ISC are encouraging livestock producers to be as proactive as they can. That’s every person involved in each stage of the process, from paddock to plate.”Īwareness and concern about FMD and LSD are heightened in the current risk situation. “When the integrity system is working well, it benefits everyone along the red meat supply chain. “It’s important producers consider things like is the animal weight bearing and walking on all four legs, can it see properly out of both eyes, is it in late stages of pregnancy, does it have a wound or injury that would become worse through transport or need veterinary attention?” “This mistake is often a case of not observing the stock closely enough and assessing them correctly before they're loaded,” Alex said. She’s observed that it’s often the honest mistakes made by producers, such as loading the wrong animal for sale or processing, which can catch them out. Not only does NLIS use information from animal tags to provide a history of an animal's movements, but it also records its contact with other livestock.Īnimal welfare is also a key priority for Alex and at the heart of compliance with integrity system programs. It's about observing the animals, checking if they have a tag and, if not, replacing the tag before they get onto the truck,” she said. The simple solution is having spare tags on hand. “The most common error I see is animals missing tags, particularly cattle. This reassures both the industry and red meat buyers that we can quickly nip any problem in the bud,” she said.Īlex says while most producers get it right, there are a handful of mistakes she sees regularly when it comes to complying with integrity system programs and meeting biosecurity standards. Importantly, we have the information needed to make good, informed decisions about the best course of action. “Through NLIS and LPA, we can accurately and quickly trace and close in on disease if it gets into the country. That's why it's so very important to do the right thing.”Ĭaption: Alex Stephens, District Vet at NSW Local Land ServicesĪlex says Australia’s comprehensive biosecurity procedures mean authorities are well equipped to act decisively in the event of any disease outbreak. If people are not doing the right thing, they become the weakest link in that chain and then the system does not work as well as it should. “Our integrity system is essentially a chain, and it's only as strong as its weakest link. Our products are safe, they're free from residues and disease and our assurance systems allow us to provide that guarantee,” Alex said. “It's all about being able to ‘stand by what we sell’ as producers. NVDs and electronic NVDs (eNVD) capture the food safety and treatment of animals as they move through the value chain – between properties, to saleyards or to processors.Īs well as being a vet, Alex is also a cattle producer, so she understands that NLIS, LPA and NVDs are critical to ensuring the food safety and traceability of Australian red meat for domestic and international markets. The NLIS accredited tag or device attached to an animal allows full traceability of its movements for life, while LPA provides assurance to purchasers that on-farm practices are of an acceptable standard. NLIS, LPA and NVDs are central to Integrity System Company’s on-farm assurance and traceability programs. Compliance is keyĪs an authorised officer under the Biosecurity Act 2015, Alex oversees compliance with elements of Australia’s red meat integrity system – namely, the National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) and movement documentation components of the LPA National Vendor Declarations (LPA NVDs). It’s all part of her weekly patrol of the selling centre that can see up to 3,800 cattle and 30,000 sheep coming through the yard on sale day.Īlex says that mitigating biosecurity risks is always top of mind. The recent outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) and lumpy skin disease (LSD) in Indonesia have put Australian producers on high alert.ĭespite the heightened risk, Alex is confident that the procedures and processes in place will not only protect Australian livestock, but the red meat industry’s position as a world leader. The district vet - who works for NSW Local Land Services - is busy checking cattle and sheep tags, conducting NVD audits, ensuring animals are fit-to-load, speaking with locals about biosecurity risks and looking for any signs of disease. It’s another busy day for Alex Stephens at the South-Eastern Livestock Exchange (SELX) in Yass, NSW.
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