Issue 27

April 2018

 
 

MESSAGE FROM THE CEO

 
 

THE WEATHER IS COOLING BUT AHA IS HEATING UP!

 

WORLD VETERINARY DAY 2018
April 28 was World Veterinary day, the annual celebration of the veterinary profession. We have a number of vets that work in our staff here at AHA and it's a great opportunity to have the profession recognised on an international level. Find out more here

 

EVENTS
A number of AHA and LBN staff - including myself – are heading to Rockhampton, QLD for Beef Australia 2018 on 6-12 May. I'm looking forward to engaging with producers and the public as well as taking in all that Beef Australia 2018 has to offer! Some of the AHA team will also be attending the annual Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) conference on 13-17 May. If you see our staff at any of these events come up and have a chat, they'd love to meet you!

 

MARINE PEST EXERCISE 2

Continuing on from Marine Pest Exercise 1 in February, our staff facilitated Marine Pest Exercise 2 on 9-12 April in Sydney. Check out the great photo below!

 

WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT AHA?

​We have developed a fantastic suite of fact sheets about AHA and some of the core projects we work on. If you've ever wanted to learn more about who we are and what we do, visit our website​ to read these materials. 

 

I hope you enjoy reading this month's edition of Animal Health Express. 

 

Kathleen Plowman, CEO

 
 
 

AHA and Member updates

 
 

Image supplied: Australian Alpaca Association

Australian Alpaca Association 2018

 

Australian Alpaca Association, news, 5 April 2018

Australian Alpaca Weekend will take place on 5-6 May 2018, although some farms will open for longer.


Whether you are interested in joining this growing agricultural industry, thinking of owning just a few alpacas as pets, or simply want to learn more, visit a farm and talk to a breeder in your area.

 

Find an open alpaca farm near you!


In the meantime, if you would like more information about alpacas, please email  at info@alpaca.asn.au and ask for a free information kit.

 
 
 
 

Beef up investment for longevity of the goat industry

 

Katie Davis, The Land, 5 April 2018

 

There are a lot of hot topics in the goat industry at the moment but something that’s not well understood is the patchwork of industry bodies and service providers working to deliver benefits back to producers.

 

Read more

 
 
 
 

Marine Pest Exercise 2

 

Continuing on from Marine Pest Exercise 1 in February, our staff facilitated Marine Pest Exercise 2 on 9-12 April, focusing on the operational elements of an emergency animal disease response and the potential impact these response activities may have. Feedback from the exercise have been very positive so far.

 

Find out more about the Marine Pest Exercise here

 
 
 
 

Initial testing reveal positive results for white spot disease in Moreton Bay

 

Biosecurity Queensland, 10 April 2018

 

The latest round of surveillance has been completed in the Moreton Bay area for white spot disease, with some initial tests returning positive results for the virus that causes white spot disease.

 

Read more

 
 
 
 

Aquatic biosecurity awareness - what's it all about?

 

Animal Health Australia, media release, 16 April 2018


The first in a series of six Northern Australia Aquatic Biosecurity Awareness workshops kick off in Darwin on Wednesday 18 April. 
The workshops offer biosecurity awareness training including: prevention; early detection of disease; control measures to prevent spread; and eradication.

 

Read more

 
 
 
 

National Sheep Health Declaration

 

Don’t forget to use a Sheep Health Declaration whenever you’re buying, selling or agisting sheep.
It can help you assess biosecurity risks and make an informed decision about the stock you bring onto your property.



To download click here

 
 
 
 

Australian Veterinary Antimicrobial Stewardship Conference 2018

 

AVAMS 2018

The Office of the Australian Chief Veterinary Officer, Australian livestock industries and other animal health stakeholders are planning an inaugural Australian Veterinary Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS) conference in November 2018.

 

Read more

 
 
 
 

Biosecurity is central to Animal health

 

Dr Rob Barwell, The Wool Press, 12 April 2018

 

Biosecurity is an important topic in the livestock industry, with wide-ranging implications at the government, industry and farm levels. These not only include concerns around animal health, welfare, food safety and market access, but also around productivity – and by extension profitability.

 

Read more

 
 

Andrew has been interning with us for the past few weeks as part of his final year of State Veterinary Medicine at Charles Sturt University - CSU. He's been under the guidance of our Senior Manager, Biosecurity Dr Rob Barwell.

 

19 April was his last day and Canberra turned on the weather for a lunchtime run up Mt Ainslie! We've loved having Andrew here and wish him the best of luck in the future!

 
 
 

Farm Biosecurity Newsletter

 
 
 

IN THE NEWS

 
 

Disease-resistant oysters released in Adelaide's Port River in new trial

 

Brooke Neindorf, SA Country Hour, 4 April 2018

 

A trial of oysters resistant to Pacific Oyster Mortality Syndrome (POMS) in Adelaide's Port River is the latest effort to counter the devastating disease.


The discovery of POMS in the river has triggered a number of responses, including a ban on local molluscs being taken as bait.

 

Read more

 
 
 
 

Warnings Tasmania's feral deer population could reach one million, new study to investigate

 

Lucy Stone, Central Western Daily, 2 April 2018

 

Tasmania could face more than a million feral deer without proper management to control population growth. A new study will investigate both the present and potential distribution of deer across the state and look closely at their impact on sensitive ecological communities such as the World Heritage Area.

 

Read more

 
 
 
 

Biosecurity officers working closely with Beef Australia

 

Queensland Country Life, 6 April 2018
 

Biosecurity Queensland has partnered with the organisers of Beef Australia 2018 to make sure no unwanted pests make it into this year’s event.

All aspects of animal husbandry, including feed, water and bedding have been taken into consideration for the major event with a vet on standby to deal with any stock-related injuries or illnesses.

 

Read more

 
 

QUICK BITS

 
 

Red Centre tackling feral problem

 

ABC Rural, 14 April 2018
 

In the red centre of Australia more than 30 rangers, scientists and conservationists from Central and Western Australia have come together to discuss the methods of tracking and trapping feral cats.

 

Read more

New Q fever vaccine six years away

 

Stock Journal, 18 April 2018

 

An improved human Q fever vaccine could be available in six years time if further funding to conduct testing and research can be secured.

 

Read more

Forward to a friend!

 


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UPCOMING EVENTS

 
 
 

6-12

May

 
 

Australia’s national beef expo is one of the world’s great beef cattle events and is held just once every three years in Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia. Beef Australia 2018 will be held from May 6 to 12 and will be a celebration of all facets of the Australian beef industry.

 
 
 
 
 
 

13-18

May

 
 

The AVA Annual Conference is the nation's premier veterinary event, covering all fields of veterinary science and in 2017 brought together over 920 veterinary professionals and 115 exhibitors.
Hosted at the Brisbane Convention Centre from 13-18 May. 

 
 
 
 
 
 

11-13

November

 
 

Save the date - The Australian Veterinary Antimicrobial Stewardship Conference Organising Committee is pleased to announce the 1st Australian Veterinary Antimicrobial Stewardship Conference will be held at the Novotel Twin Waters, Sunshine Coast QLD on 11-13 Nov 2018.

 

 

 
 
 

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Office location: Level 2, 95 Northbourne Ave, Turner ACT 2612