Live export industry welcomes $1.2 million boost to help Indonesia vaccinate cattle and create buffer zones

The nation’s live export industry has welcomed the launch of a $2 million project to help their Indonesian counterparts vaccinate cattle and create buffer zones around feedlots where Australian stock are being held. The Federal Government and industry cash will be used to roll out vaccines for foot-and-mouth disease and lumpy skin disease — two serious threats to Australia’s livestock industry and forms part of a $14m biosecurity package. Announced late last month, the $2.1 million project has been bankrolled with $1.1 million from the Federal Government and $1 million from industry — which has been on high alert since the outbreak of both diseases earlier this year. An outbreak of FMD in Australia has been predicted to cost the nation’s economy more than $80 billion. The bulk of funds have been provided to research body LiveCorp, while a further $550,000 has been provided to Meat and Livestock Australia for an Indonesia Biosecurity Support Project which aims to train those working in the industry in biosecurity and emergency response. LiveCorp chair Troy Setter said the funds would boost to efforts by Australian exporters and industry to support their Indonesian counterparts in managing biosecurity risks. He said many of the farmers located near feedlots were small landholders with one or two animals, and the funding would help “protect their livestock and livelihoods”. “Exporters have strong, long-term relationships in Indonesia and have already been working closely with supply chain partners to provide information and bolster biosecurity efforts,” Mr Setter said. “Importantly, this grant will also help to create buffer zones around feedlots and other facilities where Australian-bred cattle are being held, lowering their risk of FMD and LSD while supporting local families.” The disease outbreaks earlier this year had a significant effect on Indonesia’s food security, accessibility and affordability. Importers were also hesitant to bring in cattle in the early stages, given high livestock prices in Australia and initial uncertainty around the availability of vaccines. “The number of Australian-bred cattle in Indonesia is starting to pick up again, and those being imported these days are being vaccinated on arrival to protect them from infection,” Mr Setter said. “The grant will provide partial reimbursement of the cost of LSD and FMD vaccines and equipment, and support the coordination and logistics of getting them into communities where the facilities are located.” Federal Agriculture Minister Murray Watt said the first year of the MLA project — which started this month and has been boosted by $1m from Australia’s live export industry — would include an in-country risk assessment and mitigation plan, development of feedlot manuals, and training delivery focused on biosecurity and emergency response in Indonesia. “While the gaze of the mainstream may have wandered from the threat of exotic animal diseases like FMD and LSD, our focus on keeping them out of Australia has sharpened,” he said. “The LiveCorp project will partially reimburse the cost of FMD and LSD vaccine programs used for buffer zone vaccination, focusing on encouraging vaccination of susceptible species surrounding feedlots and facilities across Indonesia and supporting the welfare of smallholders within these communities. “It will leverage livestock export industry networks to distribute FMD and LSD vaccines effectively across Indonesia.” Mr Watt said it was critical the nation continued to protect our animal health status by working together with other countries. “Our strong relationship with our neighbouring countries is also helping us to continue to safeguard our agriculture sector and the industries on which it relies,” he said. The Federal Government’s October budget included a $134m downpayment for long-term biosecurity funding, by investing in front line staff, 20 new detector dogs and stronger defences against the threat of FMD and other diseases.