The South Australian Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA) is reviewing its preparedness for future Emergency Animal Disease (EAD) events.
As part of the review, PIRSA has started a project focused on the management of raw milk movement during an EAD occurrence in South Australia.
The project seeks to establish a clear pathway for the low-risk movement of milk, should an incident call for restrictions and early actions to reduce spread.
It will build on previous initiatives such as the national Milky Way Project, aimed at a national response to EADs such as foot and mouth and lumpy skin disease, and their impacts on stock health and milk movement.
“Dairysafe’s pivotal central position in the milk supply chain across all SA dairy farmers, raw milk transporters and dairy processors and exporters; enables us to drive this project,” said Alistair McFarlane, CEO of Dairysafe.
“As a legislated auditor, Dairysafe is committed to ensuring safe and healthy milk is made available for consumer consumption and expanding export contracts.
“Noting its well-established networks and interactions with stakeholders along the supply chain and with industry groups, PIRSA has requested that Dairysafe takes a leading role in the coordination of an industry reference group, with PIRSA offering administrative support.”
Dairysafe is working with PIRSA on an industry interest group that will include representatives from across the supply chain to raise awareness of current concerns and gauge the opportunity for ongoing joint preparedness. It will draw on earlier programs run federally and with other parties, including the South Australian Dairy Authority (SADA).
The Industry Interest group will likely comprise leading SA dairy processors, raw milk transporters (receiving and moving milk into and across SA) and dairy farm representatives. A forum will be called in February/March 2025.
This project is timely, given news that the H5N1 avian bird influenza in the United States continues to impact 917 dairy herds, particularly in California. In this state, milk production dropped by 9.2% year to year in November 2024. H5N1 has not previously been associated with mortality rates in dairy, as it has been with poultry.
The US National Milk Producers Federation is advising dairy farmers to practice a raft of biosecurity measures. It appears the most likely route of cow-cow transmission is via infected milking devices, which then spread the virus to the cow’s mammary tissue during milking.
“With the global biosecurity landscape intensifying, it’s important for the South Australian dairy industry to be prepared for any emergencies. This project is part of our preparedness,” Alistair said.