Welcome to Agritalk.

This week we are going to be talking about the National TSE Surveillance Program.

The program was been established to confirm that Australia remains free from Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathies (BSE or Mad Cow Disease) & Scrapie.  Farmers can now be paid more when they submit eligible cattle and sheep for testing as part of the national surveillance program.

From 1 July the incentive paid for cattle will be $300 per head and sheep $50 per head with a maximum of two from each herd or flock.

To be included in the program animals need to be showing neurological signs.  For example star gazing, staggers, in-coordination, constant trembling, increased sensitivity to sound or touch.  Cattle must be over 30 months of age and less than nine years of age.  Sheep must be over 18 months of age and less than nine years of age.

Mary Carr, PIRSA’s TSE Coordinator says the increase will hopefully encourage more producers to submit suspect animals for testing.

“The increased incentive more closely reflects the value of the animals and recognises the effort of producers to submit animals,” says Mary.

“Australia began active surveillance for mad cow diease and scrapie in 1990.  Each year South Australia tests at least 25 cattle and 55 sheep.  The disease has never been found.”
The cattle and sheep need to be examined alive by your local veterinarian or PIRSA Animal Health Officer.

“A full post mortem will be performed with brain and other tissue samples collected.
“Where possible a diagnosis of what is causing the unusual signs will be made.  This will provide useful information for ongoing management and disease control on the property.”

The National Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies Surveillance Program (NTSESP) is an integrated national program jointly funded by governments and livestock industries to demonstrate Australia’s ongoing freedom from BSE (Mad Cow Disease) and Scrapie and provide early detection of those diseases should they ever occur.  For more information, or to report animals that are showing these signs, contact your local Animal Health Officer or vetinarian.

For more information on any other edition of Agritalk, go to www.ruralsolutions.sa.gov.au click on News then Radio you will find a transcript of this program along with lots of handy links to the things discussed.

Information kindly supplied by Tara Vandaleur, PIRSA Animal Health