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Tse Surveillance In Australia

By Department of Primary Industries - 15th June 2005 - Back to News

Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSE) are a group of fatal neuro-degenerative diseases of both humans and animals. Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) and scrapie are members of this group of diseases, and though it is known that these diseases affect only cattle and sheep, they have very serious implications in the world-wide incidence of a human form of TSE, variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.

Australia is presently free from both BSE and scrapie. However, due to international edict requiring trading partners to prove the absence of disease, Australia has implemented a national strategy to monitor the national cattle and sheep populations for both clinical and histological evidence of disease.

The National Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy Surveillance Program (NTSESP) is a jointly funded venture involving industry and government, specifically aimed at achieving on-going demonstration of Australia’s freedom from BSE and scrapie. Implementation of the program will also facilitate the early detection of these diseases should they occur in Australia, thus assisting in the maintenance of Australia’s market access.

NTSESP involves detailed examination of several hundred cattle and sheep nation-wide annually. Each state has a designated quota assigned depending on the size of the state’s herd and flock. Individual animals identified as potentially eligible candidates for inclusion in the program must meet several species dependant guidelines.

In Victoria, these eligibility criteria include cattle 30 months old or older, which do not recover after exhibiting one or more specific nervous signs. Similarly, sheep of 18 months of age or older, which do not recover after displaying nervous signs, are preferred candidates for further examination.

Producers can assist in maintaining the program by reporting animals exhibiting nervous signs to their local veterinarian, DPI Veterinary or Animal Health officer. Incentive payments are available to producers for suitable candidates, however the animal must be examined initially while alive and a report prepared relating to clinical signs.

For further information on the TSE surveillance program in Australia, contact your local DPI Animal Health staff or your private veterinary practitioner.

MILKING THE WASTE

A major study is trying to find ways to cut the Victorian Dairy Industry’s $37 million annual bill for waste management.

Costs for cleaning chemicals alone exceed $16 million per year.

Twenty-four Victorian dairy factories were involved in the first ever detailed survey of waste analysis and practices, conducted for ‘Closing the Loop’ project.

Dr Kevin Wilkinson from Primary Industries Research Victoria (PIRVic), the R&D arm of the Department of Primary Industries, says major advances have been made in dairy factories’ treatment of waste and the management of solid and liquid waste streams.

"However the previous lack of background data has made industry improvements difficult to measure," Dr Wilkinson said.

"The majority of factories surveyed already have recycling or reuse strategies in place, so the knowledge gained from the survey will help the industry meet future environmental challenges that will otherwise limit its expansion."

Closing the Loop aims to find innovative ways to minimise dairy waste by developing new technologies, cutting the volume and cost of dairy waste disposal, creating integrated land-based reuse systems and new options for waste treatment and reuse.

"Future work by the team includes; investigating alternatives for dairy processing organic waste management, evaluating technologies for removal of salt from dairy waste water and investigating alternative chemicals and practices to reduce salt in dairy waste."

Closing the Loop is a $4.4 million collaborative venture through the Dairy Industries Sustainability Consortium.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com