The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) has set up surveillance networks to help people keep up-to-date with livestock health issues in their area.
The Department said sheep producers in Esperance and Ravensthorpe and cattle producers in the Great Southern should join the networks.
The project uses SMS technology to help protect Western Australia’s biosecurity and livestock markets.
Veterinary Officer at DPIRD, Kristine Rayner said the networks aimed to provide members with up-to-date information about health issues occurring in these regions, while strengthening the ability to more rapidly detect new or exotic diseases.
“These networks have benefits both for local producers and for animal health surveillance in Western Australia,” Dr Rayner said.
“Producer members will receive a regular surveillance report for their region, which will help members make informed on-farm decisions that improve animal health and production.”
She said the State had a reputation for producing healthy livestock, and animal health surveillance systems helped to prove that livestock was free from diseases.
“These surveillance networks are designed to strengthen this system,” Dr Rayner said.
“Network members will participate in a short series of SMS text messages each fortnight asking if they have seen any illness in their sheep or cattle.”
She said the information would be collated in monthly reports outlining what illnesses had been occurring in their area, what the common causes were and what they might be able do about them.
“Members who report signs of illness in their sheep or cattle can request a follow-up phone call from a DPIRD vet to discuss their health queries,” Dr Rayner said.
She said DPIRD had previously ran a successful pilot SMS network for cattle producers, which was co-funded by the Federal Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment.
