Western Australia’s live cattle trade could be ‘stopped overnight’ by lumpy skin disease, Littleproud warns

WA’s live cattle trade would grind to a halt for the first time since the 2011 live export ban if a disease running rampant in Indonesia broke out in the State’s north, Federal Agriculture Minister David Littleproud has warned. Lumpy skin disease was identified in Sumatra in early March, sparking fears the potentially fatal illness could soon spread to Australia. The Australian Government was put on high alert after Indonesia notified the World Organisation for Animal Health on March 3 of the detection of the disease in cattle across 31 villages in Riau Province. Mr Littleproud made the shock revelation in Darwin on Wednesday while announcing a $61.6 million Federal funding package to boost biosecurity in Northern Australia. He said lumpy skin disease was “now on Australia’s doorstep” and the live export trade would be stopped overnight if it arrived here. “If we got lumpy skin into this country, and particularly for Northern Australia, you would lose your export markets overnight and that would devastate the Northern Territory straight out,” Mr Littleproud said. “The export protocols and risk assessments that other countries have with us preclude the export of those animals, as we would those imported into Australia if it was ever to happen. “It is simply around risk assessments that are done between countries in negotiating market access... so that’s why we’re moving swiftly.” The Australian Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment has been engaging with senior Indonesian officials to help stop the spread of lumpy skin disease since the outbreak was detected. At the time, Mr Littleproud said DAWE was “examining all available options”, providing technical support to Indonesia and undertaking targeted surveillance activities across northern Australia in partnership with State and Territory governments. Australia’s Chief Veterinary Officer Mark Schipp will visit Indonesia this week to work with the Indonesian Government to “make sure that it doesn’t spread to Australia”, Mr Littleproud said Wednesday. He said $15 million had been allocated in the fight against lumpy skin disease and would go towards “keeping surveillance crews on the ground” and expediting an approved vaccine. “APVMA (Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority) will be provided with some money to undertake those urgent applications for approvals of those vaccines,” Mr Littleproud said. “There’s a number of vaccines around the world and what we’re trying to identify is what is the best way, not just for cattle, but for buffaloes as well, so we’re trying to prioritise what is the best one for Australia.” Lumpy skin disease has never been detected in Australia, however, it has been spreading rapidly throughout the world in recent years and has become established in Africa, the Middle East, South-East Europe, Kazakhstan and Russia. The disease causes emaciation, painful skin lesions, fever, watery eyes, loss of appetite, sluggishness, decreased milk production, damaged hides, reproductive losses and in some cases death. It is spread by biting flies, mosquitoes and possibly ticks, as well as the movement of infected animals or contaminated products and equipment, according to DAWE. Cattle producers should report any signs of the disease immediately to the Emergency Animal Disease Watch Hotline on 1800 675 888. An outbreak in Australia would have significant trade impacts on live export, and for exporters of dairy products, genetic materials, hides and meat products. Australia’s cattle industry is worth about $15 billion, with the live cattle trade dominated by the Northern Territory, WA and Queensland. The live cattle trade has not faced such an existential threat since 2011, when the Federal Government banned the export of feeder and slaughter cattle to Indonesia for six months. The controversial ban came after ABC’s Four Corners broadcast disturbing footage of Australian cattle subject to cruelty in Indonesian abattoirs, prompting public backlash. The debacle also led to the implementation of the Exporter Supply Chain Assurance System — a strict set of rules imposed on the industry to ensure animals exported for slaughter were subject to standards and practices acceptable to the Australian public.