Katie Hallatt from LiveCorp and Mike Darby from Cattle Australia visited smallholders in Indonesia who were having their cattle vaccinated against foot and mouth disease and lumpy skin disease. They are photographed with the parents of the owner of this plot, who were very enthusiastic to discuss the positive outcomes of changes being made, such as reduced presence of insects, and overall cleanliness.

AUSTRALIAN-funded workshops in Indonesia are helping to protect the livestock industries in both countries from foot and mouth disease (FMD) and lumpy skin disease (LSD).

It’s the latest phase of a partnership between Australia’s livestock export industry and Indonesia’s cattle producers which has already seen the vaccination of more than 400,000 imported and local animals and increased the biosecurity knowledge of hundreds of smallholder farmers and officials.

Representatives of LiveCorp and Cattle Australia attended the most recent workshop, in East Java last week, to hear and see for themselves how the collaboration is delivering benefits.

Participants at the latest disease awareness and management workshop in Malang, East Java. This area is at the heart of Indonesia’s local cattle industry.

LiveCorp Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Wayne Collier says the work is helping to protect both imported Australian cattle and local livelihoods.

“After FMD and LSD were detected in Indonesia in 2022, the livestock export industry used its connections on the ground to identify the best way to support local control efforts,” Mr Collier said.

“This led to Australian Government grants which have reimbursed some vaccine costs, developed education materials and delivered capacity building workshops to smallholder farmers, government officials and animal health staff in communities around feedlots holding Australian-bred cattle.

Katie Hallatt from LiveCorp and Mike Darby from Cattle Australia visited a smallholder farm which, through the project, has installed new infrastructure to improve biosecurity and animal health. The farmer was awarded a certificate of congratulations for his application of knowledge gained through workshop sessions, and then his cattle were vaccinated.

“The success of the initial activities led to requests for expansion into other areas of Indonesia, including provinces which hold the bulk of Indonesian’s local herds, to help protect their breeds and the communities which rely on them.

“We’re not only strengthening our relationship as a trusted partner in Indonesia, but delivering knowledge that will help generations to come,” Mr Collier said.

Katie Hallatt from LiveCorp and Mike Darby from Cattle Australia along with the GAPUSPINDO project team and local government vaccinators (trained through this program) were warmly welcomed by a smallholder and shown the new biosecurity practices that have been implemented, including foot baths, nets to prevent insects, shade, and drainage for manure.

Cattle Australia CEO Will Evans said Indonesia is Australia’s largest live cattle market, a close neighbour, and an important regional ally.

“Food security is high on the agenda for the Indonesian Government, and Australian cattle and meat products play a major role in supporting those aspirations,” Mr Evans said.

“Empowering local communities to recognise, manage and protect their animals against FMD and LSD will minimise further losses, boost efforts to re-build livestock numbers, and support progress toward a greater level of self-sufficiency.

“It’s also important for Australia’s biosecurity by slowing the spread of livestock diseases through Indonesia.

“Providing our staff with first hand experience of the Indonesian cattle industry and the opportunity to talk to industry and government representatives at the front line of its defence against FMD and LSD will be invaluable as we continue to progress Australia’s own preparedness efforts,” Mr Evans said.

Source: LiveCorp