POULTRY S&GS

Public consultation for the draft Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines for Poultry has now commenced and will remain open until 5pm Monday 26 Feb 2018. The draft standards mark a significant step forward in poultry welfare in Australia, moving from the existing voluntary system to national regulation. Click here for more info. 

 

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR

On behalf of the Board and staff of AHA, I wish you safe, restful and enjoyable holidays and look forward to working with you in the new year to further advance our animal health system objectives.

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

Agriculture Victoria, Media release, 7 December 2017

 

Results of extensive testing for Bluetongue virus (BTV) undertaken in Victoria demonstrate that past exposure of cattle to the virus through local transmission has occurred in a small number of animals.

The implications of the findings have been comprehensively reviewed with the conclusion that the temporary BTV zone can now be lifted. 

 

Read more

 

Louise Yaxley, ABC News, 19 December 2017

 

Five new faces have been promoted to the Federal Cabinet as part of Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's reshuffle.

In a surprise appointment, first-term Nationals backbencher David Littleproud will be the new Agriculture Minister.

 

Read more

Cattle Council of Australia, 1 December 2017

Applications are now open for the Australian Institute of Company Directors Course through Cattle Council of Australia (CCA) and Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA). 

CCA and MLA wish to provide beef producers the opportunity to improve their skills and knowledge within their business to ensure a sustainable and productive cattle industry through the Australian Institute of Company Directors Course.

 

The course is open to all grassfed cattle producers that have a desire to provide leadership within the grassfed beef industry.

 

Read more

Sheep Producers Australia (SPA) has selected 14 participants to be part of its Sheep Industry Leadership Program, to be run in 2018.

The successful applicants work throughout the sheepmeat value chain representing producers, agribusiness, researchers, marketing and communications and industry consultants – from all sheep producing states.

Queensland Country Life, 6 December

 

The Australian pig industry is gearing up for the 2018 biennial Pan Pacific Pork Expo (PPPE).

Registrations are now open for the two day event held at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre on 30-31 May.

 

Read more

 

Kat Giles, The Land, 8 December 2017

 

Building industry leadership capacity has been identified by SPA as one of the critical factors to ensure the future success of the sheep industry.

 

Read more

NSW DPI Biosecurity, 14 December 

 

NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) is calling on the public to remain vigilant this summer to ensure NSW remains free of White spot disease.

NSW DPI want to make sure everyone is aware of movement restrictions that apply in certain areas of south east Queensland to prevent further spread.

 

Read more. 

Brett Worthington, ABC Rural, 28 November 2017

 

The newly installed boss of Australia's chemical regulator concedes it is "unsustainable" for the organisation to continue its current trajectory and is vowing to overhaul the agency as it relocates from Canberra.

 

Read more

 

Laura Beavis, ABC Rural, 5 December 2017

 

Oyster lovers should get ready to pay more for their Christmas seafood treats, as southern Tasmanian growers battle with reduced or ruined harvests due to environmental catastrophes.

 

Read more

 

​Rosie King, ABC Rural, 9 December 2017

 

The number of emu farms across Australia is dwindling, but Ian Marston's not giving up on his long-legged beauties any time soon.
He is betting on their oil being the next big thing in health products, maybe even as big as fish oil.

 

Read more

Catherine Heuzenroeder, ABC Rural, 6 December 2017

 

Could carp be the new calamari?
Consumer demand for the introduced river pest has been growing rapidly in Australia in recent years.​

 

Read more

 

Andrew Marshall, Queensland Country Life, 18 December 2017

 

Cashed up livestock producers aren’t just spending their extra earnings on new yards, fences, or extra farmland – they are putting extra money into animal health tactics, too.​

 

Read more

Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation

Participation involves the completion of an online questionnaire (around 30 mins) that includes questions on animal health monitoring, preferred communication methods and information sources.

• Sheep survey
• Cattle survey
• Goat survey