Border barrier removed for South Australian farmers sourcing stock

Neville Bowd (3)  TBW Newsgroup
EWE BEAUTY: Dartmoor primary producer Neville Bowd is looking forward to the Ovine Johne's disease movement barrier being uplifted from July 1, hoping to make sheep and lamb imports from neighbouring states easier and more effective. Picture: MOLLY TAYLOR

Neville Bowd (3)  TBW Newsgroup
EWE BEAUTY: Dartmoor primary producer Neville Bowd is looking forward to the Ovine Johne’s disease movement barrier being uplifted from July 1, hoping to make sheep and lamb imports from neighbouring states easier and more effective. Picture: MOLLY TAYLOR

SOUTH East sheep producers will be among the main beneficiaries of a State Government decision to remove restrictions for sheep brought into South Australia.

The State Government announced the change yesterday in response to the need for farmers to boost flock numbers in the wake of drought conditions.

However, given the prominence of Victorian producers at the weekly Mount Gambier and District Saleyards auctions, the change will remove red tape for farmers living just over the border.

The government will remove the last Ovine Johne’s Disease movement barrier from July 1 in-line with the national disease management program and will make sheep trade between states easier.

Attending yesterday’s weekly sale at Glenburnie, Dartmoor primary producer Neville Bowd welcomed the eased restrictions.

“I do not see any reason why there was restrictions to begin with,” he said.

“As long as we comply with disease control, trading over the border should not be a problem.

“I think as Australia is an island country and we live in a regional area with similar climates, weather and external conditions so there should be no need for restrictions.”

Mr Bowd said he has had issues previously when transporting sheep to South Australia.

“I live just 30km from Mount Gambier and I had to sign different paperwork and receive the okay before I was able to bring sheep to South Australia,” he said.

“Although, to bring it back to Dartmoor there is no paperwork involved.

“This will be a great thing for the South Australians because originally before restrictions were put in place, producers were not able to easily purchase breeding flock from Victoria but now they will be able to.”

Mr Bowd hoped micro-chipping strategies for sheep and lamb in South Australia would be introduced similar to the current Victorian system in order to make the process “uniform.”

Primary Industries and Regional Development Minister Tim Whetstone said the government waned to work with livestock farmers to grow the number of sheep as fast as possible once the drought breaks.

“Without this reform, the state’s sheep and wool industry would be at a significant disadvantage to eastern states’ farmers who would be free to buy the cream of our flocks while South Australian farmers would have been shackled in trying to source from interstate,” he said.

Mr Whetstone said it was important producers continued to look for sheep that have been vaccinated against OJD, or vaccinate any stock they purchase.

Livestock SA president Joe Keynes said the industry body was pleased to see the stronger alignment in South Australia to the national management arrangements for the disease.

“We are aware that approved vaccinates and stock from areas with a low OJD risk prevalence will not only be in limited supply when seasonal conditions improve but will also increase in price,” Mr Keynes said.

“Freeing stock movements up will assist producers greatly as they start to recover from the recent dry conditions.

“As the National Sheep Health Declaration remains mandatory for all sheep movements into or within South Australia, producers will need to need to consider how to adapt their on-farm biosecurity and disease management strategies in line with these new arrangements.”