Red meat producers are invited to join Livestock Biosecurity Network (LBN), the Integrity Systems Company and national and regional stakeholders for a series of free biosecurity planning workshops across New South Wales.
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Each workshop provides hands-on training to producers about developing an on-farm biosecurity plan for their property.
A workshop will be held in Moree on Wednesday, 27 September, beginning at 9am at Moree Services Club.
Sheepmeat Council of Australia and Cattle Council of Australia have established the workshops to assist producers in the wake of two important changes which require producers to effectively manage biosecurity risks on-farm: The integration of biosecurity requirements into the Livestock Production Assurance (LPA) program for cattle, sheep and goats; and a new national farm-based approach to Johne’s disease management in cattle using the voluntary risk management tool Johne’s Beef Assurance Score (J-BAS).
Integrity Systems Company (a subsidiary of Meat and Livestock Australia) will be in attendance to discuss changes to the LPA program, which will come into effect from 1 October 2017. LPA is the red meat industry’s voluntary, independently audited on-farm assurance program, which provides evidence of livestock history and on-farm practices when transferring livestock through the value chain.
Under LPA, producers will need to fulfil new requirements for animal welfare and biosecurity, including the development of an on-farm biosecurity plan.
Bonnie Skinner, LBN’s NSW manager – biosecurity and extension, will be on hand to discuss J-BAS and guide producers through the process of creating their on-farm biosecurity plan.
Through J-BAS cattle farmers can demonstrate their herd’s low risk of Johne’s by documenting their biosecurity efforts and maintain high-assurance scores of 7 or 8 by conducting regular testing.
Registrations for the workshop are essential. Those wishing to attend can register via www.livestockbionet.eventbrite.com.au