Increasing cattle tick and tick fever outbreaks in the Northern Rivers region has inspired Northern NSW beef producers to lobby for a return to stricter control measures at the NSW Farmers Annual Conference this week.
The NSW Farmers Far North Coast branch led a series of motions aimed at revitalising the NSW Cattle Tick Control Program and dip facilities for livestock, which were backed by farmer members from the New England.
The conference also passed policy to oppose the cattle tick Owner Treatment Program (OTP), which farmers fear will white ant the existing government funded program.
Cattle ticks are the most serious external parasite of cattle in Australia, according to Meat & Livestock Australia. The tick can carry the disease ‘tick fever’, which can kill beef and dairy cattle. They are endemic in ‘Tick Infested Zones’ in Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory, with sporadic NSW outbreaks as far south as Kempsey.
Outbreaks in the New England region are rare. In 2011, a beef property at Deepwater was quarantined following the deaths of seven head of cattle due to tick fever.
NSW Farmers Far North Coast branch Chair, Craig Huf, said controlling and eradicating cattle ticks is crucial to the viability of the cattle industry across north-eastern NSW.
“Our industry would be a real jeopardy if cattle ticks became endemic in northern NSW,” Mr Huf said.
Mr Huf, who runs a beef cattle herd at Burringbar, said there is widespread concern about the potential to move to a self-managed cattle tick program as tick fever cases rise across the Far North Coast.
“Our branch consulted extensively with cattle producers and livestock agents across the Tweed valley, and there is not much faith in the government’s direction towards an owner treatment program.”
“It would throw the door open for further reductions in funding for the cattle tick program.”
“We just don’t think the issue and the potential impact to the NSW beef industry is being taken seriously enough, so we took it to the NSW Farmers Annual Conference.”
Tick fever and cattle ticks are notifiable under NSW biosecurity legislation and livestock owners travelling from the Queensland cattle tick infested zone are required by law to ensure their animals are cattle tick free.
The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) estimates an endemic cattle stick status would produce a $32 million annual bill for the NSW beef industry.
The state government has funded an eradication and detection program since the 1920s. 1600 cattle dips were once the primary control method for controlling cattle ticks but have been mostly removed from the program when it transitioned to a search and eradication policy in 1995, supported by enhanced surveillance.
Today, the program focuses on movement controls, eradication strategies, and providing advice to the livestock industry, which the NSW Government says costs $4 million annually.
Northern Rivers beef producer Anna Gilliland said when the data is showing an increase in outbreaks and deaths, stricter measures need to be taken.
“The Cattle Tick Program is to control and eradicate cattle tick. When compulsory dipping was in place this pest was effectively controlled, but now there are only 7 active dips in the region including Murwillumbah after the measure was discontinued in 1995,” Mrs Gilliland said.
“Reactivating 34 lapsed dips should be considered to strengthen control measures, and more boots on the ground are desperately needed to implement the Cattle Tick program processes, support farmers and ensure compliance.”
One of the policies passed at the NSW Farmers conference was to lobby for the full funding of maintenance costs of existing dips and exploring the establishment of new facilities or re-opening de-commissioned facilities.
“The NSW border serves as a key buffer against ticks coming in from Queensland, but farmers are sometimes experiencing months-long delays to start treatment, which raises serious concerns.
“Without stronger oversight tick outbreaks could worsen, which is why the government needs to reassess the program and implement stronger biosecurity measures before the situation deteriorates even further.”
NSW DPIRD Cattle Tick Operations leader, Larry Falls, said early intervention is key to minimising the spread and impact of cattle tick and tick fever.
“The NSW record of movement for cattle tick lists the mandatory biosecurity requirements which must be followed when bringing cattle from cattle tick infested areas into NSW and moving from cattle tick restricted properties in NSW,” Mr Fall said.
“Following these biosecurity requirements helps prevent the introduction and spread of cattle tick and minimises costs and losses to your enterprise and livestock industries.”
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