Publication Date

7-2002

Series Number

Miscellaneous Publication 6/2001

Publisher

Department of Agriculture Western Australia

City

Perth

ISSN

1326-4168

Abstract

StockGuard has been initiated to develop a series of biosecurity plans for the animal industries in Western Australia. Through StockGuard, representatives from the animal industries have been working with the Department of Agriculture to identify the major threats to each of the animal industries and to develop action plans detailing how these threats will be managed.

The recent Foot and Mouth outbreak in the United Kingdom is a stark example of the potential for exotic disease to devastate an animal industry. The UK experience, along with the 1999 outbreak of virulent Newcastle disease in poultry in New South Wales have brought home how critical adequate biosecurity plans are in the event of a large emergency disease outbreak. Similarly, the recent discovery of a goat infected with Johne's disease in Western Australia, highlights the need to establish funding and compensation agreements well in advance of a disease incursion.

The following Biosecurity Plan has been formulated by a Working Group set up as part of the StockGuard initiative - StockGuard - Sheep and Goat Working Group. The Working Group consisted of key industry and government bodies involved with the sheep and goat industries.

In the Biosecurity Plan we outline potential threats to the productivity and sustainability of the sheep and goat industries and through risk analyses detail what action is needed to improve the protection measures currently in place.

It should be emphasised that the Biosecurity Plan covers plans specific to Western Australia. However. it also recognises that there are many national plans in place for the protection of the Australian sheep and goat industries and that the State plan should complement these.

The StockGuard - Sheep and Goat Industries Biosecurity Plan identifies potential threats to the sheep and goat industries and documents recommendations and action plans to manage these threats.

Our ability to keep the sheep and goat industries free of disease and residues is closely linked to our export future. Consumers all over the world are now demanding that their food is not only free of disease and residues but also that animal products have been produced under stringent animal welfare and human health standards. Markets can be lost on the mere perception that animal welfare standards have not been met or because a previously unimportant disease or residue becomes an issue

Number of Pages

65

Keywords

Sheep, Goat, Biosecurity, Western Australia

Disciplines

Agricultural Science | Agriculture | Animal Diseases | Biosecurity | Business Administration, Management, and Operations | Immunology and Infectious Disease | Parasitology | Sheep and Goat Science | Strategic Management Policy

Comments

Protecting the Sheep and Goat industries is everyone's business

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