TSE surveillance in Australia
The National TSE Surveillance Program (NTSESP) is jointly funded by industry and governments to conduct surveillance for BSE and scrapie.
This program is designed to demonstrate that Australia does not have BSE or scrapie. If an animal has any of the signs of a TSE, having it tested to rule out BSE and scrapie will help provide proof Australia is free from BSE and scrapie.
How can I help?
Producers who identify cattle or sheep with neurological signs or sheep with persistent itchiness should contact their private veterinarian or Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) veterinary officer to discuss the inclusion of the animal in the TSE surveillance program.
To be part of the NTSESP, a veterinarian must autopsy affected sheep or cattle and submit the brain and other samples for further testing. Cattle must be 30 months of age or older but less than nine years of age and sheep must be over 18 months of age or older, but preferably less than five years of age.
Rebates are available for producers and veterinarians participating in the NTSESP.
Laboratory examination may diagnose the cause of the neurological condition at significantly reduced cost to the producer at the same time as ruling out TSE.
Rebates available
Producers who have suitable animals autopsied for the program are entitled to claim $330 for cattle and $110 for sheep (GST inclusive). Producers may claim this payment for up to two animals per disease outbreak per property.
Private veterinarians who examine cases of nervous disease in cattle and sheep and submit the appropriate samples and paperwork to a government laboratory for TSE exclusion are also entitled to claim a rebate.
Veterinarians are eligible for the following rebates:
- cattle: $330 per animal (GST inclusive) for a maximum of two cattle per outbreak per property
- sheep: the national TSE rebate is $220 per sheep (GST inclusive) for a maximum of two sheep per outbreak per property. DPIRD will provide an additional $110 (GST inclusive) for one sheep per outbreak per property where a full post-mortem examination is conducted and a range of specimens are submitted to support a likely differential diagnosis
- travel rebate for a maximum total travel distance of 200 kilometres.
The program also covers the cost of laboratory fees where they would normally be charged and subsidises the cost of freighting samples to the laboratory.
Laboratory submission and claim forms
The forms required for each NTSESP case can be downloaded from the webpage Forms for WA vets and livestock producers - disease investigations, laboratory submissions, subsidy claims.
Note that for each NTSESP case, the following forms must be completed and submitted to DPIRD Diagnostics and Laboratory Services (DDLS):
- NTSESP vet pack - laboratory submission and vet claim form for cattle or sheep (completed by the vet)
- NTSESP producer claim form for cattle or sheep (completed by the producer).
If you have any difficulty accessing the forms, contact your local DPIRD vet.