Australian cattle in Indonesia found with lumpy skin disease

Cattle can still be exported to Indonesia despite the shock suspension of trade from four facilities after lumpy skin disease was found in Australian stock.

Cattle can still be exported to Indonesia despite the shock suspension of trade from four facilities after lumpy skin disease was found in Australian stock.

And live export ships already on the water have been and will be allowed to unload as the Indonesian government honours its agrements over the trade.

On Friday, the Australian Government was notified LSD had been found in 13 cattle which had come from Australia but had been in Indonesia for some time.

Red Meat Advisory Council chairman John McKillop told The Weekly Times the suspended facilities were major operators, and handled up to 50 per cent of all live cattle exported to Indonesia.

He said the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry had declined to nominate which facilities they were and who owned them, but he understood they were all in northern Australia.

But Mr McKillop said other export facilities were able to operate and there had been no talk of a ban from them.

The timing of the ban could not have been worse for northern Australian cattle producers whose dry season turnoff of stock is at its peak and runs through to October/November.

Mr McKillop said there was no indication how long the live export ban could last from the four facilities as it was “a technical issue that needs to be worked through from government to government”.

“No one is going to give a time frame but we are very positive with respect to the outcome,” he said.

In a joint statement released by RMAC and the National Farmers’ Federation, NFF president Fiona Simson, said “the industry and the states and territories are working closely with the Australian Government to provide the assurances sought by Indonesia’s authorities”.

“In the meantime, Australian livestock products continue to be traded, including live cattle to Indonesia where the trade remains open,” Ms Simson said.

EARLIER:
The northern pastoral industry is on high alert after lumpy skin disease was found in 13 cattle in Indonesia that were sourced from Australia.

But Australia’s chief veterinary officer, Dr Mark Schipp, maintains Australia remains free from LSD and it has never been detected here.

His reassurance comes after the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry issued a statement about the cases of Australian cattle in Indonesia that had tested positive to LSD.

“DAFF has been advised by the Indonesian Agriculture and Quarantine Agency that LSD has been detected in a small number of Australian cattle exported to Indonesia — after those cattle had arrived and spent some time in Indonesia,” Dr Schipp said.

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

“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 Australia had worked closely with Indonesia for many years on issues such as animal biosecurity.

“We continue to do so to provide assurance that all animals exported from Australia comply with all Indonesian requirements, including being free of LSD,” Dr Schipp said.

“Australia has robust biosecurity systems in place for the ongoing monitoring of Australia’s animal disease status including for LSD.

“There is no cause for concern for Australian cattle producers as Australia remains LSD free.

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

Minister for Agriculture Murray Watt said he had become aware of the issue late Friday afternoon.

He said immediate action had been taken including meeting with Australia’s Ambassador to Indonesia and other departmental officers who were on the ground in Jakarta.

Rapid diagnostic testing had also started across Northern Australia.

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

Cattle Australia chief executive Luke Bowen said 13 Australian cattle tested positive to LSD a number of days after arriving in Indonesia.

He said the industry, states and territories were working closely with the Australian government to provide the assurances sought by Indonesia’s authorities.

“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,” Mr Bowen said.

“This includes being free of LSD.”

Mr Bowen said it was important to stress that Australia remained LSD free.

“This is confirmed by extensive testing and surveillance across Northern Australia since the detection of LSD in Indonesia in 2022,” Mr Bowen said.

“The robust systems that Australia has for the ongoing monitoring of our animal disease status support us to trade globally.”

He said further surveillance and testing by private and government vets continued across the northern cattle industry, with all testing over the past 12 months showing negative results.

“The Australian cattle industry has a long and deep relationship with Indonesia,” Mr Bowen said.

“This relationship remains critical to Northern Australia and our region underpinning strong economic, social and cultural ties.”

Last year, Indonesia imported 337,103 cattle and 5095 buffalo from Australia as part of the $1.3 billion live export trade.