Cattle declarations guide
THE cattle health declaration is gaining significant exposure as a tool for producers to address biosecurity concerns.
It’s a document that allows producers to make an assessment of cattle they might be purchasing and the biosecurity risk those cattle may pose.
For many producers biosecurity is a new concept, so it’s understandable that many producers have questions about the cattle health declaration.
WHY SHOULD I ASK FOR ONE WHEN BUYING CATTLE?
The cattle health declaration is a tool that can assist producers in assessing the biosecurity risks of new stock being introduced to your property. It is designed to be used when animals are being bought and sold. It allows sellers to provide buyers with information relating to the health of the animals they are bringing onto their property.
It is separate to the national vendor declaration way bill because questions on the NVD relate primarily to food safety, whereas the cattle health declaration is animal-health related.
Producers should request a cattle health declaration to gather further information relevant to the health of their new purchases or incoming agistment stock.
WHEN SHOULD I SEND A CATTLE HEALTH DECLARATION WITH MY CATTLE?
When selling cattle, it is recommended you send a declaration along with your sale cattle in most instances.
Buyers actively managing animal health, participating in Johne’s Beef Assurance Score (J-BAS) or trading in Johne’s disease-sensitive markets are likely going to want this document.
If you are sending cattle to a saleyard, you should send it with your cattle.
HOW DOES THE CATTLE HEALTH DECLARATION FIT IN WITH J-BAS?
If you are participating in J-BAS, you should send and request this document as part of your risk assessment.
Requesting this document when you buy cattle can provide additional information such as J-BAS level or if there is an increased risk of infection in the animals you are looking to buy.
Having this information gives you the opportunity to manage the risk of Johne’s disease in incoming animals.
ARE CATTLE HEALTH DECLARATIONS MANDATORY?
It is not mandatory unless your cattle are Northern Territory bound. This is an entry requirement of the Northern Territory Government. If you do not send this
document with your cattle, they will not be able to move into the Northern Territory until one is completed.
If you don’t provide a cattle health declaration to buyers who require them to move the cattle after sale, you could be limiting your markets.
WHEN DO I NOT NEED A CATTLE HEALTH DECLARATION?
If your cattle are going straight to the abattoir or a feedlot you will probably find they will not request a cattle health declaration. The declaration is for herd health management. Feedlots and abattoirs are more concerned with food safety issues so will be wanting to receive the NVD.
WHERE CAN I GET A CATTLE HEALTH DECLARATION?
Online at the Farm Biosecurity website.
HOW DO I FILL OUT A CATTLE HEALTH DECLARATION?
Producers should answer the questions honestly. You do not need to test for any of the diseases on the cattle health declaration, but if you have done in the past you should describe your results on the form.
Producers are making a declaration when filling out a cattle health declaration.
When the form asks for specific vaccinations or treatments, it is asking if you have applied anything to the animals travelling to sale in the past six months.
If you participate in J-BAS, you should describe your J-BAS status in question six.