Tuesday 25 July 2006

Media release

Remote area beef producers urged to use on-line system to monitor herd health

Remote-area cattle producers are being urged to use a new web-based tool to help them compile histories of their herd's health status and to diagnose suspicious diseases.

Access to the Bovine Syndromic Surveillance System (BOSSS) web site is free and contains information on many endemic and exotic diseases of cattle as well as educational material on disease signs and techniques for conducting post mortems and taking samples.

BOSSS is being supported throughout Australia by an institutional alliance that includes state departments of primary industries and the Australian Biosecurity CRC for Emerging Infectious Diseases. Producer bodies have also indicated their support for the system.

The Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries (DPI&F) general manager of animal biosecurity Ron Glanville said BOSSS will help remote area producers to be more effective in defending the nation against disease and pest risks.

"In remote areas this expert system will allow producers to be better informed when describing the disease symptoms to a veterinarian located elsewhere.

"The website also acts as a confidential database to help animal health authorities to study disease trends that are reported via the BOSSS website and this information is vital when managing biosecurity threats," he said.

"DPI&F Biosecurity veterinary and research staff can use the data inputted by graziers to monitor trends across the entire state or from interstate.

"This is done on a confidential basis without linking the results of monitoring and evaluation to any individual property or producer," he said.

The BOSSS website also provides access to disease distribution maps, a disease symptom picture library and a post mortem guide that will assist producers in collecting information.

This information is then analysed and compared with that stored in the BOSSS database to arrive at a tentative diagnosis.

Links to experts such as veterinarians and an on-line discussion forum allow cattle owners to email other producers or experts to seek advice and opinion.

Dr Glanville stressed that producers should still 'Look, Check, and Ask a Vet' or DPI&F Biosecurity inspector when the find unusual symptoms of disease or pest.

To register as a BOSSS user or find out more about the system, producers can call the DPI&F Business Information Centre on 13 25 23 or talk to their regional DPI&F Biosecurity inspector or veterinarian.

Further information:
Rod Thompson, QDPI&F Senior Communication Officer	(07) 3224-2481
DPI&F Call Centre, (weekdays 8.00am to 6.00pm)	13 25 23