Animalplan 2022 to 2027: Australia’s National Action Plan for Production Animal Health

Develop economic analyses and epidemiological modelling tools:

• Carcass Disposal - Destroy and Let Lie: The establishment of this collaborative research project will build on previous research to examine if natural carcass decomposition processes effectively inactivate pathogens such as African swine fever, under Australian conditions. The findings will inform strategic decision-making within emergency animal disease outbreaks affecting feral animals and have the potential to enable significant savings in carcass management time and costs associated with response activities. Project contact: R Grob, Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Robyn.Grob@daf.qld.gov.au
• Feral pig modelling: Feral pig spatial modelling will be used to better understand feral pig distributions and their ecology, and will enable cost-effective strategies for feral pig management. The data generated by this project will inform strategic decision-making within biosecurity incident responses affecting feral and domestic pig populations. Project contact: R Grob, Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Robyn.Grob@daf.qld.gov.au

Implement recommendations from emergency responses:

• Enhancing decision making on EAD operations: Emergency animal diseases (EADs) pose a significant threat to Australian livestock production as a single outbreak of an emergency disease could halt our export market and have devastating impacts to the affected sectors. Whilst all efforts are being undertaken to prevent these diseases entering Australia, it remains critical that we are prepared if an outbreak does happen. This project looks at building critical awareness around these issues, the impacts that could occur and developing resources and training to aid decision making and planning on a national cross-sectoral basis. Project contact: Animal Health Australia, Industry Forum Emergency Animal Disease Working Group (IFEADWG), aha@animalhealthaustralia.com.au
• EAD Crisis Management Planning: Crisis management plans are an important tool for livestock industries to have available to them given the ongoing biosecurity threats to Australia’s borders. However, it is unclear to what extent these plans exist across livestock sectors, or if they would provide sufficient guidance to a sector in an EAD incursion. This project aims to conduct a stocktake of existing resources and to form a collaborative approach between government and industry (across a wide range of species) to develop new templates and resources that holistically address the actions and events that may take place in an EAD crisis. Resources developed will then be made accessible to industry and government to provide ongoing training and exercise support via a purpose-built portal. Project contact: Animal Health Australia, Industry Forum Emergency Animal Disease Working Group (IFEADWG), aha@animalhealthaustralia.com.au

Operationalise AUSVETPLAN:

• Disposal priority project focusing on pyrolysis and composting as methods for large animal disposal: Composting provides an alternative to burning and deep burial that is a biosecure and environmentally sound method of disposal. Further evaluation of this method is required to ensure it is practical and operational in a large animal disease response.
  • Composting: A field trial has been successfully completed at the Rivalea piggery in Corowa (NSW), providing important preliminary data on process performance and insight into how grinding and composting could be implemented effectively in an EAD outbreak.
  • Pyrolysis: This project found that pyrolysis can be used as a method for pig carcass disposal as it effectively treated the carcasses at temperatures that would eliminate significant pig pathogens. Project contact: B Stein, NSW Department of Primary Industries, Animal.biosecurity@dpi.nsw.gov.au

Completed Projects

• Risk assessment for the introduction of Lumpy skin disease (LSD) into Australia through non-regulated pathways: A summary is available on the DAFF website: Improving our understanding of the risks of LSD incursions via non-regulated pathways - DAFF (agriculture.gov.au). Project contact: Animal Health Policy (ADPR), DAFF, adpr@aff.gov.au
• Virtual Reality to support Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) training (Phase 2): For public information about the project, please see: agriculture.gov.au/agriculture-land/animal/health/virtual-reality. Project contact: DAFF, vrfmd@aff.gov.au

Laboratory capability and preparedness General

• Sample Tracking and Reporting System (STARS) enhancement: This project will redevelop the CSIRO-STARS network for enhanced biosecurity and laboratory management system interoperability at both national and jurisdictional levels. The expansion of software capability and improved performance to facilitate integration of a wider group of users to the network will improve Australia’s ability to respond to EAD outbreaks. Project contact: A Bowers, Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness – CSIRO, animalhealthlaboratories@aff.gov.au
• Northern Australia’s biosecurity sequencing (NABSeq) high throughput sequencing (HTS) network: This important project aims to improve northern Australia’s ability to identify and respond to future biosecurity challenges; and provide more effective biosecurity risk management through modernisation of disease detection resources and surveillance in the region. Project contact: M Sistrom, Berrimah Veterinary Laboratory, Mark.Sistrom@nt.gov.au
• Australian Biosecurity Genomic Database for notifiable terrestrial animal viruses (Phase 2): This project will develop a genomic database of notifiable terrestrial animal disease viruses in Australia and facilitate a more robust and efficient application of High Throughput Sequencing (HTS) for Australian biosecurity surveillance and disease detection. Project Contact: P Mee, AgriBio, Agriculture Victoria, Peter.Mee@agriculture.vic.gov.au.
• Development & evaluation of a POC test network for emergency animal disease diagnosis: This project will develop a suite of tests on a portable, battery-operated multiplexing qPCR platform for the detection of major emergency diseases of cattle and pigs and establish a proof-of-concept for multiplexing qPCR assays for emergency animal pathogens suitable for use under field conditions. Project contact: DAFF, Animalhealthlaboratories@aff.gov.au
• National laboratory simulation exercise (Exercise Waterhole): Following a scoping report completed in 2022, Exercise Waterhole will include a series of discussion workshops over September/October 2023 and conclude with a functional exercise in early November 2023. The exercise activities are designed to test and evaluate Australia’s national laboratory preparedness for a major emergency animal disease incursion across the spectrum of laboratory services in Australia, and will incorporate a dual disease scenario involving a primary outbreak of lumpy skin disease (LSD) in northern Australia, and a concurrent outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in southern Australia. The objectives of the exercise are to:
  • Practice the application of animal health laboratory regulations and legislation in the event of a major animal disease incursion across Australia
  • Confirm that Australia has sufficient laboratory capacity and capability to manage the demands of multiple concurrent high impact Emergency Animal Diseases (EADs) across Australia
  • Assess the effectiveness of communication and information management arrangements within and between Australian animal health laboratories
  • Identify resource and logistical constraints that may impact on Australia’s animal health laboratories, when responding to multiple concurrent high impact EADs. Project contact: DAFF, animalhealthlaboratories@aff.gov.au

Enhancing diagnostic capability for lumpy skin disease:

• Developing an immunohistochemistry test for lumpy skin disease: This Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness (ACDP) project will develop and characterise an immunohistochemistry (IHC) test for the diagnosis and investigation of lumpy skin disease virus. Project contact: J Bingham, Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness – CSIRO, animalhealthlaboratories@aff.gov.au
• Evaluation of antibody-detecting immunoassays for lumpy skin disease in cattle and buffalo: This project will evaluate the suitability of 3 antibody detection Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) for lumpy skin disease surveillance, and proof-of-freedom testing, in cattle and buffalo in Australia. The ELISA kits will be made available for use by Australian laboratories via the Laboratories Emergency Animal Disease Diagnosis and Response (LEADDR) network. Project contact: T Bowden, Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness – CSIRO, animalhealthlaboratories@aff.gov.au
• Lumpy skin disease testing capacity building in the Laboratories Emergency Animal Disease Diagnosis and Response (LEADDR) network: This project will reinforce and extend Australia’s lumpy skin disease testing capability by strengthening the capability of ACDP to participate in international proficiency testing and facilitating a robust and quality-assured national capability through implementation of proficiency testing and NQC monitoring for the disease via (LEADDR) Network. Project contact: DAFF, animalhealthlaboratories@aff.gov.au

Enhancing diagnostic capability for other diseases:

• Establishing networked serological testing capability for African swine fever: This project will establish an improved serological testing capability for African swine fever in Australia by harmonising quality assurance processes and antibody-detection ELISA capability via the LEADDR network. Project contact: DAFF, animalhealthlaboratories@aff.gov.au
• MicroRNA biomarkers for improved detection of animal diseases in a Johne’s disease model: This project will evaluate the use of host microRNA for detection of Johne’s disease in cattle and will provide a proof of concept for the potential extension of this approach to other exotic EADs. Project contact: C Stewart, Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness, CSIRO, Cameron.Stewart@csiro.au.

Completed Projects

• Consultancy for policies, strategies and operating guidelines for point of care (POC) testing for infectious disease: This project supports the development of a nationally consistent management approach towards the use of POC tests specific for national notifiable and reportable diseases in terrestrial and aquatic animals in Australia. Project contact: DAFF, animalhealthlaboratories@aff.gov.au
• Developing lumpy skin disease and African horse sickness whole genome sequencing workflows: This project will develop robust whole genome sequencing procedures for both lumpy skin disease and African horse sickness viruses to mitigate the consequences of their outbreaks in Australia. The genomic sequencing probes and procedures, now available at the Australian Centre for Disease Prevention, will be an invaluable resource in the event of a Lumpy skin disease outbreak in Australia. Project contact: M Neave, Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness – CSIRO, animalhealthlaboratories@aff.gov.au
• National laboratory simulation exercise planning: The Subcommittee on Animal Health Laboratory Standards (SCAHLS), through leadership of DAFF and an expert consultant, have completed the process of finalising a business plan to guide the roadmap for a national laboratory-focused simulation exercise. This exercise will assist in the identification of training and means by which to improve the surge capacity of Australian animal health laboratory networks in response to major emergency animal disease (EAD) outbreaks can be improved. The progress towards developing the Exercise Program based on the business plan’s report and recommendations is now underway. Project contact: DAFF, animalhealthlaboratories@aff.gov.au

Completed Projects

• Smallholder risk and communication research: The pilot project in New South Wales will test (and refine) an efficient, data-driven approach to locating smallholders (including pig owners) and determining their biosecurity risk level and engagement needs. Project contact: S Thomson, DAFF, adpr@aff.gov.au
• Building EAD preparedness in domestic abattoirs: The former Minister for Agriculture, Minister Littleproud, made a statement on this project on 12 October 2021, this statement can be found here. Project contacts: T Scanlan, DAFF, adpr@aff.gov.au

• Mitigating on-farm antimicrobial resistance (AMR) risks for livestock industries: This project aims to improve the understanding in Australia of the transmission pathways and biosecurity priorities for mitigating AMR risks in livestock enterprises. This project will provide livestock producers with a framework to assess the risk of AMR transmission into, within or out of their enterprises. It will allow them to make informed changes to reduce the risk of spread of AMR and improve biosecurity. Project contact: P Coombe, Coombe Consulting, peter@coombeconsulting.com.au
• Antimicrobial resistance survey in the pig industry: A repeat AMR survey in the Australian pig industry is commencing and will provide data to compare to previous surveys for monitoring and quality assurance purposes. Project contact: R Chia, Australian Pork Limited, raymond.chia@australianpork.com.au

• Project information pending.

• Australian Agriculture Sustainability Framework (AASF): The purpose of the AASF is to communicate the sustainability status and goals of the Australian agricultural sector to markets and to the community. It will provide the whole-of-Australian agriculture narrative about sustainability to assist in market access and it will provide a translation layer to assist supply chain companies, finance and investors to better understand and report on Australian agricultural sustainability. Project contacts: Australian Agricultural Sustainability Framework - National Farmers' Federation (nff.org.au)

• Australian Agricultural Traceability Alliance: The Australian Agricultural Traceability Alliance is a coalition of partners, who have an invested interest in national agricultural traceability and to accelerate Australia’s journey in exceeding $100 billion of farmgate output by 2030 and beyond. The Alliance aims to ensure strong industry and cross-jurisdictional engagement and provide the right foundations for traceability initiatives to be successful. They will also translate policy into practice across the entire agricultural supply chain. Project contact: DAFF, Australian Agricultural Traceability Alliance.
• Agricultural Traceability Enhancement: Australian Government contribution: Agricultural traceability is a shared responsibility between industry, governments and the broader agricultural supply-chain participants. The Australian Government has committed over $100 million to enhancing agricultural traceability. Activities will support action to meet the objectives of the National Agricultural Traceability Strategy 2023 to 2033. Project contact: L Nind, DAFF, nationaltraceabilitysummit@aff.gov.au.