Urgent Action Needed as Cattle Tick Issue Threatens Dalby Saleyards

Australia’s second largest saleyard, the Dalby saleyards, faces the peril of losing both buyers and vendors due to the recurring issue of tick-infested cattle. This situation stems from a breakdown in the Government’s biosecurity protocols, as voiced by local livestock agents.

Emergency Measures Discussed

Brendan Gilliland, president of the Dalby Agents Association, announced the convening of an emergency meeting this week to evaluate stringent measures aimed at curbing the spread of cattle ticks in the saleyards. In a statement on The Week in Beef podcast, he emphasized the urgency of addressing this predicament within the next four months, particularly as winter approaches.

“We have to get on top of this issue in the next four months. If we are proactive now going into winter, we could mitigate up to 80% of these outbreaks in the clean country,” said Mr. Gilliland.

Gilliland warned, “We can’t afford to let another whole year go by or cattle will die. The cattle on the clean side of the tick line have no immunity to infections and diseases such as red water (tick fever).” He recounted a troubling incident over Christmas where over 30 heifers perished at Jandowae due to a red water outbreak.

Increasing Instances of Tick-Infested Cattle

Mr. Gilliland noted that tick-infested cattle are being transported to the Dalby selling center almost every week, predominantly from Queensland’s Tick Free Zone. It’s not just the cattle crossing the tick line that are problematic; rather, it’s those within the clean country that are not being adequately monitored.

“The cattle that are causing the issues are not the cattle coming across the tick line. The problem lies within the clean country, where outbreaks occur nearby but are not being policed or checked,” stressed Gilliland.

The changes to Queensland’s cattle tick management system in 2016 have made it easier for infected cattle to circulate without appropriate restrictions. Previously, infected properties and neighboring “first removed” properties faced strict quarantine measures, including mandatory clearing dips for cattle movement.

Calls for Reinstating Strict Quarantine Protocols

Mr. Gilliland advocates for reinstating stringent quarantine and eradication protocols for first and second removed properties, voicing concern over the rising number of tick outbreaks in the free zone. “Up until just a few years ago, outbreaks were rare. Now, we see infected cattle arriving at Dalby almost weekly,” he remarked.

Despite requests for ongoing updates from the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) regarding cattle from affected properties, DPI has cited privacy regulations as a barrier to sharing this critical information.

Government’s Response and Community Implications

The DPI responded, stating, “The Information Privacy Act 2009 provides for the protection of personal information collected and held by Queensland Government agencies.” This response highlights the balance the DPI must maintain between privacy obligations and the public’s need for transparency regarding cattle tick outbreaks.

Advocates are urging the government to amend this policy so that affected communities can respond promptly to outbreak alerts.

Immediate Reforms Necessary for Biosecurity

Gilliland insists that immediate changes to cattle tick management are necessary to preserve the reputation of Dalby saleyards. He stated, “We are under immense pressure. Vendors are reluctant to send cattle to Dalby for fear of biosecurity concerns.”

“If we can’t sort out these issues, buyers will have no option but to walk away, which is alarming,” he added.

Mr. Gilliland and his colleagues are advocating for more biosecurity officers to be deployed to manage tick inspections effectively. “It isn’t fair for us as livestock agents to bear the entire burden of this responsibility. We need a DPI inspector on-site to monitor cattle entering from high-risk areas,” he insisted.

Collaborative Solutions in Motion

The Dalby Agents Association is collaborating with the Western Downs Regional Council to explore the feasibility of establishing a dip facility, enabling restockers to treat cattle before transferring them to properties in the free zone. State Government funding will be essential to advance this initiative.