Don’t let your agistment income be chewed up by disease

By Dr Jess Coad Livestock Biosecurity Network regional manager

For many farmers, entering into agistment arrangements makes good business sense – especially during dry times, following floods, and when sheep and cattle prices are strong.

But bringing agistment livestock on to your property can pose a serious risk for introducing diseases, pests and weeds if biosecurity measures aren’t in place.

Some diseases can have huge productivity and trade impacts on enterprises, resulting in economic losses and often changes in management practice.

One of those risks is Johne’s Disease (JD) in cattle, an incurable infection that results in death. Farmers considering their agistment options should be aware of recent changes to the management of JD in cattle and consider the following to maintain good on-farm biosecurity:

The new National Cattle Health Declaration (updated 1/8/2016) is a useful tool for providing information on the prior health history of cattle. It’s a good idea to view a signed copy before making an agistment decision.
The new Johne’s Beef Assurance Score (available on the Animal Health Australia website) will ensure you don’t agist cattle of lower Johne’s status.
Agisting adult cattle (24 months or older) that are infected but not yet showing clinical signs of JD can contaminate pastures with JD causing bacteria by shedding it in their dung. These pastures can remain contaminated for many months, and sometimes for over a year. Grazing contaminated pasture is a high risk for infection for cattle less than 12 months of age. Grazing management of young stock – so not to be exposed to contaminated pasture – is particularly important and should be a consideration when agisting cattle.

JD prevention, agistment considerations and more will be covered in a series of one-day farm biosecurity planning workshops targeted at farm owners, managers, and staff across Tasmania during September. Locations include Campbell Town (Monday 5 September), Winnaleah (Tuesday 6 September), Smithton (Thursday 8 September), and Flinders Island (Tuesday 13 September).

Learn how farm biosecurity can reduce the risk of pests, diseases, weeds, contaminants, and residues – then leave with a first draft of a biosecurity plan for your farm. Tips on how to manage farm visitors (e.g. utility companies), will be included, as well as how to manage agistment/stray livestock and how to satisfy abattoir farm assurance program biosecurity requirements. As an extra bonus, attendees will take home a free farm biosecurity gate sign.

Dr Jess Coad is the Livestock Biosecurity Network’s regional manager for Tasmania. She can be contacted or 0488 400 209 or email jcoad@lbn.or.au

Media contact: Kate Leahy, Cox Inall Communications, katel@coxinall.com.au or 0437 231 150.

Ends.