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Foot-and-mouth disease
Agricultural tourism and working holidays are a big part of many farm operations, though naturally these activities pose a big risk of introducing or spreading diseases, pests and weeds. In the wake of a number of large agricultural events, many of which have featured displays, open days and property tours, Animal Health Australia and Plant […]
The recent detection of tick fever on two properties on the New South Wales Mid North Coast has prompted a reminder to cattle producers to manage pests and the diseases they can carry as part of their on-farm biosecurity plan. While cattle ticks are uncommon so far south, Animal Health Australia’s Senior Manager Biosecurity, Dr […]
Zoning is the division of your farm into separate areas based on the level of biosecurity that is needed to minimise the possibility of pests and diseases from coming onto and moving around your property. Generally, three zones are required to limit access according to the risk status of the area. In order of increasing […]
You may be aware of the current outbreak of Mycoplasma bovis and the eradication effort that is underway in New Zealand. M. bovis is present in Australia, so you may wonder why the response in New Zealand is so different to that in Australia, and whether there is anything you should be doing to protect […]
A big part of any on-farm biosecurity plan is managing the introduction of new livestock to the property. As with all farm inputs, new animals can bring in weed seeds, insect pests, disease agents and other parasites, any of which can have a big impact on your property. You can manage these risks in a […]
While it might be tempting to trade seed ‘over the fence’ for sowing, the biosecurity risks associated with using uncertified seed should be considered carefully. Dr Sharyn Taylor, coordinator of the Grains Farm Biosecurity Program run by Plant Health Australia, says sowing uncertified seed poses an unknown level of risk to production. “In addition to […]
Traceability is an important part of the national animal health system. Identifying livestock and recording their movements allows us to track where an animal has come from, who or what has come into contact with that animal and where it has gone. For nearly a decade, cattle, sheep and goat producers have been required to […]
