BIOSECURITY NLIS

WHAT DISEASES ARE WE TRYING TO KEEP OUT OF AUSTRALIA? Mad cow disease Hendra virus Foot and mouth Rabies Avian influenza These diseases are kept out of Australia and have been found in other countries. This is what mad cow disease does to a average cow’s brain

PROBLEMS OF PESTS AND DISEASES Some endemic diseases have been in Australia for a long time, but occur only infrequently and only in some regions such as cattle tick, buffalo fly, liver fluke and three day sickness. If there is a disease outbreak your own farm may be damaged or even completely ruined financially. The community and wider livestock industries may also be affected, particularly our ability to maintain access to important export markets. A notifiable disease must be reported immediately to relevant authorities. If a producer suspects, or can confirm, that an animal is showing symptoms of a notifiable disease it must be reported to a local vet or by phoning the Emergency Animal Disease Watch Hotline.

PROTECTING AUSTRALIA’S BEEF INDUSTRY Only introduce animals of known health status Purchase cattle directly from the breeder Isolate introduced animals for a period before they are mixed with the rest of your herd Introduce genetic material – semen, ova and embryos – from tested animals Use NLIS ear tags to trace cattle. Ask guests to fill in a biosecurity check form Quarantine imported agricultural products and livestock.