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Early warning system for emergency disease threats

Australia takes the lead in cattle disease surveillance

3 May 2005

Maffra vet Richard Shephard has created a new disease diagnosis tool for farmers that will both help them manage their cattle herd from day to day, and will collect evidence of Australia’s freedom from diseases that could affect our multi-billion dollar exports.

The web-based system has successfully been piloted in Queensland’s Gulf Country and is ready for adoption by disease surveillance authorities across Australia.

It could transform the way that vets, stock inspectors, and farmers to work together to protect the health of our national cattle herd.

“Australia will export $7 billion in beef and dairy products this year. And our international customers value our disease-free status,” says Shephard, a research veterinarian with the Australian Biosecurity Cooperative Research Centre.

“This new system will give our farmers a sustainable competitive advantage, and will provide early warning capability for emerging issues.”

Cattle in northern Australia are infrequently seen by vets – due to the tyranny of distance, and the shortage of rural veterinarians.

“Australian cattle producers are used to dealing with large herds and are highly attuned to normal cattle behaviour” he said. “This makes them very sensitive to changes that occur when an animal becomes sick. But the biggest problem is finding the rights words to describe the signs of disease that they see.”

The web system prompts the user to describe what they’re seeing – using an image of a cow. This image has links between individual organs and limbs to common signs affecting that area of the body.

The program takes the basic signs and uses an artificial intelligence system to identify the most likely causes from a database of around 1,000 diseases. The process is fast and intuitive usually taking no more than two to three minutes in most cases.

“This web tool allows producers to better manage their herd, and at the same time, collect disease surveillance information that will provide evidence for disease freedom, and in an emergency, trigger a warning, said Dr Shephard.

“The results of Richard’s work have been very encouraging,” says Reuben Rose, general manager livestock production innovation, Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA).

“This tool will allow farmers to help themselves, whilst also creating national surveillance statistics that will give our customers even more confidence in Australia’s cattle products.” 

MLA has supported Dr Shephard’s work through their PhD scholarship program. The Australian Biosecurity CRC has also supported the development of the diagnosis tool.

“We are now presenting the system to state and federal authorities for consideration,” says Shephard. “Our hope is that all cattle producers will be able to register with their local stock inspector for this free service within a few years.” 

Shephard’s innovation has won him a place at Fresh Innovators—a national initiative to bring the work of 16 early-career inventers to public attention. After training in Sydney, the Innovators are talking to the media, schools and business about their ideas. One of the 16 will win a study tour to the UK courtesy of the British Council Australia.

For more information contact Richard Shephard t: 03 5147 1633 m: 0418 515 498 e: rshephard@gippslandhi.coop

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Mango addiction in the north	Export dollars: With Australia exporting $7 billion in beef and dairy products this year, a surveillance system is an essential tool.
Far from many things: With many farms in remote areas, BOSS provides onsite assistance for farmers.	Collecting data: Richard has worked with farmers to put together the resource in a way that is useful and practical for farmers.