Council promotes biosecurity amid FMD concerns

Published on 05 August 2022

HRLE market day with sheep.png

Horsham Rural City Council has moved to reassure the region’s farmers that it has been proactively preparing for any impacts related to the overseas spate of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD).

Agriculture Victoria Officers recently briefed Council on the risk and effects FMD could have on the farming industry across Victoria.

Commercial Enterprises Coordinator Paul Christopher said Council managed the Horsham Regional Livestock Exchange and annually reviewed and updated its Livestock Standstill Plan.

“The Horsham Regional Livestock Exchange prides itself on its biosecurity practices and has been proactive in preparation for any outbreak related to FMD,” Mr Christopher said.

“The facility has a saleyard standstill plan and agents who sell through the yards have been briefed on its detail and staff are in the process a building a boot wash.

“We understand the key to our region’s biosecurity is livestock traceability. All livestock that are sold or go through our yards in transit are traceable via the National Livestock Identification System (NLIS),” Mr Christopher said.

“This ensures the facility is, and remains, one of the safest and most bio-secure facilities in the region.

We’re also encouraging all farmers remain vigilant in their NLIS practices and ensure their farm biosecurity plans are up to date.

“We all need to make sure we’re prepared to take the appropriate action when required to protect our livestock industry from an outbreak,” Mr Christopher said.

FMD affects cloven-hoofed animals such as cattle, buffalo, camels, sheep, goats, pigs and deer.

There are outbreaks in Indonesia.

While viral fragments have been discovered in Australia, not any of them were live.

Sanitation mats are now in place at Australian airports for those returning from Bali and Indonesia to stop FMD from crossing the border.

There are hygiene actions that every person can take to help avoid bringing endemic diseases into the country. 

  • Get rid of biosecurity foodstuffs before you leave the airport
  • Don’t visit farms and industries for seven days on your return
  • Hand sanitise, blow your nose etc

For more information about Foot and Mouth Disease and the precautions you can take, please visit the Agriculture Victoria website.

For upcoming webinars Agriculture Victoria webinars on the matter, visit its events page.

Tagged as: