Representatives from across the Tasmanian beef and dairy industries are forming a Tasmanian Cattle Health taskforce.
The move has been prompted by a need to improve awareness and understanding of optimal cattle health, welfare, and biosecurity practices.
One of its first actions is to find strategies to increase producers’ awareness of management options to prevent the introduction and spread of Bovine Johne’s disease.
The Taskforce was established after Tasmanian Livestock Biosecurity Network (LBN) Regional Officer Dr Jess Coad invited industry representatives to workshop the impact of pests and diseases on Tasmanian cattle.
“Cattle pests and diseases can influence the health, welfare and productivity of infected animals, which can ultimately influence the sustainability and profitability of the industry,” Ms Coad said.
‘This Taskforce will strategise ways they could be better controlled, and possibly eradicated, through targeted cattle health management and on-farm biosecurity practices,” she said.
The Taskforce members represented beef and dairy producers, abattoirs, milk processing companies, veterinarians, government, advocacy bodies, livestock agents, and livestock health, welfare and biosecurity extension programs.
“Importantly, Taskforce members have on the ground experience, and are able to identify where industry knowledge is lacking, and are able to strategise ways those gaps can be filled,” she said.
The inaugural chair of the Taskforce is Dr Craig Dwyer, of Smithton Veterinary Service – a past committee member of the Tasmanian division of the Australia Veterinary Association and State representative for the Australian Cattle Vets.
Source: Stock & Land