Benefits of livestock health monitoring under the spotlight
Western Australia’s livestock sector is set to benefit from a stronger livestock health monitoring capacity, following attendance by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development at a recent international conference.
The International Conference on Animal Health Surveillance was hosted by the New Zealand Veterinary Association in Rotorua in May. Attendees explored how livestock industry participants can work together to achieve more effective and efficient livestock health monitoring.
Department Acting Chief Veterinary Officer Jamie Finkelstein said the conference highlighted the importance of livestock health surveillance and partnerships.
“When it comes to market access, it’s absolutely crucial that buyers have confidence in our product,” he said.
“A major part of that confidence comes from our ability to detect changes in livestock health early.
“Increased focus on livestock health monitoring, together with greater collaboration among those in the livestock sector, can enhance livestock production, support early disease detection and assist our ability to demonstrate freedom from trade-relevant diseases.
“The conference was an excellent opportunity to keep up to date with the latest information on livestock health monitoring practices, helping to strengthen our capacity to maintain WA’s favourable livestock health status.
“One of the topics explored at the conference was the trend toward collating livestock health monitoring data from a range of sources including government agencies, industry and commercial organisations.
“The aim is to create an integrated system that provides timely livestock health data for those in the livestock sector,” Dr Finkelstein said.
“Being able to access more information can increase awareness of livestock health matters and help producers recognise a change in livestock health sooner rather than later.
“As well as minimising the impact of livestock ill-health on individual producers, livestock health surveillance supports WA’s market access for livestock and livestock products by demonstrating that we’re looking for and that we are free from trade-relevant diseases.”
To find out more about how livestock health data supports WA’s ability to trade livestock, see the Department’s animal health surveillance webpage.