SA better prepared for animal disease outbreaks

The livestock industry liaison training increases effective communication between the state government and local industry in the event of an animal disease outbreak.

Primary Industries Minister David Basham said 54 industry representatives were now trained and ready to act as an industry liaison during an outbreak.

"Our $4.5-billion livestock industry is vitally important to the state's economy and should an emergency animal disease outbreak, such as foot and mouth disease, ever occur it could have devastating impacts," he said.

"If we have a new animal disease outbreak, it is really important that affected industries are represented around the decision-making table and able to communicate what is happening to industry quickly.

RELATED READING: Deadly dog disease 'explodes' across the north

"I hope we never have to call on these industry representatives, but we have to be prepared.

"This training provides industry an opportunity to understand how the Livestock Industry Liaison role operates within an outbreak and how their input can ensure a successful outcome."

Livestock SA biosecurity extension officer Penelope Keynes, one of the trainees, said in an outbreak situation it was important to have people on the ground.

"Any disease outbreak requires knowledgeable industry members to be a conduit between industry and the response efforts, this role enables this to hopefully increase efficiencies and improve the outcomes of an EAD," she said.

"All aspects of the livestock industry need to be prepared for an outbreak and let hope it never eventuates, but then we never expected COVID would happen, so now is a good time to think about what we need to do to be prepared."

Start the day with all the big news in agriculture. Sign up here to receive our daily Stock Journal newsletter.