Footrot Management Rules Ease in South Australia
Effective from 1 January 2025, changes to Footrot management regulations in South Australia will be implemented following an extensive review and consultation process to determine the most suitable program for managing Footrot in the state.
An independent review of the Footrot management program led to several key recommendations, including adopting an enhanced industry-driven management model. This approach focuses on improving understanding, diagnosis, prevention, and management of Footrot through a collaborative effort involving all industry stakeholders.
To guide this process, Livestock SA formed an industry-led steering committee with an independent chair. The committee included representatives from across South Australia’s sheep supply chain, including producers, agents, saleyard managers, veterinarians, footrot contractors, and PIRSA animal health staff.
Several recommendations were made by this committee which were endorsed by Livestock SA and have led to the program changes in place from 1 January 2025.
Key Changes Effective from 1 January 2025
Notifiable Disease Status:
Footrot will be classified as a notifiable (report only) disease. Notification of suspicion of footrot (all forms) to PIRSA is still required.
Movement and Sale of Sheep:
All sheep flocks with suspected or confirmed Footrot can be moved or sold anywhere within the state, provided prior notification of their Footrot status is provided to the purchaser.
Notification Requirements:
Footrot status must be declared through:
- An accurate entry on the National Sheep Health Declaration (NSHD).
- A formal sales agreement between the vendor and purchaser; or
- A declaration on an online selling platform.
Restrictions on Movement:
Sheep from infected and suspect properties are not permitted to move through a saleyard, transit or spelling facility, or any other interim property except those approved by the Chief Inspector to receive sheep from infected or suspect properties.
Approved Sale Locations:
- The Naracoorte Regional Livestock Exchange and Mount Gambier and District Sale Yards are approved for selling sheep from properties with known or suspected Footrot.
- These facilities must display warning signage and stamp all National Sheep Health Declarations with a warning statement alerting purchasers to the potential presence of sheep infected with Footrot at the saleyard.
Saleyard placarding:
No placarding of suspected footrot infected sheep at Naracoorte Regional Livestock Exchange and Mount Gambier and District Sale Yards will occur.
Surveillance and Investigation:
- PIRSA will continue Footrot surveillance at saleyards.
- Consignments from known infected or suspect properties presented to Naracoorte or Mt Gambier saleyards with accurate National Sheep Health Declaration declarations will not be investigated unless there is an associated welfare issue.
- For new detections samples will be taken and owners will be notified of the detection.
Legal Obligations:
- If a person knows or has reason to suspect that livestock owned by or under his or her control are affected with footrot, the person must take all reasonable measures to control or eradicate the footrot.
- A person must not do an act intending that, or being recklessly indifferent as to whether, livestock become affected or further affected with footrot.
- A person must not, without the approval of the Chief Inspector, bring footrot into the state or cause footrot to be brought into the state.
These changes aim to balance effective disease management and reduce the economic and animal welfare impacts of footrot in South Australia. Ongoing support will be available for producers to manage and eradicate the disease, and we encourage all members to implement on farm biosecurity practices to prevent the spread of diseases such as footrot.
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