Three things producers should know about biosecurity 

The Beef24 seminar series kicked off with “Are you ready? Biosecurity perspectives on emergency animal disease response” on Monday. Here are three key learnings from the event. 

The difference between perceived risk and risk 

Chief Veterinary Officer for Queensland Alison Crook practically highlighted that when owning livestock, there was always the chance for disease. 

“There’s no such thing as zero risk. Risk is always present, but it’s how it changes that we need to be interested in and alert to and informed about,” Ms Crook said. 

She said this risk was constantly changing, identifying changes in land use and changes in movement of people and produce as contributing factors. 

The impact of climate change, particularly in regards to the movement of insects, was another key factor in risk. 

She also highlighted that “perceived risk” is also constantly changing, largely thanks to media reporting. 

“The alphabet of diseases that have been mentioned, in Australia we are free of all of them,” Ms Crook said. 

“It’s the perception of risk that creates anxiety about risk.” 

Biosecurity is life security 

For Central Queensland beef producer Brigid Price, from the Price Cattle Company, who was named the 2023 Farm Biosecurity Producer of the Year, “biosecurity is life security”. 

It’s a catchphrase that impressed Animal Health Australia so much that they’ve even printed it on T-Shirts. 

Ms Price said her life security included her family, farm and livestock.  

“We need a healthy herd and productive pastures and we need to make sure the people looking after them are in good health as well,” she said. 

When Ms Price wrote the farm’s biosecurity plan it had to include contractors the business uses and most importantly she didn’t want it to just sit on a shelf – it had to be accountable. 

It also needed to go beyond the automatic biosecurity measures that everyone does, and include actions to be taken in the event of an outbreak. 

“Biosecurity is not just Borderforce, it’s not a TV, it’s our reality,” she said. 

She believes this groundwork and then the preventive measure that they now insist on, like quarantine paddocks for new stock, good fences and fresh third party washdowns for contractors, will have them set up to respond well in the event of an outbreak.  

Peace-time is the best time to prepare 

David McNab is the Manager for Emergency Animal Disease Preparedness Projects with the Animal Biosecurity team based in Brisbane and pointed out there is a difference between prevention and preparedness. 

“Prevention is the things you do to stop the disease getting onto your place,” he said. 

“Preparedness is the things we do to prepare for the event of an outbreak.” 

A key part of preparedness for producers is using NLIS, which can be used to trace livestock movements, and therefore disease movement. 

Ms Crook is ready in the event an outbreak occurs. 

“It’s very easy, I’ve got a job list, I know exactly what to do,” she said. 

This is thanks to the Emergency Animal Disease Response Agreement - which was agreed to by all states 20 years ago. 

Animal Health Australia Chief Executive Dr Samantha Allan said this document, known as “the deed” sets out how decisions are made through the response and how the costs will be shared. 

The Australian Emergency Veterinary Plan – which contains over 60 manuals – would also be used in the event of an outbreak. 

“In peace time we have some tough discussions,” Dr Allan said. 

“We’re committed to keeping them current and reviewing them with industry input.”