Indonesia suspends some Australian live cattle imports over disease fear

Indonesia has suspended live cattle imports from four Australian export facilities after claiming to have detected highly infectious lumpy skin disease in cattle.

Veterinarians inject cattle for foot and mouth disease in Bandung, West Java, Indonesia, last year. Now Indonesia claims Australian cattle have lumpy skin disease. Picture: Agvi Firdaus

Indonesia has suspended live cattle imports from four Australian exporter facilities after claiming to have detected highly infectious lumpy skin disease in Australian cattle.

Australian authorities have been quick to deny the cattle were infected with the virus, which threatens to wipe out the country’s beef industry, before they were shipped to Indonesia, where the virus is prevalent.

Cattle across northern Australia will be tested for the disease as a precaution in a bid to quell any overseas fears of a local outbreak.

The affected cattle were yarded in Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory before being loaded on to ships.

Indonesia’s Agriculture and Quarantine Agency notified the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry about the issue on Friday, leaving authorities scrambling to determine the cause.

The Australian understands about 13 cattle tested positive for the disease after those cattle had arrived and spent some time in ­Indonesia.

Australia’s chief veterinary ­officer Mark Schipp was adamant that lumpy skin disease had never been detected in Australia and that Australia remains free of the disease.

“Given the presence of LSD in Indonesia, positive results in cattle post arrival in Indonesia are not unexpected,” Dr Schipp said.

Australia’s chief veterinary officer Mark Schipp.

“As Australia remains LSD-free, a detection of LSD in another country – such as Indonesia – does not change Australia’s animal health status.”

Dr Schipp said he was confident in Australia’s biosecurity system. “There is no cause for concern for Australian cattle producers as Australia remains LSD-free,” he said.

“Australia continues to trade livestock products internationally including live cattle to Indonesia.”

Modelling by the Centre of ­Excellence for Biosecurity Analysis last year estimated there was a 28 per cent chance of a lumpy skin disease outbreak in Australia in the next five years.

Unlike the better-known foot-and-mouth disease, lumpy skin does not affect sheep, goats or pigs, but its similar effect on cattle has raised concerns in the Australian beef industry.

The disease can cause animal welfare issues and significant production losses.

The department estimates a serious outbreak of lumpy skin disease in Australia would cost the economy $7.39bn.

Agriculture Minister Murray Watt said Australian officials were working with Indonesian authorities to reassure them that all animals exported from Australia comply with all Indonesian ­requirements, including being free of lumpy skin disease.

“Indonesia has paused exports from four Australian facilities pending further testing of animals, but live cattle exports to Indonesia are continuing and 28 registered establishments are available for use by exporters wishing to trade,” Senator Watt said. “Work is ­already under way to deliver rapid testing and restore exports from those facilities.”

Senator Watt said that Australia’s Response Co-ordination Group had been activated as soon as the alert came through on Friday and he has met state and territory agriculture ministers to make them aware of the situation.

“Indonesia is a valued and ­respected partner, and Australia recognises the longstanding co-operation with Indonesia on animal biosecurity matters,” Senator Watt said.

“Australian producers and our beef supply chain can be assured that we are working around the clock to get a swift resolution to this issue.”

The National Farmers Federation urged for the industry to ­remain calm while Australian authorities provided the necessary assurances to Indonesia that the country remained free of the disease. “In the meantime, Australian livestock products continue to be traded, including live cattle to ­Indonesia where the trade ­remains open,” NFF president Fiona Simson said.

Red Meat Advisory Council chairman John McKillop said Australia had robust systems for monitoring the country’s animal disease status that belies trade around the world.

“We respect the right of Indonesia’s technical authorities to seek relevant assurances that live cattle exported from Australia comply with their animal health requirements. This includes being free of LSD,” Mr McKillop said.