New biosecurity support for SA red meat and wool industries

South Australian livestock producers now have access to increased on-farm biosecurity support thanks to the appointment of two new biosecurity extension officers.

Penelope Keynes and Dr Emily Buddle have been appointed to the new roles funded by Primary Industries and Regions SA (PIRSA) and Animal Health Australia (AHA).

They will work with Livestock SA in line with the Red Meat and Wool Growth Program and the National Sheep Industry Biosecurity Strategy 2019-2024 (NSIBS) developed by Sheep Producers Australia (SPA) and WoolProducers Australia (WPA).

Livestock SA Chief Executive Officer Andrew Curtis said the establishment of the new roles is a significant expansion on what Livestock SA can do to help support the industry to take the lead on biosecurity.

“Traditionally, the promotion of biosecurity has come from within State and Federal Government departments,” he said.

“Biosecurity is an important part of industry development and this program allows the industry to take control and ownership of biosecurity practices.”

One of the key priority areas of the Red Meat and Wool Growth Program is to enhance market access, using PIRSA’s One Biosecurity program as a critical tool.

One Biosecurity is South Australia’s free voluntary on-farm biosecurity management program that helps livestock producers better manage, protect and promote their animal health biosecurity practices and plans online.

“Effective biosecurity requires each member of the industry to understand the importance of biosecurity and their responsibility to uphold good biosecurity practices,” Mr Curtis said.

The biosecurity extension officers will work within industry with producer groups and individuals to develop and deliver activities to enhance market access and to ensure successful implementation of biosecurity and animal traceability measures.

Ms Keynes has extensive industry experience in sheep and cattle enterprises, with a background in agricultural science and agribusiness.

She has also worked on state and national industry projects for Meat & Livestock Australia and Australian Wool Innovation.

Ms Keynes said she is looking forward to supporting and working with existing biosecurity services to develop red meat and wool producers’ understanding and adoption of biosecurity practices.

“I’m excited to start this role to provide an extra resource for biosecurity support to the state,” she said.

Dr Buddle also has extensive experience in both the sheepmeat and wool enterprises, as well as an impressive academic background covering topics including agricultural science, community understandings of science and agriculture and how social media is used to communicate about the livestock industry.

Dr Buddle said she is looking forward to working with industry to strengthen biosecurity and animal health practices to continue to provide quality, safe meat and wool products to domestic and export markets.

“I am excited to work with AHA and Livestock SA through the NSIBS to bring national priorities to South Australia, deliver some real tangible benefits for industry and explore how initiatives that work well in SA could strengthen biosecurity nationally” she said.

This project will draw on the existing established services and enable better engagement and interaction to ensure enhancement of biosecurity culture across SA red meat and wool industries.

“For the industry to move forward, we need to own the product we are selling and the processes involved in producing a quality product,” Mr Curtis said.

“Biosecurity is an important measure in ensuring product quality and safety.”

For more information or to speak to one of the new biosecurity extension officers, please contact Livestock SA on 08 8297 2299 or visit the website www.livestocksa.org.au.