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Fit to trade bulletin

The Fit to trade bulletin promotes government and industry partnership across the biosecurity systems that protect and enable Western Australia's livestock businesses to trade into domestic and international markets.

DPIRD diagnostic expert certified as world-class

DPIRD pathologist Megan Curnow
DPIRD’s diagnostic capability now has internationally recognised expertise with Department pathologist Megan Curnow achieving American College of Veterinary Pathology board certification.

Western Australia depends on the expertise of our Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) veterinary pathologists to diagnose livestock, aquatic or wildlife disease to an internationally accepted standard.

Rapid, accurate diagnoses are essential to protect our domestic and international markets and public health from diseases of concern.

Senior veterinary pathologist Shane Besier said the recent award of Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Pathology status to DPIRD pathologist Megan Curnow had boosted the international credentials of the department’s diagnostic team.

“Diplomate certification by the American Board of Pathology is the highest certification possible in veterinary pathology and is internationally recognised,” Dr Besier said.

“It recognises that candidates who successfully sit the exam are the foremost experts in the field of veterinary pathology.”

“The Department and our team of veterinary pathologists supported Dr Curnow with study leave and study groups to undertake the challenging examinations because her skills and credentials will support Western Australia’s readiness to diagnose exotic diseases that could damage our livestock or fisheries, our wildlife, our lifestyle or our public health.”

“In 2017/18, the DPIRD laboratories carried out 1243 animal disease investigations. The results from these investigations are used to support our proof of freedom from significant diseases that could affect our markets or human health,” he said.

“In addition to contributing to these disease investigations, Dr Curnow will also be able to participate in developing strategic animal health and diagnostics policy, mentor new pathologists and trainee veterinarians across the state and so continue to increase the depth of diagnostic expertise in WA.”

Dr Curnow said it had been arduous managing the enormous amount of study required for the pathology exams held in Tampa, Florida last year.

“It would have been impossible to achieve this result without the support of DPIRD, my pathology colleagues and mentors from other pathology groups,” she said.

Dr Curnow graduated from veterinary medicine in 2011 and completed her Masters of Veterinary Clinical Studies in Veterinary Pathology at Murdoch University in 2015.

Originally from England, she grew up in Albany on a hobby farm, where her interest in animal disease began.

“I’ve always been fascinated by pathology, I love solving puzzles and that’s often what disease investigations come down to,” Dr Curnow said.

“It is extremely satisfying to be able to make a critical diagnosis and help resolve animal health issues knowing that that information we provide as pathologists helps individual producers and their herd but also potentially the whole WA livestock industry.”

First results of National Traceability Project now available

Meats on display at supermarket
Trading partners and consumers increasingly want to know more about the products they import and buy.

Stage one of a project to investigate development of a national approach to Australia’s agricultural traceability systems has now been completed.

An agreement in 2017 between the Commonwealth, State and Territory Agriculture Ministers led to the formation of a National Traceability Working Group (NTWG) with representatives from each jurisdiction supported by the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources (DAWR).

The NTWG was tasked to review the current regulatory approach to agricultural traceability, explore the likely future requirements including provenance and authenticity of Australian production and products and identify improvements to our systems to meet anticipated future requirements from trading partners and markets.

A summary report is available on the Project webpage.

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development representative on the NTWG was Director Livestock Biosecurity, Peter Gray.

Dr Gray said the report found our current traceability systems meet our domestic needs and those of our trading partners.

"Differences were found in the sophistication of various industry systems, mostly due to the traditional reasons for traceability. For example, the National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) for cattle is well established and has received significant resources from government and the cattle industry during implementation over many years," Dr Gray said.

"Trading partners and consumers increasingly want to know more about the products they import and buy. This includes information about food safety, animal and plant pest and disease status and, more recently, information regarding provenance, authenticity and social matters such as sustainability and animal welfare.

"International and domestic consumers also want claims relating to food to be supported by fast and efficient traceability systems. Enhancing our traceability systems will ensure WA is prepared for any future changes in requirements, and provide exporters with a competitive advantage," Dr Gray said.

The second stage of the project is underway and involves the working group consulting with industry to develop a National Traceability Framework and action plan that will:

  • provide the flexibility to meet the future needs of industry, government, trading partners and consumers.
  • consider existing arrangements and available technology to develop a framework and action plan that are as cost-effective as possible.
  • consider the level of traceability applicable to each category of agricultural products and the timing of any changes to traceability systems.
  • be implemented in a way that minimises trade disruption and strengthens the confidence domestic consumers have in our food supply chains.

A ‘have your say’ website has been published seeking stakeholder feedback on stage two development of a National Traceability Framework.

For more information, or to register your interest in this project, please visit https://haveyoursay.agriculture.gov.au/national-traceability-project  or contact Dr Gray or the Traceability Project.

SMS for cattle health in Great Southern

Sheena Smith and DPIRD vet Andrew Larkins
Narrikup producer and ag event coordinator Sheena Smith and DPIRD vet Andrew Larkins are coordinating a pilot SMS surveillance network for cattle owners in the Denmark, Plantagenet and Albany shires.

An innovative cattle surveillance network in the Great Southern that uses SMS technology has attracted more than 150 cattle producers as well as the support of cattle vets and stock agents.

Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) field vet Andrew Larkins and industry advocate Sheena Smith are coordinating the pilot project, which will initially run until April 2019.

Dr Larkins said the network provided local producers in the shires of shires of Albany, Denmark and Plantagenet with a simple way of contributing to and accessing the latest data on cattle health in the region.

“The aim of the network is to provide local producers with up-to-date information about syndromes occurring in cattle in the region, while also strengthening WA’s ability to detect new, emerging or exotic diseases more rapidly,” Dr Larkins said.

“Western Australia’s reputation for producing healthy cattle is based on a biosecurity system that demonstrates to a scientific standard that our stock are fit to trade.

“The data collected during the Great Southern Cattle Surveillance Network pilot will strengthen market access for WA cattle and cattle products while also giving valuable feedback to producers in the form of local information on causes of illness.”

How the network works

Dr Larkins said network members participate in a short series of SMS text messages each fortnight asking if they have seen any signs of illness in their cattle.

“They then receive monthly reports outlining cattle illnesses that have been occurring in the area, what the common causes were and options for prevention and management,” Dr Larkins said.

“The monthly reports provided by DPIRD are a chance for producers to see what cattle health issues have been occurring in their region as a whole and compare that to what is going on at home. This information enables producers to assess their biosecurity measures and protect their herd.

“Members who report signs of illness in their cattle can request a follow-up phone call from DPIRD. The purpose of the call is to learn more about the case and discuss what support DPIRD may be able provide. This might include services such as subsidised disease investigations and post-mortem sampling to obtain a definite diagnosis or it may be to refer them to their local private vet for assistance.”

Producer feedback on the network

Local beef producer Eric Dobbe, who has been using the network since August, said that he had found the SMS process very easy to use.

“The SMS message acts as a good prompt to think about the past fortnight’s livestock activity. The monthly reports give you a good idea about cattle health in the area and where you can find more information for anything you might be concerned about,” Mr Dobbe said.

Producer Bonnie Ravenhill has also been using the network on her dairy in Narrikup and sees the network as an important tool for their business.

“It’s crucial to stay on top of the biosecurity risks that are around you. The network allows us to look at local information across a range of producers without singling anyone out. It means that we can look to adapt our plans to make sure we’re covered against the highest risks,” Mrs Ravenhill said.

“On top of that, if we do have an issue, we are better informed about the likely diagnosis. Together with our vet, we can then make quicker and better decisions.”

See Albany beef producer Sandy Lyon's feedback on the network in this short video.

Local stock agents have also supported the pilot project, saying they see it as a good opportunity to stay up to date with the latest on cattle health and have been discussing the benefits of the network with their clients.

The project has been jointly funded by DPIRD and the federal Department of Agriculture and Water Resources and will initially run until April 2019.

For more information or to register, see the DPIRD website or contact:

DPIRD vet Andrew Larkins, Andrew.larkins@dpird.wa.gov.au or +61 (0)8 9892 8530 or
Narrikup beef producer and ag event coordinator Sheena Smith, csngreatsouthern@gmail.com or +61 (0)427 214 707.

Timely training for pork industry

Pork industry representatives
Emalyn Loudon of WAPPA, Dean Romaniello of Linley Valley Pork, Megan Trezona of Craig Mostyn Farms/Linley Valley Pork, Richard Evison of Westpork and Jan Cooper of WAPPA

With African swine fever outbreaks occurring in China, Eastern Europe and Africa in 2018, Australia’s pork industry appreciated recent emergency animal disease training delivered by Animal Health Australia.

Five pork industry representatives from Western Australia joined 11 counterparts from other Australian jurisdictions in Melbourne to participate in livestock industry liaison training in November 2018.

West Australian Pork Producers Association (WAPPA) member Emalyn Loudon said the training was for industry members nominated by their peak livestock industry councils to carry out livestock industry liaison during an emergency animal disease response. 

“Australian Pork Limited (APL) is the pork industry’s peak industry council, and is a signatory to the Emergency Animal Disease Response Agreement (EADRA),” Ms Loudon said.

“APL appoints trained representatives to carry out the industry liaison role during an emergency response, who then provide an official conduit between the response team and the affected industry. 

“During a response, the industry liaison function communicates the industry’s position on policy and proposed response activities.

“The function also provides advice on the availability of industry resources which could be deployed during a response.”

Ms Loudon said the training participants had discussed the key attributes of nominees for the liaison function.

“We identified that an in-depth understanding of the industry and its key contacts were crucial to the role, as well as good communication skills and the ability to work in high-stress environments, as would be the case in a Local Control Centre or State Coordination Centre,” she said.

The training program included an overview of the legislation, agreements, plans and groups related to an emergency animal disease response; typical routines in a control or coordination centre; government decision-making processes in a response; and some tips on communicating.

Ms Loudon said the day also highlighted the importance of the relationship between APL and the state producer organisations during a response.

“Participants concluded that WA could enhance their preparedness for an emergency animal disease by WAPPA and APL discussing in advance the appointment of suitable people for the role and how the national and state organisations interact during an outbreak,” she said.

“Selection for the role could be enhanced by summarising the attributes of individuals trained for the role and scenario-planning for when they would be best retained within their own businesses during an outbreak rather than working in a control or coordination centre.”

Ms Loudon said that with African swine fever outbreak in China in 2018, it was important that all stakeholders continued to strengthen efforts on prevention and preparedness activities to protect the Australian pork industry.

Industry members who are interested in participating in training can contact their peak industry council or Animal Health Australia at trainingsupport@animalhealthaustralia.com.au

Read more on the DPIRD website about African swine fever.

Animal welfare amendments progress through Parliament

DPIRD staff who played a key role in the progression of the Bill through Parliament
DPIRD staff who played a key role in the progression of the Bill through Parliament.

Critical amendments to the Animal Welfare Act 2002 (the Act) passed both houses of Parliament in November 2018, paving the way for the implementation of the Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines in Western Australia.

Originally introduced into Parliament in October 2017, the proposed amendments were referred to the Standing Committee on Legislation in March before being reintroduced in September 2018.

Staff from the Animal Welfare Regulation team will now turn their attention to drafting the regulations which will allow the Standards to be enforceable. It is expected that these will be gazetted in 2019.

Western Australia is now the only jurisdiction which has not yet implemented the national Standards and Guidelines for Land Transport of Livestock (2012). These, as well as those for Saleyards and Depots, are expected to be regulated first.

Animal Welfare Director Dr Sarah Kahn said the achievement was a credit to the staff involved, particularly as it was completed against the backdrop of increasing public scrutiny on animal welfare.

“Animal welfare is a complex issue so the passage of the Bill was unlikely to be straightforward,” Dr Kahn said.

“Policy and legal staff showed great flexibility and understanding of the legislation to take the Standing Committee’s feedback on board and present amendments that were universally accepted.

“Ultimately, the ability to regulate the national Standards and Guidelines will improve the welfare of animals in Western Australia by moving away from the focus on acts of cruelty.”

The national Standards set mandatory requirements for the humane treatment of animals. The Guidelines advise on recommended practices but are not mandatory.

The development of Standards and Guidelines includes a process of national consultation with stakeholders, which provides an opportunity for all members of the public and industry to comment on the draft Standards and Guidelines before they are finalised.

The current endorsed Standards and Guidelines are:

• Land Transport (2012)

• Sheep (2016)

• Cattle (2016)

• Animals in Saleyards and Depots (2018).

All states and territories except WA have implemented the Land Transport Standards. The Sheep and Cattle Standards have been implemented in South Australia and New South Wales, and all jurisdictions are considering the implementation of the Standards and Guidelines on Saleyards and Depots. Find out more about the Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines online.

Improved system to manage stock brand registrations

The Brands project team
Members of the project team: Brian Yeo, Joel Shirlow, Jon Marchant, Donna McNeill, Jeanette Bartlett, Peter Gray.

Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) registrations of WA’s livestock owners and beekeepers will be enhanced this year with the commencement of a project to develop this service using the same IT platform as the Department’s commercial fishing licences.

Livestock Biosecurity Director Peter Gray said his team has been exploring options to remediate the ageing ‘Brands database,’ which was developed over 20 years ago to record information relating to livestock ownership, beekeepers and properties where livestock are kept.

“The option of developing a bespoke system in-house was too expensive, so after the amalgamation we explored what other systems DPIRD had that could be used. That’s when we came across the Navigate solution, which is being successfully used for commercial fishing licences in DPIRD,” Dr Gray said.

"Registering owners of livestock and where livestock are kept is the cornerstone of our traceability system, which protects the biosecurity and food safety of livestock and livestock products."

To demonstrate the significance and complexity of livestock movement, the map in the above photo reveals over 100,000 sheep, cattle and pigs moved through the supply chain in WA on 20-21 August 2018. DPIRD’s Biosecurity team regularly undertakes audits at saleyards and abattoirs to ensure that supply chain participants are recording these movements accurately and in a timely manner.

Leading the cross-DPIRD project team is Donna McNeill, who recently brought all key stakeholders together for a requirements workshop.

“Brands registrations have almost doubled in the past 10 years, so we need to be prepared to effectively manage this and any future increases,” Mrs McNeill said.

“Integrating the systems and using one platform across the Department will help us better align business areas, and align with our machinery of government strategy,” Mrs McNeill said.

“It’s a great example of how synergies across DPIRD can work to strengthen knowledge and resource sharing.”

The project is being supported with funding from the Royalties for Regions Boosting Biosecurity Defences project.

Keep out African swine fever with these steps

Pig with African swine fever
Pigs with African swine fever may have can skin redness with blue areas around the tip of ears, below the knees, tail, perianal area, chest and abdomen. This pig has reddened ears, conjunctivitis and a high temperature. Photo credit: The Pirbright Institute.

Pig owners and hunters are a key line of defence in keeping African swine fever out of Australia.

The disease is present in sub-Saharan Africa and more recently has been spreading westwards in Europe with a large outbreak across 23 provinces in China in 2018.

Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) vet Sue Skirrow said that this highly contagious viral disease of domestic and wild pigs caused high death rates.

“We have never had African swine fever in Australia, and it is crucial to keep it out,” Dr Skirrow said.

“This disease would have a significant impact on pig health and production in Australia, and contribute to wider economic impacts caused by a loss of access to overseas markets for our pork products.

“An outbreak would also be very difficult and costly to eradicate.”

Dr Skirrow said the most likely way that African swine fever could be introduced into Australia was by illegal importation of infected meat, such as in airline passenger luggage, which is then fed to pigs.

“Feeding meat or products with meat in them to pigs (swill feeding) is illegal in Australia to protect Australian livestock from exotic diseases like African swine fever and foot-and-mouth disease,” Dr Skirrow said.

“It is vital that all pig owners and handlers comply with these swill feeding restrictions as they are designed protect the livestock of Australia from a variety of serious diseases.

“It is important for all pig owners, people arriving from overseas and people ordering goods online to be aware of the risk associated with African swine fever.”

Dr Skirrow said that in addition to ensuring no meat or meat products were fed to pigs, pig owners could take steps to prevent this disease occurring in their animals. 

“Most pig farmers have good on-farm biosecurity measures in place including entry controls, hygiene and visitor logs. These practices need be maintained,” she said.

“It also a good time to undertake or revise staff training regarding your biosecurity arrangements.

“Always report any unusual ill health in your pigs or in wild pigs, including multiple deaths, to your vet or a DPIRD field vet or call the Emergency Animal Disease hotline on 1800 675 888.”

“The signs of African swine fever are high death rates, often coupled with discolouration of ears and limbs due to a high fever.”

For more information, see the DPIRD webpage on African swine fever and federal Department of Agriculture and Water Resources webpage.

Feedback and subscriptions

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development values your feedback. To provide your comments about the Fit to trade bulletin or to suggest article topics, email livestock.biosecurity@dpird.wa.gov.au

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