Meat and Livestock Australia will require producers to have a written biosecurity plan to receive Livestock Protection Assurance (LPA) accreditation from October 1. 

A free workshop to assist farmers in creating a biosecurity plan will be held on Monday, September 18, at the Orange Agricultural Institute on Forrest Road from 10am to 12pm. 

LPA accreditation signals livestock producers agree to abide by the LPA rules and standards, and lets producers gain a National Vendor Declaration, which is required in order to transfer livestock between properties or owners, as well as for selling. 

The new LPA accreditation requirements are a seven page document covering water and feed for livestock and plans for those who come into contact with livestock. 

It also focuses on processes for incoming livestock such as inspection, quarantining and separation from existing stock.

Beef producers’ management of weeds, pets and production practices, are also under scrutiny under the new plan.   

The need for new biosecurity measures is being pushed by Meat and Livestock Australia, which is trying to manage Bovine Johne’s Diseases (BJD).

BJD is a contagious type of diseases which will infect hoofed animals like cows and sheep while young, before rearing its head later in life, causing the animal to lose weight rapidly and weaken. 

Despite being a free event, RSVPs for Monday’s session are essential: call Lucienne Downs on 0417 043 966.