPI is changing daily

6. Irrespective of information on DPI website, the ASC is recommending not holding full Horse schedule Shows until further notice.

7. With ongoing biosecurity and vaccination, the DPI believes that EI can be eradicated from Australia by the end of May.

8. ASC requests any Show Society intending to run horse events must notify the ASC office.

The above recommendations are created by the very high risk of spreading EI caused by the movement and cross-zone movement of horses, humans, dogs and other means of spreading EI. The very nature of Agricultural Shows as a forum and gathering of large numbers of people and animals multiplies the risk of bringing horses into an EI possible contamination area.

Sold from Qld to WA

Had a great response to the
advert and have received 20
calls or more!
Sold very quickly to north
of Broome in WA.
(December issue Horse Deals)



**Click to enlarge**

EI Zone Changes In Queensland

The Queensland Department Of Primary Industries & Queensland Racing announced a series of changes to the state's equine influenza zones, including:

• Nanango, Gympie, Tara & Goondiwindi are now Green Zone.
• Sunshine Coast, Kilcoy, Bell, Dalby, Warra, Texas & Stanthorpe are now Amber Zone.
• Sunshine Coast Turf Club will continue to conduct meetings under Red Zone protocols (as it operates as a Red compartment within the Amber Zone).
• Apart from the meeting at Texas over the weekend, all other meetings conducted in the Amber Zone will be run under Red Zone protocols until further notice.
• Only Red & Amber Zone horses can compete at the Sunshine Coast Turf Club on a 1-day floating permit.
• Only fully immune horses can compete at Red Zone meetings.
• A number of Red compartments will be identified within the Amber Zone (enabling reasonably free interaction between Red compartments in the Amber Zone).

(Dec 10)

For EFA competition organisers.

For EFA competition organisers. Please note that anyone running an event or other horse activity in the Purple Zone only or the Green Zone only in the upcoming months, the EFA NSW requires you to adhere to the DPI requirements for running horse activities. This can be accessed by visiting this link. http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/livestock/horse/influenza/information/info-event-organisers-participants

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.

Read more, there are two pages.